JACKSONVILLE, AL – Municipal candidates for Jacksonville’s upcoming August 26 election presented their platforms to voters at a candidate forum held Thursday evening at the Public Safety Complex. The event, organized by the Calhoun County Area Chamber and Visitor Center, featured candidates for mayor and three city council positions.
Mayoral Candidates Address Six Key Questions
Three candidates are vying for the mayor’s position: Tony Taylor, Mark Jones, and Laura Humphreys. The forum featured six questions that revealed distinct approaches to Jacksonville’s future.
Question 1: University-City Collaboration Strategy
Tony Taylor emphasized the existing strong relationship, noting collaborative efforts like the new fire station project with Jacksonville State and the revival of quarterly Town and Gown meetings. He stressed that “we can’t operate without each other” and advocated for deeper partnership where both entities “hold hands and figure that out.”
Mark Jones leveraged his 32-year university experience and eight years on city council, highlighting his role in expanding Town and Gown from annual to quarterly meetings. He emphasized his unique position understanding both entities and stated his goal would be “city first, without a doubt, but the city’s only gonna strive when the university strives.”
Laura Humphreys positioned her outsider perspective as advantageous, noting Jacksonville’s USA Today ranking as the number three college town. She emphasized starting fresh without historical baggage and stressed the need to capitalize on this recognition, stating “we need to captivate that and build on that energy.”
Question 2: Avoiding Duplication and Improving Services
Mark Jones detailed existing public safety collaboration and suggested reducing governmental barriers. He cited examples like shared resources during emergencies and proposed creative solutions like shared equipment purchases.
Laura Humphreys advocated for proactive communication, stating “the best defense is a good offense.” She emphasized regular dialogue to establish goals and prevent emergency situations, stressing the need for city and university presence at each other’s events.
Tony Taylor clarified that much collaboration already exists but goes unnoticed, comparing it to “a duck paddling really quick under water.” He emphasized continuing existing partnerships while maintaining forward progress.
Question 3: Growth Moratorium Assessment
Laura Humphreys stated she’s “not a huge fan of moratoriums” but acknowledged infrastructure needs, particularly citing flooding issues at the car wash area. She advocated for ongoing conversation rather than formal moratoriums.
Tony Taylor clarified the moratorium lasted only about four weeks, not six months, and was implemented to ensure sewer capacity for a proposed 500-room facility. He emphasized being “anti-safety and infrastructure” problems rather than anti-growth.
Mark Jones supported the measured approach, stating “sometimes you have to slow down and study things” to avoid unintended consequences, while noting that markets typically balance themselves.
Question 4: Fiscal Responsibility and Investment Priorities
Tony Taylor highlighted Jacksonville’s 12% revenue increase in 2025, the highest percentage in the county. He emphasized continuing pro-business policies and cited the planned 76-bed Fairfield Inn & Suites as crucial for keeping visitors in Jacksonville rather than losing them to other cities.
Mark Jones emphasized maintaining the current 10-cent sales tax without increases while planning for future infrastructure needs. He stressed the connection between university growth and city revenue, noting increased local business patronage from more students.
Laura Humphreys focused on community engagement in budget processes, emphasizing that “it’s our tax dollars, we all should have some say.” She stressed infrastructure as the main priority while advocating for meaningful two-way communication beyond council meetings.
Question 5: Regional Collaboration Strategy
Mark Jones emphasized working with county and state governments for grants and resources, citing current sewer system grants. He proposed regional healthcare collaboration with Piedmont and other municipalities, similar to Marshall County’s north-south hospital model.
Laura Humphreys called regional collaboration “not just a good thing, it’s a necessity,” noting that Highway 21 connects all area municipalities. She highlighted the regional airport’s potential and emphasized that wins for neighboring cities benefit Jacksonville.
Tony Taylor drew from his 31-year fire chief experience in Madison, emphasizing existing regional cooperation. He cited upcoming participation in Ladiga Trail meetings with Anniston, stressing that cities “can’t be an island by ourselves because we’ll falter and fail.”
Question 6: Most Pressing Issue
Laura Humphreys identified community engagement as the top priority, emphasizing the need to move “from a consumer type of community to a contributor community” where people feel “seen, heard, and valued.”
Tony Taylor agreed that “it’s all about the people,” emphasizing the need for open-door policies and citizen engagement. He wished “every council meeting we had was a crowd just like this.”
Mark Jones rejected focusing on just one issue, citing his high school biology teacher’s advice to “not put all your eggs in one basket.” He emphasized quality of life as encompassing multiple factors while highlighting the freestanding emergency room as a top priority.
University-City Partnership a Key Theme
All three mayoral candidates identified the Jacksonville-Jacksonville State University relationship as crucial to the city’s future. Discussion centered on expanding collaboration beyond existing public safety partnerships to include shared resources, infrastructure planning, and economic development initiatives.
Candidates addressed the city’s six-month moratorium on multifamily developments, which Taylor clarified lasted only about four weeks and was implemented to ensure infrastructure capacity for growth. The discussion highlighted ongoing challenges with aging infrastructure and the need for proactive planning.
