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February 14, 2012

Kenneth Walker seeking county commission chairman’s seat

By Benjamin Bullard The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — Local businessman and longtime county resident Kenneth Walker has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for chairman of the Cullman County Commission in the March 13 primary election.

Walker, 45, said he decided to run in order to bring greater fiscal responsibility to county government, solving a problem he feels is both pervasive and unnecessary.

“I just feel like the county needs to change; I feel like there’s some spending that’s uncalled for,” said Walker. “I feel there’s money being taken out of some departments and put into others that shouldn’t be, and I just think it’s time for a change. And I believe I can make the changes that need to be made.”

Those changes don’t center on just one issue, said Walker. Rather, they encompass many aspects of county government. “It’s really multiple things all over the county,” he said.

One thing that wouldn’t change too much — save for the manner in which he’d approach the role — is the current amity between county commissioners and leaders of the City of Cullman, a relationship Walker said is crucial to benefit all residents of Cullman County — regardless of which corner of it they call home.

“I feel that, if I get the chairman’s job, I would work with the city any way we can,” he said. “I know I would be representing the county, but the City of Cullman is in our county, and we need to work with the city to strengthen our industries and bring jobs.

“Working [together] to get the [County Road] 222 exit could be outstanding; things like that and the [Alabama Highway] 157 bypass would help us tremendously. And you have to work with the city to get those industries in here, for the jobs that brings to people in the city and in the county.”

Walker describes himself as a conservative, a candidate whose experience both in his own business and in his family’s — which for four generations has maintained a presence in Walker’s Corner — equip him well to handle tight budgets, make personnel decisions based solely on merit, prioritize road maintenance and understand all aspects of public utility operations.

A graduate of Fairview High School, Walker has been married to Trina Rasco Walker for 19 years. They have three children and reside in the Berlin community. Walker owns and operates Walker Water Works, a  water line installation, maintenance and excavation company.



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

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