I recently read a Facebook post that implied education and training were not important criteria for a Mayoral candidate and that the most important criterion was being a lifelong resident with strong business and civic ties to the community.  The State Legislature thinks otherwise.

 

In 2024, Senate Bill 291, the Alabama Municipal Official Training Act was signed into law by Governor Ivey.  It requires elected municipal officials to receive 10-hours of annual training beginning with the next administration that will be sworn in on November 2.

 

The Code of Alabama, Sections 11-46-22(b) and 11-46-25, says that candidates must have been residents of the municipality for at least 90 days prior to the election and be a qualified elector at the time of filing of the statement of candidacy.  Clearly, the State Legislature doesn’t seem to think lifelong residency is that important.

 

I am not a lifelong resident but I have been a part of the community for more than a half century.  My wife was born and raised here.  I wonder what percentage of Columbiana residents have lived here their entire life.  My guess is that most Columbiana residents have not lived here their entire life.  Does that, or should that, preclude them from serving our community?    

 

Having said that, I believe ties to a community are extremely beneficial to candidates.  I don’t think, necessarily, it means they know what’s best for everyone in the community and have the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job.

 

That brings me to the matter of education, training, experience, and knowledge required to perform and succeed as an elected official. 

 

Our City Clerk, Treasurer and Revenue Officer require qualification and recurring training to do the job.  Our Magistrates also require qualification and recurring training.  Our Police Officers and SROs must attend the academy and receive recurring training and certification.  Our Environmental Director (Sewer Department) and staff require mandatory certification and recurring training.  Our Library Director, Senior Center Manager, and others all require mandatory training.  Are we to believe training is not important for elected officials who are responsible for appropriating funds, establishing policies, ordinances, and managing the day-to-day execution of our city departments?  I think not.

 

That is why I have availed myself of the training resources available through the Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM).  I became a Certified Municipal Official during my first year in office.  I achieved the Advanced certification in my third year in office and am working on the Emeritus certification.  The knowledge I have gained from this training has been extremely beneficial to ensure that we run our city in accordance with State laws and do the right things. 

 

An invaluable part of this training is also the ability to network with elected officials from around the State and learn about how they deal, or have dealt, with issues like those in Columbiana. 

 

I serve on the League’s Transportation, Infrastructure, and Communications Committee.  This important committee provides input to the League as it advocates for Alabama’s 465 municipalities in the State Legislature.  It’s not formal training, per se, but it provides an essential knowledge base and allows for more networking with statewide officials.

 

I also serve as Vice Chair of the Shelby County Mayors’ Association.  That, too, provides invaluable knowledge and networking opportunities with Mayors across Shelby County.

 

I have made economic development a focal point of the current administration and will continue to do so going forward.  Is that something that one simply knows how to do by being a lifelong resident?  Probably not.  So, I put together a Team from Columbiana and we participated in the League’s Economic Development Academy in 2022.  The city’s economic growth over the last 4.5 years leads me to believe that was training time well spent.

 

Suffice it to say, I’m a firm believer in education, training, and obtaining the skills to do the job.  The Municipal Official Training Act will allow each elected official to obtain the basic Certified Municipal Official (CMO) designation during their four-year term.  Once CMO certification is obtained, municipal officials require only five hours annually.  Nothing precludes elected officials from obtaining more than 10 hours annually and obtaining the CMO certification sooner. 

 

Why was the law passed?  News reports are constantly reminding us of problems facing elected officials who did not do what was required by the law and, consequently, failed to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.  The legislature decided it needed to act.

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In my opinion, this training has always been important. Now that it is codified into law, it is even more so.