Harrison won’t seek 4th term on Atmore council
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Qualifying for all five seats on the Atmore City Council and the mayor’s office won’t begin for another three weeks, but last week’s announcement by an incumbent council member that he won’t seek another term promises to make the days leading up to the August election a little more interesting.
Chris Harrison, who has represented District 5 on the council since 2012, announced last week that he will not seek a fourth term on the city’s governing body, making him the second current council member to choose such a path.
Harrison earned his third term by finishing second to local realtor Bub Gideons in a three-candidate 2020 election, then defeating Gideons by 16 votes (124-108) in a runoff.
Gideons announced several weeks ago he would try again to win the seat, but Harrison gave no indication that the realtor’s announcement had anything to do with his own decision.
The outgoing councilman, whose term will expire in November, was born and reared in Atmore. He issued the following statement to local media:
“Good evening, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens of Atmore,
“Serving as your City Council representative for District 5 has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I’m deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me and the opportunity to serve the community we all love.
“After much thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I’ve made the decision that I will not seek re-election at the end of my current term.
“This was not an easy decision, but it’s the right one — for me, for my family, and I believe, for the district. I’ve always believed that leadership is about knowing when to step up — and also when it’s time to step aside and make room for new voices and new ideas.
“We’ve made progress together — on roads and infrastructure, public safety, economic development, and quality-of-life improvements. While every goal hasn’t yet been reached, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and remain confident that the work will continue.
“I want to thank the people of District 5. You’ve welcomed me into your homes, shared your concerns, and trusted me with your hopes for Atmore’s future. That trust has meant everything to me.
“To my fellow council members and Mayor (Jim) Staff, thank you for your partnership and dedication to our city. To the city staff and workers — your efforts often go unseen, but they never go unappreciated.
“We still have time left in this term, and I promise to continue giving it my all until my final day in office. I am proud of the work we’ve done, and I’m even more hopeful about what lies ahead for Atmore.
“Thank you, District 5. It has truly been my privilege to serve you.”
More changes
Harrison’s announcement, along with a similar declaration by veteran District 1 representative Webb Nall that he won’t seek another term, guarantees the city council will have at least two new faces when newly elected city council members are administered the oath of office in November.
Bob Turk has so far been the only person to have expressed his intention to seek the seat that has been filled the past 25 years (and 29 years overall) by Nall.
District 4’s Shawn Lassiter, who will take over as interim mayor on June 1 and plans to seek the office on a permanent basis in August, will be challenged in the city election by two people whose names are familiar to city voters.
Community activist Sandra Gray, who drew 102 votes in the 2020 District 5 race to force the runoff between Harrison and Gideons, has announced her intent to run for mayor. Ernie Digmon, a former Department of Human Resources employee who — along with Susan Smith — qualified to run against Mayor Staff in 2020 but later pulled out of the race, has also announced plans to run against Lassiter.
When Lassiter vacates his council seat and takes up occupancy in the mayor’s office, the council will have to name a replacement to fill the District 4 vacancy until November. David Dobson, another local realtor, has thrown his hat into the ring for the temporary position and has announced he will seek a four-year term as the district’s council representative in August.
District 2’s Jerome Webster and District 3’s Eunice Johnson have both said they will seek another term on the council, and no challengers had surfaced for either by Tuesday’s press deadline.