Photo courtesy of Mildred Reed
Mildred Reed.
Photo courtesy of Leslee Hughes
Leslee Hughes.
A former Pelham city councilwoman and a local attorney are among the candidates Trussville voters will choose from this summer.
Mildred Reed, an instructor at Jefferson State Community College and former Pelham city council pro tem, said she is seeking Place 4 on the council. Reed emphasized the city’s need for experienced leadership during a period of transition.
“My heart is that of service,” Reed said. “The reason I am pursuing city council in our community here is because I do have that knowledge and experience in our city as we’re looking at a major transition in leadership that’s important to have, and I want to be able to offer that knowledge, that skill, that experience, the education, all of those things for our community, for our city as we move forward into the future.”
Reed, who moved to Trussville nearly a year and a half ago, has a background that includes service on Pelham’s planning and zoning commission and eight years on its city council. She cited financial strength, stakeholder relationship building and infrastructure as top priorities for her campaign.
“One of the things that’s important to me is financial strength and security for our city,” she said. “Revenue is important. It is vital. It’s not only vital for the city, but it’s also vital in all of our lives.”
Leslee Hughes, an attorney and partner at Cahaba Law Group, said she has been considering a run for several years and now felt the timing was right.
“After a lot of prayer and consideration and talking it over with (husband) Scott, we made the decision that this was probably the best time for me to run if I was going to pursue this avenue — this made the most sense,” Hughes said.
Hughes has lived in Trussville since 2003 and raised her three daughters through the local school system. She said maintaining the city’s infrastructure, supporting law enforcement and first responders and planning for long-term growth are among her primary concerns.
“The community as a whole has outpaced the infrastructure,” Hughes said. “If we want this community to continue to grow…there at least needs to be some structure in place that keeps us and prevents us from misuse or mismanagement or lack of plan.”
While Reed has already selected Place 4 for her run, Hughes said she is still deciding.
“For me, everything needs to be committed to prayer,” Hughes said. “Until I’m comfortable with a decision, I tend to mull it over.”
The election is scheduled for Aug. 26.
