Goodwater hosts meet, greet the candidates
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Special to the News
News from Goodwater
A large crowd gathered in Goodwater’s Community Center last Thursday evening, August 14, to hear from the candidates running for mayor and Town Council.
This convening was hosted and sponsored by Goodwater’s Ministerial Alliance and Goodwater’s Disabled Veterans Organization. Additional seats had to be set up quickly to accommodate the flood of people pouring into the center.
Each candidate was given five minutes to address the citizens of Goodwater, share information about themselves and relay their ideas for leading the city forward.
All candidates were present with the exception of mayoral incumbent, Lonnie Caldwell, and Town Council candidate for Seat 3, Lashayla Coleman.
Three unopposed Town Council members; Jerome Crayton, John Kelley and Genovis Whetstone; were also in attendance and addressed the crowd.
Read on to learn more about Goodwater’s Town Council candidates, organized in the order in which they spoke.
John Riesenbeck-Lopez (Bobby) for Seat 2
“Most of you in here probably recognize me from my work at Dollar General and know me as ‘Bobby.’”
Riesenbeck-Lopez (Bobby) shared that he moved to Goodwater more than two years ago and has loved his time here. He thinks the town and its people are amazing. Yet, he sees the opportunities for growth, for the community and the children, that are being missed.
He talked about the importance of everyone working together to turn the town around and then thanked everyone for showing up for this event.
“The people here clearly recognize the need for a change and are willing to put in the time and effort to make this change happen,” he said.
In closing, Riesenbeck-Lopez stated, “We need strong voices, and we need agents of change.”
Torrey Jones for Seat 2
Born and raised in Goodwater, Torrey Jones moved away in 2014 for his work with Farmer’s Home Furniture. Over the last decade, he’s been in charge of opening new store locations and helping other communities grow.
Jones shared, “I’ve learned a lot.”
Now he wants to bring that knowledge back to his hometown of Goodwater, saying, “I want to help Goodwater grow again.”
Jones stated that he wants to get into his council seat and learn the position, the responsibilities and rules of the position, before he starts promising what he can do.
Jones wants Goodwater to be a place not just to retire, but a place where people of any age can come back and have a good place to live.
“We need development,” Jones said.
He knows that the town needs more jobs and more opportunities for the children and the community as a whole.
“Let’s bring Goodwater back by moving forward,” Jones stated.
Mae Catherine Wilson for Seat 2
“I’m running because I believe that every resident in our town deserves clean streets, safe sidewalks and a community that we can be proud of,” Mae Catherine Wilson stated.
Wilson shared that Goodwater residents see the problems in their town that never seem to get fixed such as street potholes, trash piling up along roadways and insufficient street lighting. She believes these unaddressed issues not only affect the quality of the lives of the town’s residents, but their safety and values, as well.
One of her top priorities as a Town Council member will be sanitation and street improvements, including repairing sidewalks and improving drainage.
She also believes in the importance of listening to the people who live and pay taxes in Goodwater. “We as citizens deserve to have our tax dollars be used to better our communities,” she said.
Wilson closed her remarks with, “You can count on me to uphold a level of integrity and transparency.”
James (Jimmie) Braun for Seat 2
A member of the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2003, Jimmie Braun lived and worked around the country before moving to Goodwater five years ago and deciding to make this town his home.
After volunteering with the Goodwater Fire Department, he noticed a lack of medics in the ambulance service so he sent himself to school and got his EMT license.
“I found a need. I filled that need,” Braun shared.
He added that seeing a need was one of his primary motivations to run for Town Council.
One of his first priorities will be to create a system in which the voices of the people can be heard. He wants to establish a community website and host regular town hall meetings where Goodwater citizens can bring their questions and concerns.
As an EMT and firefighter, Braun knows the importance of a community having a responsive and well equipped safety team. He wants to ensure Goodwater has the resources to keep its citizens safe.
Braun closed with, “That’s what I want to do as a city council member… I want to come and help.”
Incumbent Mary Lee Graham for Seat 3
“Ever since I’ve been sitting on this council seat, I’ve had a vision for this city,” stated Mary Lee Graham.
Graham has been a business owner for more than 40 years and shared that her beauty shop has helped many young women get established in their own businesses over the years. As the daughter of a minister, helping others is second nature to her.
Graham sees a huge amount of potential in Goodwater, capitalizing on and highlighting the historic nature of the town. She wants to see the town restored and has created a beautification board for Goodwater.
“I want to be a voice for the people,” she said, “for all people, without judgment.”
Graham has built her life in Goodwater. She proclaimed enthusiastically, “I want to see this place grow.”
Coosa County commissioners Bertha McElrath and John Forbus also attended the convening and spoke to the crowd after the candidates.
Forbus encouraged those running for office to back up their vision with purpose, reminding them that this was an integral component of not only setting goals, but achieving them.
McElrath directly addressed the candidates, stating that Coosa County commissioners were on their side and reminding them of the importance of everyone working together for the betterment of Goodwater and the county as a whole.
One definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing and hoping for different results. Mayoral candidate Samuel Evans reminded Goodwater’s citizens, “We’re not insane.”
Elections are Tuesday, August 26, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Make sure your voice is heard and vote.
