Cullman City Council Place 5 debate

0:27 Hello and welcome to the beautiful Bailey Center auditorium on the grounds of Wall State College in Hansville.

0:33 Thank you to our gracious hosts Wall State College and Dr. Vicky Carlos. The

0:38 2025 Tribune debate series and question and answer forums continues today with municipal elections, more specifically

0:48 the Cullman City Council. These events are designed to give the public more unfiltered answers without the questions

0:54 ahead of time, direct comparisons and meaningful conversations. We now finish with Cullman City Council place five. So

1:04 we shift our focus to the count candidates running for place five. Both Jenny Folsam and Kim Hall are present

1:11 today. So we shall move on with the debate. We work diligently to make sure

1:15 all are here. So we would like to thank you both for showing up today.

1:19 And with that we will get to the rules. There are no electronic devices

1:24 permitted. If you do have one on stage, please go ahead and turn it off,

1:28 including a smartwatch. Two questions alternate so no candidate always answers first or last other uh more than the

1:37 other. Opening statement is limited to 60 seconds and may be a prepared statement. Time allotted per question

1:46 will be two minutes. Closing statement is limited to 90 seconds and must be

1:51 spoken without notes. One rebuttal per question, but only if a candidate calls out the other. And that is set for 45

1:59 seconds. Facts only. No accusations without proof. This will only allocate additional time to your opponents.

2:06 Voters deserve substance over slogans. So, let's get to it. >> No, you're good.

2:16 >> All right. And with that, we will begin. and uh we'll go by first names for the debate.

2:26 Uh Kim, if you would please your opening statement. >> Hi, I'm Kim Hall. In June of this year,

2:33 I released an online campaign survey. Excuse me, seeking input from people in our community. The survey is based on a

2:42 five-point scale and results indicate the highest rated categories in our community are safety 4.0 0 out of five.

2:50 Employment opportunities 3.7 and identified areas for improvements are streets, traffic flow, neighborhood support at 2.9,

3:01 effective communication and transparency at 2.7. Just as I have worked to seek input in

3:08 various ways throughout the past three to four months of this campaign, however long it's been at this point, um I will

3:14 continue to do that as your council representative. I am eager to serve. I

3:19 will serve with energy and innovation and vitality over the next four years. Thank you.

3:25 >> Thank you for your opening statement. And Jenny, your opening statement, please. >> I'm Jenny Folsome and running. Can you

3:32 hear me? I'm Jenny Folz. I'm running for city council place 5. I appreciate the

3:38 tribune for having us here today and for Dr. Carlooks for allowing us to be on

3:43 this beautiful campus. Uh I'm a lifelong resident of Cullman, parents, grandparents, and everything. Started at

3:51 East Elementary and graduated from Cullman High School. From there, I uh went to Auburn University for my

3:58 bachelor's in secondary education. Um later obtained a master's in elementary education and finally got my doctorate

4:07 from the University of Alabama in administration of higher education. My first or full full-time career was

4:14 always in education starting teaching sixth grade at uh here in Cullman County at West Point Elementary. Uh later after

4:22 teaching, I ended up my last 22 years in education here at Wallace State. So I I

4:27 feel like I've come home again. Um uh where I served as um vice president,

4:33 dean of academic affairs, and second in command to the president, Dr. Carl Licks. I uh I look forward to this. I've

4:41 seen some of the debates earlier. It's a very healthy discourse. I know we're

4:46 going to cover most of the pressing issues of infrastructure, economic development, public safety, and quality

4:52 of life. So, I think uh we're ready to begin and I appreciate this.

5:00 >> Thank you both for your opening statements and we'll get right into it

5:03 with question number one going to Kim. This will be pressing issue. What is the

5:10 single most important issue facing Cullman right now? And how would you and how would your approach to solving it

5:18 differ from your opponent? >> Well, according to the survey data that um I I shared in my opening statement,

5:26 one of the most pressing issues for the citizens that have provided that input

5:30 is effective communication and transparency. There are so many different ways that we communicate in

5:36 2025. If you look online for the Cullman City app, if you go to the app store,

5:43 you're not going to find that. You have to search through the website. Um, it's

5:47 called Cclick Fix and there's an app. But I believe that we could improve that

5:52 communication so that we could provide push notifications to residents who want that type of information um by having a

5:59 Cullman city app that you could actually locate on the app store similar to the

6:02 one that they have in the city of Phoenix where we provide information and

6:06 updates in real time where we provide notifications to citizens regarding um issues or emergencies that impact them.

