Even though Franklin County residents will only have one local office to vote for in the April 24 run-off election, Probate Judge Barry Moore said that’s no reason to stay at home on Tuesday.
Franklin County Commission District 1 candidates William Earl Bishop and Billy Wilson will be vying for the democratic nomination and the chance to face republican candidate Chris Wallace in the general election in November.
Moore said run-off elections typically have a much lower turnout than primary and general elections, but he encouraged Franklin County voters to come out on Tuesday and make their voices heard.
“These local candidates have worked hard during their campaigns to show why they would be good representatives for the people of this county,” Moore said. “Some people don’t see the point in going to the polls to vote for just one or two offices, but these candidates deserve to have this run-off election treated as any other election.”
Moore said polls will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 7 p.m.
Both Bishop and Wilson’s campaign profiles were spotlighted in the “Getting to know your candidates” weekly feature in the Feb. 1, 2012 edition of the Franklin County Times and will be reprinted here to help keep voters informed on the two candidates seeking office on Tuesday:
William Bishop is no stranger to his community even though this is his first venture into politics. He was born and raised in Franklin County and lived in the area his entire life except for the period of time when he was in the military.
“I love the people of Franklin County and how they work together to make the county a better place to live,” he said.
He said he decided to run for the office of county commissioner because he wants to serve his friends and neighbors and work to make Franklin County a better place.
“My main goal is to bring industry to Franklin County in order to generate jobs, which will generate more revenue,” Bishop said. “We need this revenue so we can fix the roads in the county.”
Bishop is a retired computer technician for Amoco/BP in Decatur but he said his experience running his own business as a contractor and homebuilder would prove beneficial if he was elected.
“I have experience working with people and keeping my business afloat,” he said. “This kind of experience is needed as a county commissioner because we’re in charge setting the budgets and making sure we keep the county organized and that we use what money we have to keep the county going.”
Bishop also said his status as a retiree would ensure that he would always be available to attend to the county’s needs.
“Since I’m retired, I’ll be available 24/7 if someone needs my service,” he said. “I can travel county-wide to get problems fixed and I can work with the road crews or whoever I need to work with to make improvements where they need to be made.”
Bishop is married to Barbara Turner Bishop. They have one son, William E. Bishop, Jr., who is the technology director at the Haleyville Center of Technology and is married to Leah Hardin Bishop who is a special education teacher at Lynn Elementary School. Bishop has two granddaughters, Aleah, 12, and Allie, 6. He also has three sisters, Mattie Bishop Tucker, Mary Bishop Mills and Doris Bishop.
He has spent most of his time for the past nine months helping the Mennonite Disaster Relief teams rebuild houses in Phil Campbell and East Franklin and he has served as co-chairman of the Franklin County Alabama Tornado Disaster Relief Fund Committee that has distributed over $120,000 to tornado victims in Franklin County. Because of his service in the rebuilding efforts, Bishop was given the county’s Humanitarian Award for 2011. He is also the chairman of the Seekers of the Past, secretary and treasurer of the Union Community Saddle Club and he is the former secretary and treasurer of the East Franklin Volunteer Fire Department.
“I just want to do the right thing and always be honest and if I’m elected, that’s what the people of Franklin County will always get from me,” Bishop said.
Billy Wilson is a resident of Franklin County who is proud to have lived and served in the area his entire life.
“One of the reasons I wanted to run for office is to make sure Franklin County continues to be a great place to live and work,” he said. “This is my home and I truly care about the county and its citizens.”
Wilson has previously served on the Franklin County School Board where he was a member for six years.
“During my time on the school board, I dealt with two superintendents and five board members and I proved that I am able to get along with people and make good decisions to do what is right for the county,” he said. “I never missed a board meeting, which shows that I will be dedicated in my service and I will take my position seriously.”
Wilson said he wanted to make sure the county was run with efficiency while still keeping the citizens of the county in mind.
“The county commission has a hand in the county’s finances but I will always think before I vote on anything because this is the people’s county, not the commission’s county,” he said.
“I won’t vote for anything that would bring a hardship on the senior citizens in the area or those on a fixed income. I will also make it a priority to support our schools and to make sure these rural roads get fixed.”
Wilson said he would do whatever needed to be done to secure more revenue for the county so these projects could take place.
“I think it’s important to get more industry in Franklin County and show them all the assets we have, like our great schools,” he said. “I also think we need to explore other options such as funding at the state level if possible.
“I went to Montgomery when Wallace was the governor to get water out in East Franklin. I would be willing to go wherever I needed to go to make sure Franklin County has the resources it needs.”
Wilson is married to Joan Murphy Wilson and they have three children, Robin Wilson, Janna Flannagan and Greg Wilson. He also has two grandchildren that he said are his pride and joy – Corey Flannagan, who was a standout baseball player at Russellville, and Mollie Flannagan, who was a cheerleader and a singer at Russellville.
He played sports and graduated from Phil Campbell High School and he retired from working at Reynolds after 37 years.
“I hope to be a commissioner the people of Franklin County can be proud of and if the people elect me, I’ll work as if I’m running for office every week. I’ll always give it my best and do what’s right.”