By Trent Moore
The Cullman Times
CULLMAN —
Jenny Folsom has spent the past four years on the Cullman city council, and has recently announced plans to seek a second term.
“I have really enjoyed the past three and a half years,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of challenging issues that have come up, and I think we are in the middle of some things I’d like to see to completion, and would still like to be a part of going forward.”
Folsom serves in place five, which doubles as chair of the finance committee. Considering the recession the nation, state and city has battled the past four years, Folsom said it hasn’t always been an easy role to play.
“Three and a half years ago when we took office, we walked into the worst recession Cullman, and the United States, had seen since the Great Depression,” she said. “We had to cut the budget 25 percent, which was not easy, but everyone pulled together. All the city department heads, and everyone understood what we were facing, and we made it through this, thanks a lot to our predecessors who kept Cullman on a firm financial standing for many years. Hopefully, now we’re seeing ourselves pull out of the economic recession, and we’re seeing increased revenues.”
Folsom said her first four years have included somewhat of a learning curve, but now she feels fully prepared to tackle city business for another term.
“As with most things, it takes a while just to familiarize yourself with city government, and we were all new, except for Garlan [Gudger, Jr.] who had served one term,” she said. “I think sometimes you learn from your mistakes, and we’ve of course made some of those along the way, but I think with experience you’re able to see increased opportunities. As a mayor and council we have developed a good working relationship, but we are a diverse group and don’t always agree on all the issues — but we all respect one another.”
The city is in the process of getting several road projects up and running, and Folsom said she would like to have a hand in completing those efforts, if reelected.
“There are several street and road projects, and we have bridges our fire trucks can’t pass over, for example on Eva Road bridge, and those are some things we’re looking at,” she said.
Folsom said she is excited about downtown rebuilding, and recent community events like the Rock the South concert, and would like to shepherd more efforts like those in the future.
“I think people enjoy coming together, and I think we’ve seen a lot of that, especially after the storm recovery,” she said. “Downtown is so wonderful, and to see it rebuilding bigger and better, the spirit of the people here really inspire me.”
Folsom is currently running unopposed for her seat.
* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.