6:15 So I I do believe effective communication and transparency is one of those issues and I would propose that we

6:20 do that through a new and updated app. Other means of communications are we all

6:26 get mass text messages, we all get emails. You can opt out if you don't

6:30 want that information or if you don't want those emails, but that's definitely a way in 2025 that we can communicate

6:36 with our citizens to get necessary information out to them um immediately in real time.

6:44 Thank you for your answer. And Jenny, same question regarding pressing issue. What is the single most important issue

6:52 facing Cullman right now? And how would your approach to solving it differ from

6:58 your opponents? >> I agree with Kim that comm communication and transparency is very important and I

7:06 hope we've been working that daily to try to improve in Cullman. the probably

7:10 in talking to people the most pressing issue that I keep hearing about is

7:14 infrastructure and traffic. I drive those same roads that you do every day. I think that we have uh some of our

7:22 challenges have been as a result of our successes. We have uh we are a safe,

7:29 opening, clean, welcoming community. We are strong and we're thriving. And with that, it brings additional traffic.

7:37 people want to move here and live here. I think it's but it's not just the

7:41 people that are moving in and living and working here. It's also we are big draw

7:46 area for our trade centers, our restaurants, our job opportunities with businesses and industries and that uh we

7:55 are able that brings a lot of traffic from surrounding counties as well as

8:00 Cullman County to come to here to shop and uh do things like that. We um also

8:07 are blessed to being a crossroads of major highways that intersect right in downtown Cullman 31, 278, 157 and our

8:17 proximity to interstate. So I think a lot of those challenges uh will deal

8:22 with its opportunities and work to try to improve. >> Thank you for your response and Jenny

8:29 will stay with you for this next question regarding growth management. How should Cullman address traffic

8:36 congestion especially near new commercial developments? >> Okay. Uh thank you. I think I touched on

8:44 that with the traffic, but with u new growth in development, we uh in the

8:49 commercial end of it, we sometimes we don't really incentivize uh businesses uh like new restaurants or

8:58 uh large uh private businesses. We may do some in kind services trying to help

9:05 provide um excell and del lanes into their opportunities for them. Uh but we

9:12 uh also work very hard to what was the last part of besides traffic

9:17 >> uh to help with traffic congestion especially near commercial developments. >> Okay. I mentioned commercial

9:24 developments. We um with commercial developments we are as often time to incentivize them with uh like I said

9:32 additional paving in and out of their uh place of business. But we do this

9:38 because we are going to gain much more in the jobs they bring in, the

9:42 investment they put into our community, spending in the last 10 years, I think

9:46 is in excess of 10 billion dollars that businesses and industries have put their

9:51 money into Cullman providing those jobs and uh buying products uh updating things and so I think we get a good

9:59 return on that. >> Thank you for your response. and Kim, same question regarding growth

10:05 management. How should Cullman address traffic congestion, especially near new commercial development? >> There's no doubt that the new growth in

10:15 industry and retail affects our traffic flow and there's no doubt that it's a ne

10:20 almost a necessary evil to that growth. So, we're benefiting from the industry and the retail, but our citizens are

10:27 definitely feeling that congestion, especially right there on 31. And we all know that we have no control over 31 or

10:34 278 or 157, but we seem to bottleneck in those areas. So, um, as I mentioned

10:40 earlier, effective communication. I think one thing that we can do is encourage people, this goes back to just

10:47 communicating, encourage people to take those alternate routes. One route that I've noticed that really bottlenecks if

10:53 you're coming down West Maine from Publix to 278, uh, we bottleneck there until we go past

11:01 278 and then it's wide open and we flow well. So, just identifying some areas

11:06 where maybe we could reroute where we do have control to open things up a bit a

11:12 little bit. Um, I know there's a lot of work that's done on the streets and the

11:15 stop lights, increasing turn lanes to reroute people off of those um, heavy traffic areas to alternate routes. We

11:25 have a great problem here. There is growth. There is development. There is industry. There's retail. But we do have

11:32 to look at how it affects our citizens and actually take that into consideration and realize that it

