ANNISTON, AL – The Anniston City Council interviewed five candidates yesterday to fill the Ward 3 council seat vacancy during a special public session held at the Anniston City Meeting Center.
“As we all know, former Mayor Jack Draper submitted his resignation. Therefore, in accordance with state law, I have assumed the position of mayor,” explained Mayor Ciara Smith at the opening of the meeting. “Because I was the Ward 3 councilperson or representative, that seat has now been vacated, which is the purpose of our meeting today.”
The council vacancy occurred after former councilor Smith assumed the mayoral position following Draper’s resignation. Each candidate was given three minutes for an opening statement, followed by questions from council members about their vision for Ward 3, leadership approach, and plans to address community issues.
The five applicants interviewed were Keri Driggers, Joe Harrington, Donald Reese, Russell DeAnna, and Michael Trowse.
Keri Driggers shared her personal connection to Anniston, describing how her grandfather was an ironworker who helped build the city. During her interview, Driggers discussed environmental concerns affecting Ward 3, including smoke from fires that have settled in neighborhoods and the impact of pesticides. She praised city workers who maintain the area, saying, “At any time they’re out there doing their work, I’m always the first to tell them thank you so, so very much.”
When asked about economic growth, Driggers expressed enthusiasm about recent developments. “I’m incredibly encouraged by what I see happening,” she said, though she admitted wanting to learn more about future growth plans. Driggers emphasized her accessibility, stating she would meet constituents where they are comfortable, whether through phone calls, coffee meetings, or digital communication.
Joe Harrington, with 52 years in Anniston and 24 years in military police, spoke about his decision to run after initially stepping aside for a younger candidate. “I decided to run because I think I could be an asset to the city,” Harrington explained. He identified trash dumping as a major challenge, noting that Anniston was once called “the model city” but has become “a dumping city.”
Harrington proposed concrete solutions, including restoring debris pickup service to reduce illegal dumping. “What happens when that person does not have the means and goods to [bring items to the community center]? They take it and dump it in areas within close surroundings of where they live,” he explained. He also advocated for better animal control to address abandoned fighting dogs and stronger enforcement of noise ordinances. Harrington emphasized the need for a grocery store in Ward 3, noting residents currently must travel to other neighborhoods for groceries.
Donald Reese highlighted his media background and community involvement. “I actually just found out about this position last Friday… I thought I would just do my best to put my hands in the ring, step up, and do anything I can to support my city,” Reese said. He identified Ward 3’s greatest strength as its people, particularly long-term residents.
Reese discussed his experience creating media initiatives like “Outdoor Alabama” and radio shows for Anniston, including programs highlighting the school system. “In 2013, I went to the schools, we had a great program… It gave us a chance to see that we really have a lot of great teachers, a lot of great students, and they weren’t getting the recognition,” he explained. For youth engagement, Reese proposed leveraging his media skills to reach young people: “I have to talk to them. What do they listen to? What are they tuned into?” He also suggested involving youth in covering community events.
Russell DeAnna, a former NASA engineer now living downtown, contrasted suburban and downtown living experiences. “In the suburbs, you really care about barking dogs, the leaves, trash pickup… Downtown, we have very reliable power, but everything else in the city is important,” DeAnna observed. He described the eye-opening experience of moving downtown and realizing “trash is important, crime is important, police activities, empty buildings, the whole city becomes important.”
DeAnna highlighted downtown’s beautiful architecture as Ward 3’s greatest asset, specifically mentioning the historic buildings’ potential for new uses. “It’s got just wonderful bones and architecture. It needs plumbing. It needs electrical. It may need a sprinkler system,” he noted about one particular structure. On homelessness, DeAnna suggested collaborating with surrounding municipalities: “I thought to myself… it would be nice to get a dialogue with the surrounding mayors and city council and say, ‘Well, let’s document this. Are you sending them here? And if you are, well, let’s try to get an agreement where you compensate us financially.'” DeAnna also discussed the newly opened Chief Ladiga Trail, expressing concern about maintaining it properly and suggesting overnight housing for cyclists.
Michael Trowse, who works at a medical equipment warehouse, shared his enthusiasm for helping caregivers through his job. “I love that feeling of helping caregivers that take this time to take care of their loved ones,” Trowse said. He emphasized the importance of communication with residents, suggesting, “Making that easier for access… let them know where they can go, where they can call, who they can call… I think that’s key in relationships.”
Trowse advocated for increasing youth civic engagement through school outreach programs. “I think going to schools, setting up something, kind of like a career day for government… having a community career day for students, kind of give them a chance to talk and ask questions and give them a day in the life of what you guys do,” he proposed. Regarding infrastructure, Trowse prioritized addressing abandoned properties: “I’d like to see what we’re doing with some of the older properties, demolishing them, moving them out… finishing unfinished projects.”
Council members asked candidates about collaboration, leadership approaches, and specific plans for economic development, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement. Economic development emerged as a key concern, with candidates discussing the challenges of attracting businesses while addressing regulatory barriers.
Mayor Smith concluded the session by thanking all participants and observers both in-person and online. “The council will make a decision in the very near future. Of course, that will be up for public notice as soon as possible,” she stated before adjourning the meeting.
The selected candidate will serve in the interim capacity until the regular municipal election, and the appointment is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Full interviews are below:
