OHATCHEE, AL — Candidates for mayor and town council positions outlined their priorities for Ohatchee’s future during a public forum hosted by the Calhoun County Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening at Ohatchee High School.
The forum, moderated by Jacob Williamson with Linda Hearn, Executive Director of the Chamber, featured two mayoral candidates and 11 town council candidates across five seats. The August 26 municipal election will determine the town’s leadership for the next term.
Mayoral Race Features Incumbent vs. Challenger
ncumbent Mayor Steve Baswell faces challenger Todd Eubanks in the mayoral race. Both candidates emphasized economic development and balancing growth with the town’s small-town character.
Baswell, who has served as mayor for 17 years, highlighted the town’s recent acquisition of 115 acres, calling it “the key to all future growth in Ohatchee.” He noted the town’s progress in expanding water and wastewater systems and moving the baseball complex out of flood-prone areas.
“For the first time ever, the city council has a say in what’s going to happen on 115 acres,” Baswell said, referring to the lack of zoning ordinances elsewhere in town.
Eubanks, a retired eyeglass business owner who moved to Ohatchee in 2000, emphasized his commitment to being accessible to residents. He has been researching small-town governance and has established relationships with Alabama Power officials regarding potential projects.
“I will be a people’s mayor,” Eubanks said. “I will have everybody’s interest at heart.”
Detailed Mayoral Forum Discussion
The mayoral candidates addressed six major topics during the forum, revealing distinct approaches to governance and development:
Question 1 – Business Development and Revenue Generation
Eubanks emphasized his hands-on approach to business development, drawing from his experience as a business owner. “Having a business in Ohatchee, you see the things that could be done, what could be added,” he said. He identified the lack of suitable facilities as a key barrier, noting that the town only has strip mall spaces available. “We have no freestanding building. So really we have the strip,” Eubanks observed. His solution involves a build-to-suit approach: “What I would do as mayor, if we had somebody, well, what kind of business do you have? All right, so this is what you need, you build a suit.”
Baswell focused on the strategic importance of having available land and the tools to help businesses get established. He highlighted the town’s recent acquisition of 115 acres as crucial for future development, stating, “For the first time ever, the city council has a say in what’s going to happen on 115 acres.” He explained the significance of this purchase given the town’s lack of zoning ordinances elsewhere. “We have no zoning out here, any other restrictions in any kind of ordinance. So if we thought it was necessary, if they should do but not to buy this property, that’s the only way we can say what happens,” Baswell said. He indicated the council would determine whether the land would be used for recreation, industrial purposes, or small businesses.
Question 2 – Industrial Park Utilization:
Baswell detailed the town’s successful collaboration with the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, noting that Ohatchee secured Great Technology and later Precision Materials for the industrial park. “The town had to work the grant through ALDOT, the Department of Transportation, to build the access road and install the water main into that area so they could bring the business down there,” Baswell explained. He acknowledged setbacks when a tornado damaged Precision Materials, but reported ongoing communication with the new ownership about rebuilding plans.
Eubanks drew on his council experience during the industrial park’s development under former Mayor Joey Robertson. “That was a spec building that they had built, and it didn’t have a floor in it,” he said, emphasizing the need for build-to-suit facilities. He revealed active discussions with two potential businesses for the park, stating, “I think there’s some things that we haven’t done as a town to prepare it for new businesses in there, and I’m willing to do that.”
Question 3 – Government Relations:
Eubanks emphasized his relationships with County Commissioner Carolyn Anderson and State Representative Mark Gidley, stating, “You have to have a relationship with people like that, or you won’t get anything done.”
Baswell acknowledged that relationships are necessary but noted challenges in making them work effectively. He highlighted his collaboration with Senator Arthur Orr, whom he worked with at the Chamber of Commerce before Orr’s election to the Senate.
Question 4 – Natural Resources and River Access:
Baswell provided detailed analysis of waterway challenges, revealing, “There’s not a single public boat launch for Lake Neely Henry in Calhoun County, none.” He explained that available property is limited to Alabama Power Company land, which already has facilities in St. Clair County. He also discussed past participation in river cleanup programs, mentioning the loss of volunteer leader Kathy Harvey and recent meetings with Coosa River Keepers.