11:37 impacts their daily life. Thank you for your response and we're going to stay with you for our next

11:44 question regarding budget priorities. Which city departments or services do you believe should receive increased

11:53 funding? And if additional funding is needed, where would you responsibly reallocate or reduce spending to make

12:02 that possible? Um, I'm not sure that any necessarily need increased funding at this time. I

12:09 know the budget is being developed at this time. As in all things, budgets

12:13 need to be directly correlated to data and it needs to be coordinated with the

12:18 strategic plan of the district and the strategic plan of the department. So, when needs are identified, we've got to

12:25 ask, does this meet the strategic plan of the department? Does this meet the

12:29 strategic plans of the overall city plan? What's the current budget? What revenue do we have coming in? And how

12:36 will we reallocate or allocate that revenue to make sure that we're meeting the needs of the department and the

12:42 needs of the citizens? Thank you for your response. And Jenny, same question regarding budget

12:50 priorities. Which city department or services do you believe should receive increased funding? And if additional

12:58 funding is needed, where would you responsibly reallocate or reduce spending to make that possible?

13:07 >> Okay. Our budgeting process is uh uh beginning to start right now because the

13:13 new fiscal year is October 1. Uh part of our planning that uh we do a five-year

13:20 strategic plan and update that every year. We have 18 departments in the city

13:24 of Cullman and each department ahead of time has come to us with a written plan

13:32 from their input from their department of their needs and wants, their goals and accomplishments from last year,

13:38 their needs and wants for the coming year as well as year two, three, four,

13:44 and five afterwards. So it's easy then to talk to the departments about prioritizing what they want and what

13:51 they need and uh wants are always usually greater than needs. And so then

13:56 we have to we have discussions back and forth and to see if something that uh

14:00 maybe not be would not be available financially in the budget might be something for next year. We've been so

14:07 fortunate that Cullman is growing and thriving. Our economy is the last five years we've increased about seven to

14:14 eight% annually. But we don't necessarily spend all that. We do a conservative budget with what we have.

14:21 And uh things like extra money that comes in, we put it in our uh reserves

14:27 with that we've built up to almost 10 months in the last 5 years. Uh opposed

14:32 to the three months that most municipalities are supposed to have at our size. We don't auto automatically

14:39 spend that, but we do have it there for emergencies or unusual things that might

14:43 happen such as the pandemic, the tornado, or u uh necessities, emergencies that just come up. We do

14:51 build up our reserves with that and are able to plan for future needs for

14:55 Cullman. >> Thank you for your response. And Jenny, we're going to stay with you for this

15:02 next question. This is kind of a lengthy question. I'm sorry. So, uh, it's

15:07 involving housing and zoning. With rising home cost and increased demand for housing in Cullman, do you

15:17 believe zoning laws should be reformed to allow for more affordable housing options such as multifamily units or

15:28 smaller lot developments such as a tiny home village? or do you believe the

15:34 market should regulate itself without changes to zoning? Please explain how your position would impact long-term

15:43 residents, new families, and future growth. >> And I can repeat that at any point.

15:51 I'm sorry. Uh yes, I'll start with with housing that you I think that you began with. Um

15:59 back during our one of our first u five-year strategic plans, the chamber of commerce uh housing, the demand for

16:08 housing, affordable housing was one of the biggest issues. They did a housing study. We got to work on that and I

16:14 think within the last five years, we have done a a pretty good job in that.

16:18 But we can always do better. Now we are able at a point that we can selectively

16:24 look at subdivisions and new developments that are wanting to come to Cullman. Um we just recently this past

16:31 year um when a plan came to us we did not think it met our our um needs right

16:38 our needs or our wants for our citizens. So, we told the developer to go back to

16:43 the drawing board and maybe come back with something uh that would be be

16:48 better suited for our community. I think our established neighborhoods uh I see what I love to see are these young

16:56 families, our children and grandchildren returning, maybe they've moved off for work or to further further their

17:02 education, returning to Cullman to work, get good paying jobs, and raise a family

17:07 here. And so I think that that has uh helped with revitalizing some of the

17:14 older neighborhoods as as newer people come into our community. And I probably forgotten the last part of your

17:20 question. >> Okay. >> And so one of the other parts of the question was would you be in favor of

17:26 affordable housing such as multifamily units or smaller lot elements such as a tiny home village?

