Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

CALERA – The candidate registration period has come to an end for the Calera Municipal Election, meaning the field has been finalized as residents prepare to head to the polls.

The mayoral race is crowded and the city’s at-large method of selecting City Council members always makes for a competitive contest.

Five candidates are running for mayor, including incumbent Jon Graham who is pursuing his fifth term. 10 candidates are in the City Council pool, with five of the six incumbents pursuing reelection.

When voting for City Council, Calera residents will select one of the 10 candidates listed. The top six vote-getters will be Calera’s Council Members.

Candidates running for City Council include:

• Drew Bradshaw,
• Chris Bunn
• Debbie Byers, an incumbent who has been on the council since being appointed fill a vacancy on June 6, 2023.
• Henry Davis
• Ernest Montgomery, an incumbent who is currently serving his third term on the council.
• Calvin Jack Morgan, an incumbent who is currently serving his first term on the council.
• David Morgan
• Kay Snowden Turner, an incumbent who is currently serving her second term on the council.
• Krispin Watson
• Alan Watts, an incumbent who is currently serving his third term on the council.

Calera will be guaranteed to have at least one new Council member when the new term begins as current member Kenny Dale Cost has turned his attention to the mayoral race.

Graham will be challenged for the mayor’s seat by Cost, Heather Edwards, Jennifer Flournoy and Derrick Hidalgo.

Following the election, changes in Calera’s government will go into effect. Pay changes, which the council approved at a meeting in February, are one change that will be made. The mayor will make $42,500 per year, the council president will make $14,500 per year and the City Council members will make $12,500 per year.

Additionally, the council previously passed a resolution to change the city’s form of government. Following the 2025 Municipal Election, the mayor will no longer be a voting member of the council but will have veto power. A presiding officer, who will be appointed by the council after the term begins on Nov. 1, will set the agenda for council meetings and run them.

Calera residents can vote in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting will take place at the Calera Public Library.

Those who want more information on the election can view it at CityofCalera.org/184/Elections-2025.