CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman City Council President Pro-Tem Johnny Cook has announced his re-election bid. Cook began his fourth term on the city council on Nov. 2, 2020. He was named president pro-tem in August 2018. He serves in Place 3 and chairs the Council’s Public Works Committee.
Below is Cook’s re-election bid announcement:
Longtime Cullman resident and community member Johnny Cook has announced his candidacy for Cullman City Council.
Just “Johnny,” as he prefers to be called, has been an engaged member, playing an integral role with numerous improvements and investments during a time in which the city of Cullman has seen its largest growth since post-World War II.
Johnny, while just proud to continue serve and give back, has been an alderman with responsibility over the City garage, City sanitation and the City street departments, but noted that every council member votes and participates in every aspect of the City government. “We all share our views and make decisions on financing, public safety and city services,” he stated. “Each one of us has input – and that input stems from the voices of those we represent.”
A significant sanitation accomplishment was working together and partnering with the Cullman County Commission to purchase the landfill. Disposing of waste will not be a concern for nearly 100 years. As far as roads go, in 2021, Johnny worked hard with federal, state and local leaders, by building lasting relationships. This helped to secure a $14 million grant to complete the widening of Highway 157. Johnny didn’t stop there. In 2024, he worked tirelessly to find funding to widen Highway 278 and the Saint Bernard bridge. The City garage has been brought up to modern times with state-of-the-art computers, equipment and tools. The garage is staffed with certified technicians who also possess emergency vehicle certifications. This has allowed the City to stop outsourcing all body and mechanical work.
Johnny says Cullman has grown in every area – retail and shopping opportunities, dining options, commercial development, new and expanding industry, housing, schools, medical, festivals, entertainment and quality of life. “City government plays a vital role in all of these areas, and I am extremely proud of our accomplishments,” he said.
Plans for the future include the above noted widening of Highway 278, partnering with the Cullman County Commission to complete a new landfill scale house and a large paving schedule throughout the city.
Johnny and his wife Dawn are proud parents of three children and eight grandchildren.
Johnny is a member, and a deacon, at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church and frequently leads a Mission Team from the church to Greece. He also is a strong supporter of the Foundry Farm.
In Johnny’s words, “I’ve been blessed by the voters to serve and play a role in improving our community. They trusted me and I’ve never lost sight of that. We’ve seen increased revenue without increased taxes. We’ve seen larger investments in our schools without increased taxes. And we’ve seen increased quality of life opportunities without increased taxes. However, what I’m most proud about is the fact that God blessed me with such a great community in which He’s allowed me to serve, and I humbly pray that if it is His will and, in His plans, I will be allowed to continue serving such a great community with the utmost honesty and integrity.”
Cullman’s Municipal Election will take place Aug. 26, 2025.
