Tuscaloosa's New Leaders Sworn In!

Big things are happening in Tuscaloosa! On May 19th, the River Market was buzzing as city and school officials officially kicked off their new terms at a joint inauguration ceremony. Get ready for another four years with Mayor Walt Maddox, the whole City Council crew, and our Tuscaloosa City Board of Education members!

Election Recap

Remember those municipal elections? It all went down back in March, with a nail-biting runoff in April that saw Joe Eatmon snag the District 1 City Council seat from Matthew Wilson. Welcome aboard, Joe! He's joining familiar faces like Raevan Howard, Norman Crow, Lee Busby, Kip Tyner, John Faile, and Cassius Lanier.

Mayor Maddox's Vision

Mayor Walt Maddox, now in his sixth term, laid out his vision for the future. His big focus? Shared responsibility and keeping Tuscaloosa financially strong. He called out Alabama’s Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT), explaining how it's costing the city big bucks by favoring online sales over our local businesses. To combat this, he unveiled "Tuscaloosa First," an initiative designed to ensure that every tax dollar is used wisely.

City Council President's Perspective

City Council President Kip Tyner (entering his eighth term!) is stoked about the new council lineup and excited to work with Eatmon. His message? Support local businesses! Let’s keep those dollars circulating right here in Tuscaloosa!

School Board Updates

The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education also took their oaths. Chair Eric Wilson and fellow board members are ready to roll. Wilson gave a shout-out to Superintendent Mike Daria for his incredible service to the district, announcing his retirement in 2026. Also, despite the property tax referendum failing, Wilson vowed the board is committed to moving "onward, upward, full speed ahead!" for our schools.