VALLEY GRANDE, AL (WSFA) -
The entire Valley Grande city council is waving goodbye to public office. The council and the mayor have decided they won't run for re-election. Now, they're looking for new leadership to move the city forward.
"We're not gonna let this city fall apart. And that's a promise," says Mayor Tom Lee.
Lee and the city council members should be proud. Each one of them has served for 8 years or more--ever since the city incorporated in 2003.
Not only have they built a town from the ground up with a new municipal building, volunteer fire department, park and ball fields, but they'll tell you they did it with hardly a quarrel between them.
"We have become as a family, and that's what you do really," says council member Donna Downs.
In an age of political gain, the council members say their time in office was never about themselves.
"I came into this as a community volunteer. I think that's the way all of us see ourselves...as community volunteers," says Libby Ezelle.
But each one admits, they're ready to step aside.
"There comes a time in your life when you know it's time to go and you go to that next step in your life and I think it's time. I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna be a grandmother," says council member Patsy Moore.
"I don't have close children here, and I'd like to spend time with them," adds council member Gene Middlebrooks.
"I think it's time for some new blood, fresh ideas," says Ezelle.
The question now is if every council member has decided not to run for re-election, what happens if no one else runs in their place?
"You have to make sure that doesn't happen. From a legal standpoint those appointments go to the Governor or you have the option to dissolve the municipal government," says Lee.
No one believes that will happen.
But if it does?
"You'd probably be interviewing the same people next year," says Lee.
When asked, each member said they'd serve again--anything to keep the town in tact.
But they hope young parents will step up to the plate now.
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