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Eight candidates running for Vincent council
Published 4:17pm Tuesday, August 7, 2012Bob Gorum, a retired art teacher, also served in the military for 14 years under three different branches.
“I went to City Council meetings, and I saw how the regular people were being handled. Any issues that were coming up, they were not doing it correctly in my view, so I offered my services. It just seemed like they were keeping everybody in the dark when it came to the quarry,” Gorum said.
Gorum said the council has a responsibility to serve the residents.
“I want to treat them like real citizens, and I want to get their input as much as I possibly can into the council,” Gorum said. “My address and phone number is going to be available. I can’t answer for little things that happen in their family or their land, but I can at least voice their opinion as much as I possibly can.”
COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
Bruce Hamilton, the area sales manager for Buffalo Rock Company’s Gadsden/Talladega division, has lived in the Vincent-Harpersville area for 17 years.
He said he hopes to pave the streets in the Willows subdivision, as well as other streets. He also wants to increase town involvement in youth sports.
Incumbent Mary Lee Reynolds has been involved with the town for 35 years, as she was the town clerk of Vincent.
“I’m running because I like to finish what I start,” Reynolds said. “We’re in the middle of quite a few things in the park and other areas. Our biggest park is in my district, as are the schools.
“I hope that we can make a better park than the one we have, that we can add to it. I have been involved in the town for 35 years now,” she added. “There’s just so much that needs to be done, and I want to be a part of it.”
COUNCIL DISTRICT 2–BRIDGETT JORDAN SMITH
Bridgett, while reading a comment made in Vincent Alabama Confidential referring to the article, “Back of the Bus Idea–Shame on You.”, I learned that somehow you managed to have the quarry redistricted out of your district and to have it now in Ralph Kimble’s District 4–the only councilman to vote no for the quarry. Somehow that sounds suspiciously vindictive on the part of those influentially involved in this redistricting incident.
According to the article, you ignored the pleas from citizens and relatives in your district for your help against the quarry, thereby alienating them, infuriating them, and ultimately selling them out. How rewarding was this for you?
Having learned this, I can easily see that you would want to dump the quarry into someone else’s district and try to distance yourself from the issue. Considering your alleged commitment to your community and to the Town of Vincent, I was shocked that you voted yes for the quarry. And now this, having taken actions to force the quarry off onto someone who didn’t want it in the first place. Shame on you! You voted yes for the quarry. You got what you wanted. Or did you? Were you ever truly pro-quarry?
Why this happened may never be known, due to the secretive actions of Vincent’s administration. However, the end result is that the citizens living in District 4 now have an unwanted quarry in their district. The citizens living in District 2 now do not have an unwanted quarry in their district. I wonder how this change will–if it already hasn’t happened–affect the property value in these districts?
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COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
Louise Spruell Simons, a lifetime resident of Vincent, is running against incumbent Larry King.
“I’ve attended almost all of Vincent’s Town Council meetings and planning commission meetings held the last three years,” Simons said. “I believe the present council is out of touch with the people. And as a council member, I pledge equal and fair government for all citizens.” Good for you! You have my support!
Larry King wants to pave roads. How ambitious! What has he done or what does he plan to do about getting more businesses into Vincent over these past two terms? It’s time for you to go.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
Bridget Jordan-Smith wants to work on parks and to have a little restaurant and a Dollar General in Vincent. Hello, Bridget, Vincent had a little restaurant. It was called Yo Mama’s. Have any idea what happened to it and why it was not successful? As far as a Dollar General, there is one about three miles down the road in Harpersville. Do we need another one? Do you have any plans to try to get more businesses established in Vincent?
By the way, your proclaimed commitment to the community and to your former district is on somewhat shaky grounds after you became a letter-carrier for White Rock Quarry. It’s time for you to go.
Mae Hugh Kidd said she wants to be a voice for the city.
“I’m looking for economic growth,” she added. “We need business coming in, and not ones that will destroy the town like the quarry.” I am fully agree with you.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Johnny Edwards has worked to improve the fire department and to try to get an ambulance service to locate in Vincent. Good for you. What else have you done or plan to do to get more businesses to locate in Vincent?
Bob Gorum states, “I went to City Council meetings, and I saw how the regular people were being handled. Any issues that were coming up, they were not doing it correctly in my view, so I offered my services. It just seemed like they were keeping everybody in the dark when it came to the quarry,” Gorum said.
Gorum said the council has a responsibility to serve the residents. That’s the right attitude, Bob. You have my support.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
Bruce Hamilton wants to pave streets and to increase town involvement in youth sports. Bruce, do you have any plans to try to improvement the academic performance of Vincent’s youth? Participation in youth sports does not improve academic performance in the classroom. Any plans to attract businesses into Vincent?
Mary Lee Reynolds has been involved with the town for 35 years. She wants more time to finish what she started, like making better parks. How much more time does she need, especially since another council member (Bridget) has the same goal? It would seem that the two working together should have been able to finalize this “better park” project, by now. It’s time for you to go.
By the way, what have you done to attract new businesses into Vincent? Also, what have you done to improve the academic performance of Vincent’s youth?
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