Political announcements
By By staff, Hartselle Enquirer
Wilson seeking fifth term on Falkville Town Council
Robert “Bob” Wilson is seeking reelection to the Falkville Town Council, Place Five.
He is seeking his fifth term and is a member of the Public Safety Department.
During his time in office, Wilson earned designation as an Advanced Certified Public Official through the Alabama League of Municipalities. He has more than 14 years experience in retail management and more than 30 years in law enforcement experience.
His education background includes the University of Tennessee and TC.U. He is a law enforcement graduate of the University of Alabama and certified in various law enforcement fields.
Wilson has lived in Falkville for 28 years and is married to Carol Wilson, who also has a background in law enforcement. They have two children and one grandchild.
Smelser wants to build on first term’s successes
Bill Smelser announced he is seeking reelection to Place Two of the Hartselle City Council. Smelser, first elected to office in 2004, said he’s proud of the current council’s accomplishments, especially in regards to commercial growth.
Smelser believes some of the major issues facing the city of Hartselle are financing construction of a new high school and continued recruitment of new business with an emphasis on development along the 36/65 interchange.
Smelser, 63, is retired from Amoco Chemical, where he worked for 30 years, serving 22 years as assistant shift foreman. He and Sandra, his wife of 40 years, have lived in Hartselle since 1972. They are members of East Highland Baptist Church, where Smelser serves as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. The Smelsers have two grown daughters, Sonie Wilson and Kim Poole. They are the proud grandparents of Caroline Wilson, Carson Wilson and Scarlet Poole.
Tankersley vying for second term as Hartselle mayor
Dwight Tankersley is seeking a second term as Hartselle’s mayor.
The Hartselle-area native said he’s committed to continuing the work started during his first term in office.
One of the area’s of which he’s proudest is the increased communication among city departments and with other entities, such as Hartselle Utilities and the County Commissions.
He’s proud of the economic growth the city is experiencing, with more than 30 new businesses opening in the last four years.
Tankersley said his administration has worked to obtain grant funding for projects ranging from the downtown awning repair and airport improvements to the work on Highway 36.
His administration has also worked to meet residents’ needs, he said. He points to changes in the city’s garbage and recycling services as ways in which residents have benefited through reduced costs and better service.
Tankersley, 48, is a 1978 graduate of Hartselle High School.
He and his wife of 29 years, Jenny, have two children and two grandchildren. He is a deacon at Fairview Church of God and has received an Advanced Certified Municipal Official designation from the Alabama League of Municipalities. He began his business career with his family’s automotive business and took over that business, T&T Auto Supply, in 1993. He sold the business to O’Reilly Auto Parts in 2003.
Tankersley served on the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors from 1998-2002, serving as chairman from 2000-2001. He also served on the Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast Board of Directors from 1993-2004 and has been a member of the Hartselle Rotary Club since 2000, serving as its president from 2003-2004.
Earlier this year, he was named a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow and, in 2007, was named Civitan Citizen of the Year.
Mike Dowdy seeking Hartselle mayor’s office
Mike Dowdy, a 51-year-old over the road truck driver has made repeated attempts to effect change in city government from the outside looking in over the past seven or eight years without a lot of success.
Now he is asking voters to give him a chance to create change from inside.
Dowdy is one of three candidates seeking to unseat Dwight Tankersley as a first term Hartselle mayor, subject to the Municipal Election on Aug. 26.
A 1975 graduate of Dyer, Tenn. High School, Dowdy earned a two-year diploma in computer automated drafting in technical school and has 14 years of experience as a truck driver. He and his wife Dinah Lynn (Pierce) have been married for 26 years. They have two children, a son, James Michael Dowdy Jr., 25, and a daughter, Valerie Pearl Dowdy, 18, both of whom are Hartselle High School graduates. They reside at 2205 Tanner Drive, SW.
Dowdy also said he is concerned because several much needed capital improvement projects have not been dealt with in an aggressive and timely manner during the past three and one-half years. He listed the replacement of the old Hammitt Street railroad bridge, expansion of the industrial park, development of the I-65 and Hwy. 36 interchange and construction of a new fire station. “Hartselle has a great opportunity to be competitive with other communities but this can only happen with a proactive and business-friendly city council, working with the mayor. I welcome the opportunity to get involved in this arena. It’s time that we began generating revenue from costly investments. I have a solid plan for the 18.8 acres of land located by the interstate, one that will be profitable for the city.
A service road parallel to the interstate from Highway 36 to Thompson Road would also be beneficial to the expansion of the industrial park and commercial growth, providing much needed jobs for our people,” Dowdy said. “Revenue from restaurants on already developed land would assist in funding critical services for the city.
