VIDEO: Kennedy’s New Mayor

Kennedy, ALA. (WCBI)- A west Alabama town has a new face in office. Kennedy has nominated its new mayor.

It’s been about three weeks since the passing of Ms. Rose- Kennedy, Alabama’s former mayor.
This past Monday, the city council nominated its new mayor. She’s a lifetime resident of Kennedy and the first female African American mayor. ”

“I’m humbled and I’m grateful and I guess now I’m excited,” says Mayor Jackie Mitchell.

Mitchell is filled with emotions about her recent nomination.

She’s been on the town’s council for eight years, and was the mayor pro tem during that time as well- all the while, working full time.

“I’ve been in banking, been married over 50 years to the same man and I’ve been in banking for 22 years then I retired- got tired, and then went back to work because I love what I do,” says Mitchell.

Residents believe her experience in town government will help her serve.

“I think of her as a go getter, you know, she’s very perspective, she’s always been very active in the community and her church and so I think they look forward to her, you know, making progress in the town,” says lifetime resident Lisa Bonner.

“She knows what business has been going on, she knows the ins and outs, you know, everything that we normally do here in the council meetings,” says town clerk Becky Akins.

Mitchell agrees-

“It has helped me, and will help me in the months and years to come,” says Mitchell.

Mitchell has goals for the town- similar to former mayor Rose McDaniel.

“It’s going to be hard to fill Ms. Rose’s shoes because, Ms. Rose, everybody loved her, but Ms. Rose had a lot of good ideas. Mrs. Jackie will probably take up some of those ideas,” says Akins.

“I would like to see the town grow, to get more businesses to come into the town for the town to grow,” says Mitchell.

“She is going to be a great asset to this community and everybody loves her and everybody kind of looks up to Mrs. Jackie, because they know she knows what she’s doing,” says Akins.

Mitchell says the first thing on her agenda as mayor is to get the swing sets, former mayor- Ms. Rose, worked so hard to get.