GOOD HOPE– Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett yesterday announced his intention to run for the same office in August. After being appointed mayor by the Good Hope City Council in 2014 after then-mayor Corey Harbison was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, Bartlett has served as mayor for the last two years. Now he is seeking his first full term in the position. Bartlett was first elected to the Good Hope City Council in 2008.
Bartlett has been an active member of the Good Hope community for many years, particularly in education. He was a teacher, coach and bus driver at Good Hope School for 28 years.
Some of his notable achievements as a city councilman include the establishment of many community events, including the Good Hope Thanksgiving meal that serves over 1,500 plates to citizens in and around Good Hope, the Good Hope Christmas parade and Christmas Day in the Park.
Since taking over the reins as mayor almost two years ago, Bartlett said, “I learn something new every day. The mayor’s job is never-ending.”
Bartlett’s plans for his first full term include infrastructure improvements and attracting new businesses to the area.
Good Hope has several public works projects that will be completed within the next year, Bartlett said in a statement. These include two that the City was awarded almost $1 million in grant money to help complete. Good Hope also has the new 305 interchange that Bartlett hopes to promote as the new “happening” exit in Cullman County. Good Hope is in the early stages of developing a traffic plan for access around the new interchange and has recently adopted a façade program for buildings located within commercial zones, said Bartlett. He said he would rather take a proactive approach to growth and believes it better to be prepared and have a plan.
Bartlett says he hopes the citizens of Good Hope are pleased with his work as mayor and will allow him to serve them for his first full term.
“I have tried to make myself available day and night to help the citizens of Good Hope. I care about our community and the people that reside here,” he said.
Qualifying for all municipal races will begin July 5, with municipal elections taking place on Aug. 23.