Jim Cartee is the Place 5 incumbent for Phil Campbell Town Council, and he hopes voters will elect him to continue to serve.

“We have a lot of things on our plate. We have a lot of things we need to finish,” he said. “I’m very interested in doing whatever it takes to help the people of Phil Campbell.”

Cartee points to the industry park, which needs to be finished and filled with industries, and the splash pad, which still needs additional facilities, as projects he wants to continue to contribute to as city councilman. As a retiree, Cartee said he has plenty of time to devote to the city.

“I’m in the city just about all the time, and the biggest part of the council and mayor have full time jobs,” he said. “I’m the guy who does the odds and ends, more or less.”

Cartee loves the town, where he has lived more than 40 years. “I’ve lived in a lot of places, but I never felt at home until I moved to Phil Campbell.”

He emphasized the importance of being frugal with funds “and doing the best we can with what we have.”

He said he wants people to know that he doesn’t have a selfish agenda.

“I’m just ready to serve,” Cartee said. “There are several folks running this year. I’m sure they’re all good folks … I hope they’re all prepared for what lies in store for them in dealing with city government (if they’re elected).”

Cartee said it’s good to have folks interested in city government. “We struggle to get anybody interested in doing anything or even sitting in on any meetings,” he said. “I wish there would be more people to come in and participate.”

Cartee doesn’t see the town or council through rose-colored glasses.

“We have issues. We’re not perfect. There are a lot of things people in town could help with,” Cartee said. The council can’t solve problems overnight. “We’ve got a good group up there. It’s not always been that way. We try hard to be good stewards of the properties and the tax money and whatever funds are available to us,”

Personally, “I try to get along with everybody and do what’s right and be neighborly and help folks when I can. I spend the biggest part of my time doing that and have for some time now.”

He is married to Joyce, who is secretary at PCES, and they have one daughter, Heather, who is vice president at PNC Bank in Huntsville.

He attends Mountainview Baptist Church and is retired from the mobile home industry.