05-03-2025
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox re-elected to sixth term; three incumbent councilors also win
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox spoke of a "strange mixture" of excitement and humility after winning a sixth term in Tuesday's municipal election, similar to feelings at his first successful run in 2005.
In unofficial results, he won 87% of the vote against political newcomer Denson Ferrell II, who got 859 votes, to Maddox's 5,727.
All seven Tuscaloosa City Council and all eight Tuscaloosa City School Board seats were open. Council members Norman Crow, District 3, Lee Busby, District 4, and Kip D. Tyner, District 5 and council president, ran unopposed.
More: Nick Saban makes rare endorsement in Tuscaloosa municipal election
Of the other four incumbent councilors, three unofficially won re-election outright Tuesday with one incumbent facing a runoff:
Incumbent Matthew Wilson, District 1, earned 402 votes against his challengers Que Chandler, who received 321 votes, and Joe Eatmon, who received 333 votes. Since Wilson's vote total didn't meet the plurality — 50% plus one — standard, Wilson and Eatmon will be in a runoff election April 1.
Raevan Howard won re-election with 447 votes in District 2, against her challengers, Dennis "Quick" Collins, with 145, and Ashley R. Wheat, 280.
John Faile won re-election with 797 votes in District 6, against his challengers, Eric Gaines, with 269, and Lisa M. Young, 398.
Cassius Lanier won re-election with 668 votes in District 7, against his challenger, Oliver "Maurice" Sealey, with 277.
In the school board race, District 4 representative Patrick Hamner chose not to run, and Clint Mountain ran unopposed for that seat.
In District 1, incumbent Karen Thompson-Jackson won re-election with 851 votes to opponent Tony V. Humphries' 169.
The other school board incumbents ran unopposed: Eric M. Wilson, board chair; Kendra Williams, District 2; Lesley Powell, District 3; Erica Grant, District 5; Marvin L. Lucas, District 6; and Erskine E. Simmons, District 7.
"We certainly have challenges, but I know this community meets every challenge, and I can't wait to be a part of it," Maddox said Tuesday night at an election results watch party inside the University Club.
The first day of his sixth term is "... going to look like it does most days. That's getting to work early, working hard, trying to make a difference, working with a talented team, and a very supportive City Council" and putting Tuscaloosa first in every decision.
"There are a thousand things you have to do as mayor," he said, but three of the top priorities will be:
Continuing work to get Tuscaloosa police and firefighters pension plans converted into Retirement Systems of Alabama
Getting bids on the $100 million Saban Center, an interactive STEM hub, expected to break ground on construction this spring, with plans to open in 2027.
Going to bids on the Martin Luther King Jr./Jack Warner Parkway Phase III completion, which would conclude the $73 million road project, one of the city's largest.
Another ongoing major push will be attempting to restructure the Simplified Sellers User Tax, known colloquially as the internet sales tax. Maddox estimates the city loses over $15 million a year, and roughly $5 million a year for Tuscaloosa City Schools, the way the SSUT is currently administered.
Elections are culminating events, Maddox said.
"If we do a good job, the elections take care of themselves," he said.
Speaking with reporters early Tuesday morning after voting at his polling place, Church of the Highlands, he noted that "every corner of the city" had moved forward during under his tenure, despite dealing with a recession, the April 27, 2011, tornado that decimated 13% of Tuscaloosa in six minutes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The best indicator of future performance is past performance," Maddox said, "and certainly I would think that our 20 years (of) service, of moving Tuscaloosa forward in some very difficult times, is a good resume to hopefully get another four years and earn another four years."
Turnout throughout the city was about 33% for the general election, as opposed to 55% in Tuscaloosa County for last November's election, with the presidential race topping the ballot.
"Municipal elections tend not to get the notoriety of a federal or state election, but arguably they probably matter more in your day to day than any other level of government," Maddox said.
Provisional ballots will be certified by the Tuscaloosa County Board of Registrars, becoming official when presented to the City Council on March 11. To win without a runoff, candidates must earn a plurality of the votes, 50% plus one. If a runoff election is required, it will be announced March 11, and be held April 1. Inauguration will be May 19.
Gary Cosby Jr. contributed to this report.
Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Walt Maddox earns sixth term as Tuscaloosa mayor in municipal election
