Richardson announces candidacy for District 5 seat

R U S S E L L V I L L E — Robbie Richardson announced his candidacy for the District 5 seat on the Russellville City Council.

Richardson previously served as District 2 councilman from 2000 to 2004.

“I love Russellville and believe that city government is about service,” Richardson said. “I left city and community service to serve my country. As I am nearing retirement from the U.S. military, I want to get back into serving my city and community. People deserve a choice in any position, and I am offering my service.”

Richardson, a lifelong resident of Russellville, graduated from Russellville High School in 1988. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University.

Over the last 25 years, Richardson has served his community in a number of ways: 1.During his 2000-04 service on the city council, he helped form the Franklin County Dive Team and became a volunteer rescue recovery diver.

2.He worked with the city council and county commission to get the A.W. Todd Center and Farmers Market constructed. Their administration also completed the Russellville Municipal Airport runway expansion.

3.He worked with his fellow council members to ensure that employees of the city saw increases in their pay and benefits so they could take care of their families while they worked to serve the citizens of Russellville.

4.He is proud of the candor and open communications that his fellow council members and the mayor strived to maintain throughout their administration in letting the people know what decisions and plans their elected leadership were making on their behalf.

He did not seek re-election in 2004.

Following his term on the council, Robinson served as a volunteer firefighter/ EMT with the city of Russellville. He was appointed by the Franklin County Commission to the Franklin County Industrial Board, where he served as chairman. He was chair of the board when it purchased the property that is now the Mike Green Industrial Park.

In 2007, Richardson joined the Alabama Army National Guard. He has deployed twice as a combat medic to Afghanistan (2009-10 and 2014).

In 2008, he was hired as a career firefighter for the City of Russellville. Since August 2011, he has been on continuous military active duty, serving in roles of increasing responsibility within the 877th Engineer Battalion. Most of his military career he has served in combat medical or medical supervisory roles, where he was ultimately responsible for the medical care and readiness of over 800 soldiers within his battalion.

Since being promoted out of his medical position, he has been in Battalion and Company Operations. He now serves as the Senior Human Resources sergeant for the battalion.

“I like taking care of soldiers,” he said. “I joined the military to be a combat medic, so that is where my heart is. But, as I have been given greater responsibilities and frequently called upon for advisement by peers, commanders or junior soldiers, I found that there are plenty of other ways to take care of soldiers besides tending to wounds and illness.”

When not doing military duties, he still helps parttime, as needed, covering shifts at the Russellville Fire Department. Richardson is also the volunteer announcer for the Russellville High School Golden Tigers soccer teams.

For the last 20 years, Richardson has used most of his vacation time doing international disaster relief, medical and other Christian-based mission work: “My favorite mission trips are the ones where I don’t wear camouflage and don’t have to tote a gun,” he said.

Richardson is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville. He and his wife, Tawanna, have one daughter, Christa. She and her husband, M.V., have one daughter, Anne Virginia, and live in the Birmingham area.

Richardson pledged to run his campaign for city council as it should be run — with encouragement and hope for the future. As councilman, his goal will be to serve the people of Russellville with new ideas, transparency, and strong leadership.

“Politics should not be as divisive as it is nowadays. We live in a relatively small town where most people know each other. Every person that is running for office has a family that loves them, along with neighbors and friends that we share in common,” he said.

“We are in this together. There is no reason for anyone to talk badly about someone just because they are running for the same office. We have got to get away from that negative culture, and city government is where we have the best chance of changing that.

“When the election is over, we will all have to work together. We need fresh perspectives and ideas. We need to be transparent and open in all city business and dealings,” Richardson added.

“We all need to take it to heart and remember that the greatest leader that this world has ever known came to Earth to be a servant. Elected leaders are servants of the people. That’s the message I want to send,” he said.