Anniston council interviews five candidates to fill Ward 3 seat after mayor’s resignation

The Anniston City Council held interviews with five applicants to fill the Ward 3 council seat vacated after former Mayor Jack Draper submitted his resignation, the presiding official said. The council conducted the interviews in public; each applicant was allotted three minutes for an opening statement followed by council questions.

The interviews drew candidates who emphasized different priorities for Ward 3. Donald Eddy Reese, an Anniston resident who described a background in media and community outreach, said he wants to “do whatever I can to support my city” and proposed door-to-door outreach, block captains and renewed youth programming to increase civic engagement. A candidate who identified as Russell (address given as 108 West Tenth Street, Anniston) discussed downtown preservation, the condition of vacant buildings, and opportunities to retain visitors drawn by new trails; he said, “I love living downtown,” and suggested low-cost overnight options and improved wayfinding to keep visitors in the central business district.

Other applicants raised recurring neighborhood concerns: trash collection, public safety and infrastructure upkeep. Several candidates said they would prioritize increased communication with residents and noted the value of direct outreach to learn constituent priorities. One candidate suggested arts projects and small-scale community events as a tool for engagement; another highlighted promoting small businesses and using local media to showcase city assets.

Council members asked applicants about specific local topics including economic growth in Ward 3, infrastructure priorities (roads and water supply), crime and trash pickup, and how candidates would remain accessible and transparent. Candidates gave a mix of short-term outreach proposals (door‑to‑door, block captains, career days) and longer-term ideas tied to downtown redevelopment and workforce training.

The council did not appoint a replacement during the meeting. Council staff said the body will make a decision in the near future and provide public notice when a selection is scheduled. The session ended with a motion to adjourn that was seconded and carried by voice consent.

The interviews are part of the council’s process to fill the vacancy created when a sitting council member assumed the mayor’s office following Jack Draper’s resignation; the presiding official referenced “state law” as the basis for that succession during opening remarks. No formal vote on an appointment occurred at the meeting.