Mayor David Grissom

Russellville Mayor David Reed Grissom has announced that he will seek a second term to the city’s highest office this summer.

Grissom, a businessman, was first elected mayor in 2012. The 1990 Russellville High School graduate represented District 5 on the Russellville City Council from 2008-2012.

Grissom cited several ongoing projects he wants to see finished as the driving force behind his re-election campaign.

“There are many positive things taking place in and around Russellville,” Grissom said. “We are adding new jobs, we have been involved in a massive effort to repave and repair many of the roads in the city, and we have our sights set on developing our downtown district once again.

“One positive for our business owners and homeowners has been the change in our insurance rating. The city is one of just a few in the state now to have a Fire ISO rating of 2. That will keep the premiums down for all of our residents.”

During his term as mayor, Grissom has seen the addition of more than 700 jobs in the city.  That number should climb to over 800 before the election in August.

He praised local and state officials and their willingness to work together in enabling the city to land additional jobs at Innovative Hearth Products and in bringing Southern Energy Homes to Russellville as well as several new retail businesses and restaurants.

“One of the main things I campaigned on four years ago, and it is just as important today, is that we all work together as a team to accomplish what we want for the city,” Grissom said. “I think we have built relationships with people across the state and country that will help us moving forward.”

Grissom said he has actively pursued funding that has helped the city secure more than $6.75 million in grant projects, most being road paving projects, with most paid through state and federal funds. That figure also includes $250,000 through a CDBG grant that will rebuild the ball fields at Hal Kirby, Jr. Park and $550,000 in a TAP projects in the Downtown Redevelopment District that are ongoing.  Over the course of the next five to ten years, Grissom hopes each street in the downtown district will have rehabilitated sidewalks and matching light poles.

“It is important to have safe and stable transportation and infrastructure in place,” he said. “Our work with the city council and the state has been a tremendous asset that has helped us do many much needed projects throughout Russellville. Some of the roads had been neglected for years and people in each district of our city need to have safe roads, and I think we have made great progress towards that.”

Grissom has been working with city merchants and residents about plans for redeveloping the downtown business district as well.

“Getting the downtown area back on its feet and back to what it used to be years ago was something I had in mind when I first took office,” Grissom said. “I’ve talked with city leaders throughout the country that have undergone similar downtown transformations, and we are basing what we want to do after what these cities have already done successfully.”

Grissom said the city is also in the midst of a study conducted by Auburn University that he believes will help get city employees’ pay on an even level with other municipalities and private sector jobs.

Grissom is the son of Judy Keeton Grissom and the late Bob Grissom. He is married to Melissa Fuller Grissom, who is an art teacher at Russellville High School. They have one daughter, Kate Reed Grissom, who is 10 years old and in the fifth grade at Russellville Elementary School.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Alabama in 1994. Since that time, he has been involved in numerous business endeavors in northwest Alabama.

He is a member of the Community Spirit Bank Board of Directors, Community Spirit Bank Advisory Board and the Audit Committee of Community Spirit Bank.

He is a lifetime member of Russellville Masonic Lodge #371, member of Scottish Rite 32nd Degree Valley of Birmingham, member of Cahaba Shrine, Huntsville, and member of the Franklin County Shrine Club.

He and his family are members of South Side Baptist Church.

“I believe teamwork is more important for our city now than ever before,” he said.

“First and foremost, the mayor and council members must work together as a TEAM for the people and our city. This spirit of teamwork must be incorporated into every department and by every employee of the city. From the mayor to the department heads to the part time employees, we must all keep in mind that we work for the people of Russellville.”