17:35 >> Uh yes. I see I've seen recently just outside here in Wallace State the a

17:41 developer is putting up tiny homes for student housing which is a good idea and

17:46 we are um multifamily housing we are in in need of just the location is um often

17:55 u a very u difficult problem to solve. We have um zoning laws that affect where

18:02 we can put that and we're always looking at we're always open to looking at at

18:08 changes thing things that would benefit our citizens. >> Thank you so much. I know that was a

18:15 long question and of course I'll give you the same uh allocation as far as

18:21 rereading or clarifying. Uh, so Kim, on housing and zoning, with rising home cost and increased demand for housing in

18:31 Cullman, do you believe zoning laws should be reformed to allow for more affordable housing options such as

18:40 multifamily units or smaller lot developments such as a tiny home village? Or do you believe the market

18:48 should regulate itself without changes to zoning? Please explain how your position would impact long-term

18:56 residents, new families, and future growth. And I >> Okay. Yeah, I I may come back to you

19:03 now. >> Perfect. Um I don't really see a way that our infrastructure can handle

19:11 multif family dwellings or tiny home developments. It's not that I'm opposed to those. I just don't know that we're

19:16 in a position right now to approve that in the city of Cullman with our

19:20 infrastructure and how that would affect our police, our fire, our hospitals, our educational systems, and our our streets

19:27 and traffic flow. So, it's not that I'm opposed to that type of development, but

19:32 I don't know that right now we're ready to take that step. Um, so I do believe

19:38 that we could take strides to incentivize the redevelopment of our existing neighborhoods. There's been

19:45 some of that that has occurred, but in going doortodoor, um I've really seen a

19:50 lot of abandoned or uninhabited homes. Um my my daughter lives in some areas in

19:56 Birmingham and I see those neighborhoods that have been revitalized. We've had a little bit of that, but I would like to

20:02 see incentives for um developers or private individuals to come in and revitalize the homes in areas when

20:11 they're when they're sitting there empty like Care Lakers and Larkwood and Woodland Heights and and Northwood.

20:16 Those are really nice homes. Areas around West Elementary where there are good homes that could be affordable

20:22 housing, but they do need some work. and we may have people that can't

20:26 necessarily afford to purchase the home, then make all of the renovations. So, I would

20:32 really look to investigate how we could possibly incentivize that type of development to provide affordable

20:39 housing. >> Do you need any other clarification or Okay, I think you answered the question.

20:46 All right, so Kim, we will stay with you. Regarding open government, what uh would you support mandatory

20:56 public disclosure of campaign donations over a certain threshold uh no matter if it came from a pack or a

21:06 special interest group? Why is this important to the voters? >> No. Say that again. Would you support

21:14 mandatory public disclosure of campaign donations over a certain threshold no matter if it came from a pack or a

21:24 special interest group? Why is this important to the voters? >> Um yes uh you actually have to report

21:32 campaign donations over a certain threshold now whether it comes from a packed or special interest group or an

21:38 individual. So that threshold um is there. If you purchase something yourself, you can put that you have to

21:47 put that in as an inkind or donation to yourself. So um I'm absolutely in favor

21:52 of reporting that and we're doing that now. So yes, >> the reason we ask is because uh some

22:00 special interest groups do not have to disclose who their donors are. Only packs have to disclose their donors.

22:06 Special interest groups do not. Okay. I may have misunderstood the question. I thought you meant the candidate

22:12 >> has to disclose. >> Yes. Whether >> but you're saying the pack or the

22:16 special interest group should have to disclose >> their donation. Okay. I'm sorry. I

22:21 thought you meant the candidate report. >> I would give you 30 more seconds if you

22:24 like. >> Um yes, I I would be in favor of that as well.

22:28 >> Perfect. And >> Jenny, same question. Yes, I agree with Kim and I understood it the way you do

22:34 to begin with and we already have to send in that report monthly up until the

22:39 last month of the election. Then weekly we have to send it in to the secretary

22:43 of state and that's a requirement to disclose all of our um u donations and

22:49 expenditures. If you're talking about those the pack-toact things that happen in the federal

22:56 government, state government, I have not been aware of that in the local government like us, but um because we I

23:04 haven't received any pack money, so our special interest groups, but um I would

23:09 be in favor of of that also. >> Thank you so much. Sorry about the

23:14 confusing on that one. That was I know that's a a little different. It's just

23:18 that special interest groups uh historically they're the ones who create can create a

23:23 pack. Uh but a special interest group does not have to disclose who the donors

23:29 were or how much they spent. All right. So we will move on to public

23:35 safety and health which will go with Jenny. And what steps would you take to

23:42 ensure Cullman remains a safe, healthy place to live as the population expands? >> Did you?

