Continuing last week’s concise profiles of political candidates, the following information includes all candidates who will appear on Oneonta’s ballot of municipal offices: Places 1, 2, 3, and 5 for Oneonta City Council and Place 5 for Oneonta City Board of Education.
The election will be Tuesday, Aug. 23. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Aug. 23 election is Aug. 18. The runoff, if needed, will be Oct. 4. Those elected will take office on Nov. 7. The designation (I) below indicates an incumbent.
City of Oneonta
Council Place l
Richard Phillips
Age: 34
Education: Oneonta High school graduate, 2000; Auburn University, bachelor’s degree in graphic design, 2005; Birmingham School of Law, law degree, 2014.
Present job: Owns and operates Say What? logo and print design firm. Also owns and operates Richard M. Phillips, attorney at law.
Memberships, etc.: second vice-chairman, Blount County-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce; vice-president Oneonta Foundation For Educational Resources (OFFER); board member Covered Bridge Players; president, Blount County Auburn Club.
Daniel Clem
Age: 38
Education: graduated Oneonta High School, 1996; Troy University bachelor’s degree in business and management, 2001
Present job: Store manager, Weathers Ace Hardware
Memberships, etc.: member Park and Recreation Board; board member, Children’s Center; member Blount County-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce; Oneonta Business Association Citizen of the year, 2015
Council Place 2
Tonya Harvey Rogers (I)
Age: 57
Education: graduated Oneonta High school, 1977; Faulkner University, bachelor’s degree in business administration, 1993; U. S. Army War College, Master’s in Strategic (Military) Studies, 2005
Present job: Human resources team, Commercial Metals Corporation
Memberships, etc.: Member Army War College Association; member Human Development Committee, Alabama League of Municipalities; member American Legion
Rob Rice
Age: 47
Education: graduated Oneonta High School,1986; Andrew College, UAB with degrees in communications and journalism, 1988, 1991
Present job: Owner/Editor, The Blount Countian
Memberships, etc.: president, Oneonta Park and Recreation Board; board member, Blount County Crimestoppers; board member Oneonta Foundation for Education Resources (OFFER); board member Blount County- Oneonta Chamber of Commerce
Council Place 3
Mark Gargus (I)
Age: 54
Education: graduated Oneonta High School, 1980
Present job: Self-employed building/remodeling contractor
Memberships, etc.: volunteer member, Danny B. Hicks scholarship Tournament committee
Nathaniel “Nate” Butler
Age: 48
Education: graduated Oneonta High School, 1986; Wallace State, associates degree in child development, 2016
Present job: Substitute teacher, K-12, Oneonta High School
Memberships, etc.: member Phi Theta Kappa honor society; member Blount County-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce
Council Place 5
Danny Robinson (I)
Age: 63
Education: graduated Oneonta High School, 1971; Jefferson State Community College, associates degree in special education, 1978
Present job: account executive for sales, One Source Office Products; former Colonial Bank/BB&T sales/banking/finance officer/branch manager
Memberships, etc.: Member, Blount County-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce; member Oneonta Business Association
Michael “Mike” Jackson
Age: 47
Education: graduated Oneonta High school, 1987; Wallace State, 2-year technical degree in design and drafting, 1989
Present job: Security analyst, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama
Memberships, etc.: NA
Oneonta City Board of Education
Place 5
Russell Smith
Age: 50
Education: graduated J. B. Pennington High school, 1984; Birmingham- Southern College, bachelor’s degree in accounting,1989; CPA, 1991
Present job: Chief financial officer, Imaging Business Machines, LLC (IBML)
Memberships, etc.: board member Oneonta Foundation for Education Resources (OFFER); president, Oneonta High School Booster Club
Tracy Shea
Age: 46
Education: graduated Cleveland High School, 1987; attended Jefferson State Community College
Present job: construction foreman
Memberships, etc.: co-president, Oneonta High School Band Boosters; member DayStar Church, Cullman; volunteer director of Master’s Hands (charitable organization providing food, clothing, etc. to those in need)