Eubanks positioned the town’s natural assets as key opportunities, listing “our citizens, our seniors or our youth, and our water” as the three major assets. He revealed that since announcing his mayoral campaign, “I’ve had two people from Alabama Power come in that work at the dam, and have offered to work with me on some stuff.” He described visits to Ragland and Glencoe to study their park systems and expressed confidence about future Alabama Power collaborations.
Question 5 – Youth and Senior Programming Balance:
Eubanks shared his personal experience transforming the youth baseball program, starting with “$225” when former Mayor Robertson turned the program over to him. “When I left and turned it over to Chad Snow, we had over $30,000 in there. We built two fields, we lit two fields, we bought a concession trailer,” he said. He outlined ambitious plans for a comprehensive complex that could serve both demographics: “You can have a walking track shaded in the woods, and you can have a splash pad. You can have things for the seniors to, if you had a complex, they could play shuffleboard.”
Baswell defended his administration’s major accomplishment of relocating the baseball fields from flood-prone areas. “When I first got elected mayor, the only thing people kept saying was, ‘We gotta get that ball field out of the swamp,'” he recalled. He emphasized the quality and longevity of the new complex: “I’m here to tell you, that’s a good field, and we are protective of it… so it’ll be good as it is now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now.”
Question 6 – Most Pressing Issues:
Baswell identified the strategic planning for the recently acquired 115-acre property as the most critical issue. “To me, that property is going to be the key to all the future growth in Ohatchee,” he said. He also announced plans to reconvene the planning commission, which had meetings from 2000-2004 before becoming dormant, and restart the beautification committee.
Eubanks took a more immediate approach, acknowledging various pressing needs while declining to specify details publicly. “There are some things that need to be done immediately, and I would think that would be something I would like to talk to you one-on-one about,” he said. In his closing remarks, he revealed one specific concern: exploring ambulance service for the community, stating he has “some people that know a lot more about it than I do, that’s willing to help me.”
Council Races Feature Mix of Experience and Fresh Perspectives
The town council races feature a combination of incumbents and newcomers across five seats.
Place 1 features incumbent Celesia “Lisa” Jennings, who has served 25 years on the council and holds Advanced Municipal Government certification, against Wesley Walker, a 20-year resident and youth sports coach who advocates for live-streaming council meetings.
Place 2 sees J.M. “Butch” Mitchell, an 81-year-old retired Goodyear employee and former union representative, facing Leigh Gardner, a pharmacy manager and small business owner active in school organizations.
Place 3 pits Raymone Underwood, a Jackson State graduate with 28 years in Department of Defense service, against Kip Reeves, a fifth-generation Ohatchee resident advocating for government transparency and waterway protection.
Place 4 features incumbent Teresa Lott, a long-time council member with Advanced Municipal Official certification, against Bryan Griffith, who has focused his campaign on restaurant options and senior transportation needs.
Place 5 includes incumbent Perry Howard, who has served 25 years on council and works as CEO/CFO of Grayland & Timber, facing John Dyer, an engineer and former restaurant owner, and Wayne Carden, a banker with 25 years of experience in municipal finance.
Common Themes Emerge Across Candidates
Several themes emerged across candidate presentations, including the need for improved recreational facilities, better senior services, economic development that preserves small-town character, and enhanced government transparency.
Multiple candidates advocated for splash pads, walking tracks, and improved playground facilities. Several emphasized the need for reliable transportation for seniors and expressed support for the town’s police and fire departments.
Many candidates also highlighted the town’s natural assets, particularly the Coosa River system, as underutilized resources for economic development and recreation.
The forum concluded with candidates thanking voters and encouraging participation in the August 26 election. All candidates emphasized their commitment to serving the community and working collaboratively to address the town’s challenges and opportunities.
Voters will decide the municipal races on August 26, 2025.
