CULLMAN — Local businessman and lifelong Cullman County resident Jerry Mack Waters has announced he will seek the office of Cullman County circuit clerk as the Democratic nominee in the November general election.

Waters will be running on the Democratic ticket against the Republican nominee, who will be selected from a large field of candidates in the March 13 party primary.  

A graduate of Cullman High School, Waters has owned and operated several successful businesses over the past 35 years in the Cullman area. In 1978, he opened Burger Chef, which later became known as J.Mack’s Hamburgers. He then went on to open and operate the first Taco Bell franchise in Cullman, as well as J. Mack’s Sporting Goods and Batting Cages.

Waters said decades of experience in the business world have afforded him the kind of administrative experience and people skills necessary to manage the circuit clerk’s office.

“I have gained skills that will translate well into the clerk’s office,” said Waters. “I have experience in managing all aspects of a fast-paced business. I have experience in supervising a staff of over 50 employees, handling multifaceted budgets and multiple administrative duties, as well as ensuring that annual sales goals are met. I think these skills are especially important in an office such as that of circuit clerk, where proficiency and multitasking are essential.”

New to the world of campaigning for office, Waters said he decided to seek the circuit clerk’s role after current circuit clerk Robert Bates, a fellow Democrat and longtime family friend, decided to retire at the end of his current term.

“When I saw that Robert wasn’t going to run again, I felt it would be a perfect fit for someone with my background and experience,” he said. “Robert has been a friend of my family for many years; before he was circuit clerk, he worked for Harvey Ragland Co., and stocked our drug rack in our grocery store. He has served Cullman County well, and that’s something I want to continue.”

In addition to his business experience, Waters has also been a civic and community leader through his past involvement in the Cullman Kiwanis and Lion clubs. He has served on church committees at Cullman First United Methodist Church, where he and his wife, Susan, have been members since 1975.

Through his combined community service ad business experience, Waters said he’s well prepared to lead the circuit clerk’s office through the difficult financial times that likely lie ahead.

“I am most interested in serving and reflecting the values of the citizens of Cullman County,” he said. “I feel that I am the most qualified candidate for this position, and I look forward to building on the excellence that Robert Bates and his staff have already established. With state cutbacks and constrained budgets an ever-present concern, I understand that streamlining the processes in this office are more important than ever to ensure efficiency, and I am ready to take on that challenge.”

Waters has coached youth basketball, baseball and softball and served as head softball coach at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville from 1990-1992. He also served in the United States Army Alabama National Guard, performing Guard duty as a communications specialist and helicopter crew chief.

 The son of the late Madie and Hosie Waters of Cullman County, Waters and his wife have three children and six grandchildren. His parents owned and operated The Dairy Bar in Good Hope in the 1960s and 1970s, an environment where Waters said he first learned the value of a strong work ethic and developed a love for working with the public.

“They had a simple business philosophy — work extremely hard and always treat others with fairness and equality,” he explained. “I plan to bring that same work ethic to the office of circuit clerk. I promise to come to work every day ready to give it everything I’ve got. I will work as hard as I possibly can for this office, and I will treat the citizens of Cullman County with the fairness and equality that they deserve. I look forward to hitting the campaign trail and getting to know the people of Cullman County. I want to encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote.”



* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 270.