23:53 >> That was for you. >> It was for me. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. Yes, public safety is

23:57 is very important and we've been investing a lot in uh additional police, fire, um and dispatch services providing

24:06 with extra communication uh resources and improve the starting pay for all of those departments. Um, we value the

24:16 public safety very much and we we've been known as a a very safe environment

24:21 for that's why so many people want to come to Cullman and live here or just to

24:25 come and and shop or visit some of our festivals. So, yes, >> thank you for your response. Kim, same

24:33 question. Public safety and health. What steps would you take to ensure Cullman remains a safe, healthy place to live as

24:42 the population expands? >> Um, I would definitely want to work with um public safety on ensuring that our

24:51 officers and our uh fire and police have the most advanced training and technology available. Um, as far as the

24:57 hospital goes, I would love to see I know that we provide funding and

25:01 financial support to the hospital. I would love to see that be one committee

25:06 assignment even though we don't necessarily have someone on the board but as a liaison to the hospital

25:12 focusing as well on mental health. That's a critical need in our community. Um we could definitely look at having

25:20 mental health liaison that work with the council with public safety and with the

25:24 hospital. Although we have Wellstone, we have good resources but there's still so much that we can do in the area of

25:31 mental health. Um, I'm actually talking with our state legislators and hoping that we can work on some legislation to

25:38 provide resources to people in need. So, I think public safety, fire safety, health, mental health resources are

25:46 going to be critical moving forward. They're critical now. As I mentioned in my survey, that was the highest rated

25:52 area that people noted on the survey that I sent out. So people do feel very

25:57 safe here but we've got to continue to make sure that that is established for

26:01 years to come. >> Thank you for your response. Kim will stay with you for this next question and

26:08 it's regard political pressure. Public officials often face pressure from donors interest groups or political

26:16 allies for the incumbent. Well, sorry I'm just going to read the whole thing.

26:24 For the incumbent, can you give a specific example of a time you faced

26:28 such pressure and how you responded? For the challenger, how would you handle this kind of situation if elected? And

26:35 what safeguards would you put in place to stay accountable to voters? >> No, I was principal at Cullman High

26:41 School. That was a lot of pressure. So, I I had pressure put on me at every

26:45 angle, whether it was um academics, athletics, whether it was fine arts, whether it was cheer or dance. Um,

26:52 there's always pressure when you're dealing with people's children. There's pressure when it and it when it comes to

26:58 hiring people in the community and and someone wants you to hire this person

27:03 over that person. So, I have definitely dealt with that type of pressure whether

27:08 it be through the area of politics or public education. It's still pressure. Um, could you elaborate on the question

27:14 one more time >> for the for the challenger? How would you handle uh public officials often

27:23 face pressure from donors, interest groups or political allies? So, how would you handle this kind of situation

27:30 if elected and what safeguards would you put in place to stay accountable? A

27:35 >> as with anything I do, I do my research. I do my homework. I make sure that I'm

27:40 thorough. I'm an independent thinker. Although I do seek input and I want to

27:44 work with the team, but I'm always going to bring the research to the table. I'm

27:48 always going to do my homework. As I would tell people at school, let me

27:52 think all the way around it before I make a decision. Um, but being persuaded

27:57 by a special interest group or political donors is not how I operate. I said, I

28:02 am an independent thinker and I will stand for what I believe in. >> Thank you for your response, Jenny. Same

28:09 question. Political pressure. Public officials often face pressure from donors, interest groups, or political

28:17 allies. For for the incumbent, can you give a specific example of a time you

28:24 faced such pressure and how you responded? >> Um, I'm also like Kim as an educator and

28:31 being a vice president dean here at Wallace State. I used to tell people

28:34 that when a somebody a student ended up in my office, they usually cussing or

28:39 crying and uh before the next step to go to the president. So I was used to that.

