David Grissom didn't plan to announce his bid for re-election as mayor of Russellville until mid-May. But Ronnie McDowell had other ideas.
When McDowell invited Grissom on stage during McDowell's April 16 concert at the Roxy Theater, it wasn't to join him for a duet of Older Women Are Beautiful Lovers.
In front of a packed house of 600, the country legend asked Grissom if he was going to run for a second term as mayor.
“He caught me by surprise,” Grissom said. “He asked me if I was seeking re-election, and I said yes. After that night, several people asked me for signs and said they heard the announcement on stage, so I decided it was the right time to go ahead and formally declare.”
Municipal elections are set for Tuesday, August 23, and Grissom will be looking for a second term that day. The five Russellville city council members (David Palmer, William Nale, Gary Cummings, Lanny Hubbard and Jamie Harris) have also stated their intentions to seek another term on the council.
“We've still got a lot of things going,” Grissom said. “We've been very successful with a team effort. This city council has been great to work with the past three-and-a-half years. All of us have the goal to make Russellville the best we can make it.
“We're about to build four more storm shelters. We're in the middle of the Hal Kirby, Jr. ballfield renovation, and we just received another $250,000 transportation alternative project grant for downtown."
A Russellville native who's lived here his entire life, Grissom views serving as mayor as more of an honor than a job.
“It's truly an honor to serve as mayor of my hometown, where I was born and raised, went to school and run a business,” Grissom said. “All days aren't great, but I love it and appreciate the people giving me an opportunity to serve. This is a great city council that works together, and I think you can see the results. One person can not get it done. It takes teamwork."
During his term, Grissom has seen the addition of more than 700 jobs in Russellville. With a couple of announcements anticipated in the coming months, that number is expected to surge past 800 before the August election.
Grissom has actively pursued funding that has helped Russellville secure more than $6.75 million in grant projects, with the largest share of that coming in road and bridge projects.
Grissom hopes to see each street in the downtown district have rehabilitated sidewalks and matching lighting to make the area attractive to visitors.
“It's important to have safe and stable transportation and infrastructure in place,” Grissom said. “Our work with the city council and state has been a tremendous asset that has helped us do many much-needed projects throughout Russellville.
“Some of these roads had been neglected for years. People in each district in our city need safe roads, and I think we've made great progress toward that."
Grissom, a 1990 graduate of Russellville High School, served as city councilman for District 5 from 2008-12. He earned a B.S. degree in marketing and graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Alabama in 1994.
He is a lifetime member of Russellville Masonic Lodge #371, member of Scottish Rite 32nd Degree Valley of Birmingham, and a member of Cahaba Shrine, Huntsville and the Franklin County Shrine Club.
He is the son of Judy Keeton Grissom and the late Bob Grissom. Grissom and his family are members of South Side Baptist Church.
Qualifying for Russellville municipal offices runs from July 5-19.
