Buddy Choat serves first week as Mayor of Trussville

By Megan Miller, Editor

TRUSSVILLE – Although it’s only his first week in office, Mayor Buddy Choat is excited to keep the ball rolling on a multitude of projects.

Choat said after eight years on the Trussville City Council, he felt the time was right to run for mayor.

“I had watched how the city progressed and looking toward the future growth, I was excited about the opportunity to serve,” Choat said. “Also I had been with

Former Trussville City Council President Buddy Choat made his mayoral announcement on Tuesday morning. Submitted photo

my employer for over 30 years, so the timing was right in my career and they supported my decision.”

During his first few days in office, Choat spent time meeting with various department heads and administrative staff, getting to know everyone and establishing a plan for the future.

“I’m excited to bring our new council together and work on some goals and plans we’ve shared during the campaign,” Choat said. He said he was also looking forward to assigning councilmen as liaisons to various departments, so they could begin building relationships with each department head.

Having been in office less than a week, Choat said he hasn’t faced many challenges yet, other than wading through all of his contacts.

“I was brought a contact list from Mayor Melton of all of his contacts from over the years, so one of the challenges is to meet with the different contacts and see how they’ve been involved over the years,” Choat said. “Some I know, most I don’t know.”

Choat said it is also important to him to familiarize himself with the progress of ongoing projects in order to update the council from his new position as mayor.

“We’re wrapping up two road projects including the road by Don’s Carpet,” Choat said. “That will benefit the Crescent Shopping Center, it will help their tenants and will be a safer way for people to get in and out. We’re also close to wrapping up Trussville-Clay Road in front of the Civic Center.”

Overall, Choat wanted to express his genuine thanks to the community.

“I’m looking forward to getting in and getting started on our four years as an administration,” Choat said. “We’re looking forward to a lot of good things happening, and I think people are excited about the change.”