City Council Races Draw Multiple Candidates
Place 2: Terry Wilson (Incumbent) vs. Scott Hodge (Absent)
Terry Wilson had the forum to himself as his opponent Scott Hodge was unable to attend. Wilson, married to his wife Becky for 51 years with two children and five grandchildren, emphasized his deep community roots and faith-based approach to service. He outlined three key areas of focus:
Personal Background: Wilson described himself as “a man of faith” who has always tried to give back to Jacksonville, stating “home is where your heart is, and I love Jacksonville.”
Past Accomplishments: He highlighted the council’s work with five different hospitals toward establishing a freestanding emergency room, purchasing new police cars, a fire truck, and ambulance for public safety, installing sidewalks around schools for pedestrian safety, and supporting the school system with academic, technical, and vocational scholarships.
Future Goals: Wilson emphasized continuing progress on the freestanding emergency room as his top priority, stating “it has been and will be a top priority.” He also mentioned a corporation moving in that will create approximately 150 new jobs, though his time expired before he could elaborate.
Place 3: James Newell vs. Jimmy Harrell
James Newell brought extensive manufacturing experience to his candidacy, having worked 48 years in the sector managing departments of up to 40 people and multi-million dollar budgets. A Jacksonville native who attended Kitty Stone Elementary (when Kitty Stone was his principal), Jacksonville High School, and Jacksonville State University, Newell also earned a master’s degree from East Tennessee State University.
His platform focused on five key areas:
- Working with the council to address emergency room needs
- Establishing listening posts throughout the city to assess citizen needs
- Maintaining accountability and accessibility as a retired individual
- Supporting community improvement projects, particularly citing the Eastwood community as a model for the city, county, state, and nation
- Continuing to assess and improve pedestrian safety
Newell emphasized his qualifications include knowing the city well, having business experience for timely responses, being action-oriented, and having the ability to reach consensus with county, state, and federal entities.
Jimmy Harrell, who previously served on the council, highlighted his past accomplishments and future priorities. During his previous tenure, he successfully lowered employee family health insurance coverage from $450 to $250 per month, wrote and passed the city’s current animal control ordinance, researched crucial crosswalk upgrades, worked with Alabama Power to upgrade outdated lighting to LED after the 2018 tornado, and maintained a balanced budget without tax increases.
His priorities if re-elected include:
- Firmly protecting zoning laws and restrictions to maintain neighborhood safety and family orientation
- Prioritizing establishment of a standalone emergency room through collaboration with state leaders
- Maintaining accountability and transparency in government
- Taking a strategic approach to growth management while preserving Jacksonville’s character
- Being accountable for every tax dollar spent and pursuing federal and state grants
Place 5: Marques Green (Incumbent) vs. Torsten Dryden
Marques Green, appointed to the position in March, emphasized his community engagement and professional background. With over 20 years of experience briefing high-ranking military officials including brigadier generals and lieutenant colonels, Green also spends time teaching and coaching children. He described his approach as being a “connector” and “conduit” between citizens and city government.
Green highlighted his commitment to transparency and community engagement, noting he’s been “locked in with the current council and the mayor” learning about municipal operations and how to improve the city while maintaining its small-town feel alongside the university. He emphasized going door-to-door in various neighborhoods including Stony Brook, Eastwood, North Oaks, and the avenues to understand residents’ specific needs and challenges.
His focus areas include improving the city’s communication app, building relationships, and being accessible to citizens for issues like speed bump requests, positioning himself as someone who will “go find out and try to be a connector.”
Torsten Dryden, a lifelong Jacksonville resident and small business owner working as a professional counselor, emphasized his commitment to community engagement and philanthropy. He also trains counselors and school counselors at Jacksonville State University.
Dryden’s platform focused on:
- Continuing the good work of current council and mayor
- Prioritizing citizen welfare and well-being through excellent law enforcement, fire department, education, and healthcare facilities
- Diversifying industry to create dynamic jobs with benefits that generate tax revenue
- Maintaining Jacksonville’s small-town feeling while promoting progress
- Bringing in additional dollars through grants and community partnerships
- Furthering partnerships with large local industry including Jacksonville State
He emphasized wanting to “give back and bring us all together” while maintaining transparency and working as part of the council team.
Emergency Healthcare Remains Priority
Multiple candidates across all races identified establishing a freestanding emergency room as a top priority. Current and former council members detailed ongoing efforts to work with hospitals and state officials to secure the necessary certificate of need for such a facility.
Election Details
Early voting for the municipal election begins August 12, with election day scheduled for August 26. The city will host a candidate meet-and-greet Sunday, July 28, from 4-6 p.m. at Public Square Park.
The forum was moderated by Jakob Williamson with Henry Mullinax serving as timekeeper. Candidates had three minutes for opening statements and two minutes for questions, with mayoral candidates receiving additional time for closing statements.
The forum recording and additional candidate information are available through the Calhoun Journal’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and located at the link at the bottom of the article.
