Palmer certified for fourth term on Russellville Council
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP - David Palmer, Mayor David Grissom. PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com
 By María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com  
Published 6:03 am Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Palmer certified for fourth term on Russellville Council

RUSSELLVILLE – The city council approved a certificate of election stating Councilman David Palmer was the only candidate to qualify for Council District 1.

City Clerk Belinda Miller said the qualifying period endedJune24at5p.m.Under Alabama Code Section 11-4626, Palmer is deemed elected without opposition for the term beginning on the first Monday of November.

This will be Palmer’s fourth term on the council. He was first elected in 2012, and he has served continuously since. His current term was extended by one year under a statewide adjustment designed to stagger Alabama’s municipal elections away from the presidential cycle.

He is also the retired county engineer, having served from 1991 to 2022.

“I’m very thankful to the people of my district for entrusting me with another term,” Palmer said. “My commitment is to continue to work as hard as I can and do the very best I can to ensure people can live a quiet and peaceful life.”

He highlighted Russellville’s ongoing paving program, which he said is one of the largest in the city’s history, as a major priority. Palmer said the project is about 50% complete.

“We bought our own paving equipment so we could do it ourselves and keep the work going,” he said.

Palmer said the city’s fleet includes a paver, rollers, skid steer and hydrostatic broom sweeper, giving local crews the ability to maintain, patch, level and resurface streets without relying on outside contractors.

Other priorities include supporting public safety improvements, such as fire department equipment upgrades, and securing grant funding to maintain police vehicles and gear.

“We’ve worked real hard tobringthecitytowhereitis now,” he said. “We’re building on things done in the past and making improvements. I’m just thankful and honored to keep serving.”

Palmer also credited the council’s tradition of prayer for guiding his approach.

“Brother Bobby always prays that the council will do what is right and just so the citizens can live a quiet and peaceful life. I’m not sure I can put it better than that.”

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