By Staff
Former Russellville City Police Captain David Hester has decided to return to the political arena.
He will be seeking the District 3 council seat. Hester previously served four consecutive terms as Franklin County Coroner.
Hester was born and raised in Russellville and graduated from Russellville High School in 1979. After high school he attended Northwest Community College and Bevill State in Hamilton.
He started serving the citizens of Russellville and Franklin County as an Emergency Medical Technician with Baccus Ambulance Service. In 1980, he went to work with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
In 1985 he was hired as a dispatcher with the city of Russellville. He quickly rose through the ranks and retired as a Captain over Investigation with 27 years of experience in law enforcement.
Through years of working with the public, Hester said he has had citizens voice several concerns to him, which he agrees with. There are several city streets that lead to the downtown area which would leave others disappointed if this were to be their first impression of our city, he said.
He said that there are several residences, as well as abandoned homes, buildings, and apartments, that either have old cars in the lawn, are in need of painting, are unsafe and falling in, or have uncut lawns. This is definitely not the picture we need to leave in the minds of visitors or other individuals that may be scouting out Russellville for a possible new business, he said.
"When representatives from a prospective plant visit and want to know what Russellville has to offer them, the city of Russellville needs to have a spec building already built and waiting for someone to move in and start hiring people from our city and county," Hester said.
He also believes that when a neighborhood is classified as a single family dwelling that it truly should be a single family dwelling.
"I am aware, as are other citizens of Russellville, that there is more than one family living in various residences throughout Russellville.," he said.
Hester said this not only deprives the city of extra tax dollars through utilities and property taxes, but it is a violation and a problem that needs to be handled.
He also thinks council members should work not only with the county commission, but also with other municipalities for a better Franklin County.
"We should all be on the same team and work as one when it comes to improving the quality of life for our citizens," he said. Hester also feels that it is important to communicate with the public and keep them informed.
When it's time to appoint members to board positions or hire new employees, Hester thinks that council members need to put aside personal feelings and appoint and hire people that will benefit the city. He realizes that while this may not be the most popular thing to do, it is the right thing to do.
Hester said accomplishing these tasks will be a battle and one that he can't face alone.
"I am only one vote and it takes a majority of the council to carry a motion, "he said. "I hope and pray the mayor and the other members of the council who are elected this year will have the same vision that I have – to improve our city."
Hester is married to Jean Hester, a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, who is employed with Morrow Clinics Inc. He has two step-daughters, Heather Godwin and Jessica Allen.
Heather is a teacher at Russellville Elementary School. Jessica is married to Jesse Allen, who serves in the U.S. Army.
They have one daughter, Olivia, and reside in Fayetteville/Fort Bragg, NC. He is the son of Hazel Eley Hester and the late Luther Hester.
The Hesters attend Calvary Baptist Church, where they both teach Sunday School. Hester is Co-Chairman for the Franklin County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 and Russellville Masonic Lodge 371.
– from staff reports