CULLMAN – Serving the residents of Cullman for the past eight years isn’t enough for Cullman Mayor Max A. Townson. He and the team at city council have accomplished much during his tenure as mayor and Townson still has more work he wants to get done. As he gears up for another election, the voters of Cullman will see the Townson name on the ballot for mayor during the municipal election on Aug. 23.
Born and raised in Cullman, Townson left for a stint in the United States Air Force right out of high school, following in his two older brothers’ footsteps. In 1966, with the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act, soldiers who served during times of peace were made eligible for the G.I. Bill. With that opportunity, Townson went to college, married and settled back home in Cullman, where he has remained since.
“I had 35 years in sales, and I feel like now I’m selling and promoting the city of Cullman. Best place to live, work, play and worship. That’s my only ambition. This is not a political stepping stone for anything else. When I leave here, I go to the house,” Townson said as his hometown pride shone bright.
After his career in pharmaceutical sales, friends approached Townson at a New Year’s Eve party with the idea that his leadership and sales skills, along with his servant’s heart, would make him an ideal candidate for mayor of Cullman. After discussion with his wife, Townson decided to make a run for the position and his wife agreed that it was the right choice for their family and their beloved community.
Previous to his 1998 win for the mayor’s seat in Cullman, Townson was appointed to the Cullman City School Board from 1992-96. Additionally, he served as a volunteer in many civic and church organizations, including the church council at St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church and with the Pilot House and Christmas Love.
His first year as mayor was followed by the deep recession of 2009 when the city “had to reduce our budget by 20 percent. I can look back and almost pinpoint when we started to rise. It was like the tornadoes woke up a sleeping giant and Cullman became a phoenix rising and we have not stopped since then. We hope for even (sic) better things, more retail, more industry. We have a great, great city and group of people. Every employee is dedicated to their work and their professionalism. I stress that. Take, for example, Cullman Economic Development Agency and how they’re constantly looking not only to bring industry in, but to take care of the industry that’s already here for further expansion.”
The growth in Cullman’s industrial landscape has increased exponentially as a result of the mayor and city council’s diligent work ethic and their ability to work well together.
“My proudest accomplishment is being able to work with the council so well. When you have a council and a mayor that are entwined and on the same path with the same goals, it makes a big difference. Teamwork!”
His accomplishments don’t end there as there’s “the new retail, the shopping center development, the new Wal-Mart on 157, Duck River Dam project, how we recovered from the tornadoes. Cleaning up some of the places that were vacant made a huge difference.”
The mayor’s teamwork ideal doesn’t begin and end at the city line, as he sees Cullman County as a whole, and what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.
“Getting along with the county commission is where we’ve seen a great change too. I’ve gotten along with the chairmen, both Chairman Graves and now Chairman Walker who’s in his second term. We work well together. I say this, too, and I know people probably get tired of me saying it, but what’s good for Cullman County is good for the City and what’s good for the City is good for the County, so we all need to be working together for Cullman County.
“We have an organization that includes all of the mayors in Cullman County, and we meet about six times a year to discuss things. Another teamwork and project that we can look to and maybe one of my proudest is how we got together with our representatives. They pulled us in a room and said, for us to get (the new interchange at County Road) 222, we’re all going to have to work together because one entity couldn’t afford it on its own. So we came together with Cullman, Good Hope, Cullman County and the Chamber of Commerce and we split that cost four ways. Each entity paid their part and that’s how we got the new interchange, by working together.”
Townson had a lunchtime meeting scheduled with Retail Strategies, a national retail firm that represents cities and teams them up with retailers such as Publix and Dick’s Sporting Goods, on the day we met. His passion for working for the betterment of Cullman for future generations doesn’t even take lunch breaks.
The municipal election is scheduled for August 23, with an October 4 run-off if necessary.
The window to qualify for the ballot is from July 5-19.
