A look back at Hartselle mayors
Sept. 15, 1964 – Run-off election results show that incumbent Mayor John O. Burleson defeated challenger John D. Long 706-705 in today’s municipal election. This would prove to be probably the most controversial local election in Hartselle’s history as two votes, which would affect the outcome, are challenged.
Oct. 6, 1964 – John Reynolds, only recently elected as a freshman member of the Hartselle city council, was sworn in as mayor in one of the most unusual and controversial chapters in Hartselle municipal history. This avoided a long and expensive court fight as Burleson was sworn in but then resigned in favor of Reynolds, the new council leader.
Sept. 14, 1965 – Mayor John Reynolds has been working closely with Governor George Wallace and his administration to ensure that Hartselle’s greatly improved airport is an integral part of the state system
Feb. 15, 1968 – Ernest Maddox will be Hartselle’s new mayor, succeeding John Reynolds who resigned to direct the urban redevelopment program.
July 2, 1968 – John D. Long, Melvin Black, and Grady J. Long have qualified to run for Hartselle mayor.
Aug. 2, 1968 – Site work will begin soon at the location of Phillips Industries. Former Mayor John Reynolds and current Mayor Ernest Maddox have both done yeoman work in securing this industry for Hartselle.
Aug. 13, 1968 – John D. Long will be Hartselle’s new mayor. In today’s balloting he got nearly two-thirds (65.7 percent) of the vote to only about 35 percent for his two opponents, Grady Long and Melvin Black.
Aug. 8, 1972 – Mayor John D. Long successfully fended off two challengers in today’s election. He won easily without a runoff over Bill Gardner and Bruce Johnson, amassing more than two-thirds of the votes cast.
March 25, 1975 – Scotty Maples is implementing several innovative programs as the new county recreation director.
July 27, 1976 – The Hartselle City Council has empowered Mayor John D. Long to enter an agreement with Joe Wheeler Electric to put in street lights in the Mason Acres subdivision.
Aug. 10, 1976 – John D. Long won a third term as Hartselle’s mayor today, defeating Ed Monroe, Bill Gardner, and Wayne Smith decisively. Long got 56 percent of the vote to 44 percent for all of his challengers combined.
April 22, 1980 – Mayor John D. Long announced that he has changed his mind and will not seek re-election to a fourth term as mayor of Hartselle. Instead he will run for a council seat and throw his support behind Bob Horton’s mayoral candidacy.
July 1, 1980 – Five men have qualified to run for mayor of Hartselle: Don Brown, Bob Horton, Hoyt Roberts, R. H. (Jack) Young, and Paul D. Weinman.
July 28, 1980 – Paul Weinman and Don Brown are vying to become Hartselle’s first full-time mayor. Who will get to fulfill this position depends on the outcome of tomorrow’s runoff. Kenneth Thompson faces incumbent Mayor John D. Long for place three on the city council.
July 29, 1980 – Don Brown beat Paul Weinman 995-776 in today’s mayoral run-off. John D. Long lost to Kenneth Thompson in the place three council run-off. Hulon Pounders is the only holdover from the old council.
July 22, 1984 – Mayor Don Brown, the incumbent, and John D. Long, the former city chief executive, are accelerating their campaigns as election day approaches. These two were selected for run-off slots in the initial July 10 voting.
July 31, 1984 – John D. Long beat incumbent Mayor Don Brown by an 86-vote margin in today’s runoff election to claim a fourth term as Hartselle’s mayor.
Aug. 23, 1988 – Scotty Maples and Sammie Wiley will run it off to see who will be Hartselle’s new mayor. Maples got 1,100 votes and Wiley 833. The other candidates got a combined total of 900. (Maples won.)