28:44 Uh has having served on the city council, we have had numerous um things

28:49 come before us at times that were very oftenimes emotional uh issues with with

28:55 with people about whether something was happening in their neighborhood or a special event we were about to have. and

29:02 we had a lot of good discourse with that. Um, I have I'm also a very

29:08 independent thinker and I've also been able to usually try to solve by communication, talking to people and

29:15 coming to some kind of logical and uh informed decision on the city council.

29:21 There are five of us and so and we can only act as a legislative body. We can't

29:27 act independently as a one. So we um we have a lot of of of talk and uh

29:34 discourse and whoever the 3 to two or 4 to two or sometimes it's it's five to

29:39 zero we come up with that we move and we go on but as far as um I really haven't

29:46 had a lot of people try to pressure me as for the political something that they

29:50 they want to do to do that would be against my u best interest for the city

29:56 of Cullman. Thank you for your response and Jenny will stay with you for this next

30:02 question on citizen involvement. Would you support adding or expanding citizen advisory boards on issues like parks,

30:12 housing or economic development? >> Uh yes, I definitely support that. And we currently have uh citizen support

30:20 groups uh citizen involvement groups and boards for uh our industrial development. We have it for our parks

30:27 and recreation. Uh there's probably several others that I'm forgetting about, but we have an arts council and

30:33 working with them and with citizens. We are now moving to finally get a a home

30:39 for our theater and performing arts. And we've had a lot of community input on

30:44 that. And citizen involvement is absolutely necessary for us to grow and get input. people always have great

30:51 ideas that maybe someone hasn't thought of and uh to better this community. >> Thank you for your response. Kim, same

31:00 question regarding citizen involvement. Would you support adding or expanding citizen advisory boards on issues like

31:09 parks, housing, or economic development? >> Absolutely. citizen and stakeholder involvement and engagement is critical

31:17 to the success of any organization. Um, as in schools, we had booster clubs and

31:22 those booster clubs weren't just there to raise money for the organization, but they're there to provide input. We had

31:29 um student government associations where we would ask for their parents to be involved as well. So, I believe that

31:36 town hall meetings would be beneficial. those citizens who want to be involved, who want to learn more, who want to hear

31:43 more. I know that the um council meetings are live streamed and there have been some forums recently through

31:48 park and wreck to get additional input from um the community, but I think

31:53 expanding that to regularly scheduled town hall meetings and regularly scheduled surveys at least annually

32:01 would be a way to get that input and then engage the citizens with the data

32:06 that we received and how we could actually move forward to work together and grow.

32:11 Thank you for your response. And Kim, we will stay with you for this next

32:15 question regarding motivation and alliances. Voters often want to know the deeper reason for a candidacy.

32:24 What truly drove your decision to run? And do you see yourself as part of an

32:29 incumbent block, a challenger team, or nothing? >> I see myself as Kim Hall.

32:37 Um when I retired from Cullman High School in 2022, I actually when I retired, I had no plan

32:44 afterwards. I just knew through prayer with um my husband and my family that it

32:49 was time and I needed to turn over the reigns and I was ready to do that. And

32:53 so I I retired and for two months I didn't do anything. And everybody said,

32:58 "What are what are you doing leaving the high school?" And so I took a break for

33:03 a little bit and then I went to work for the state department of education and

33:06 now work for a private educational consulting company. And I love the work that I do because I am developing

33:13 leaders who then go to develop other leaders and I'm able to do that

33:16 throughout the country. A lot of my work is remote. I do travel some um and I

33:22 enjoy that work because I find myself to be a solution finder, not just a problem

33:27 solver. because the solution finder works with others to collaborate and f and find those solutions. So, as my

33:34 family and I prayed about this election, um we made a decision that I I did feel

33:40 called. I couldn't I couldn't let go of it. My parents came out, my husband, we

33:44 sat down, we prayed, and and I feel that it's a calling. I'm called to serve in

33:48 areas of leadership. I have missed serving in my own community through my work. And so, I'm ready to do that now.

33:55 um to come back here and serve a home. >> Thank you for your response. And Jenny,

34:01 same question, motivation and alliances. Voters often want to know the deeper reason for a candidacy. What truly drove

34:10 your decision to run? And do you see yourself as part of an incumbent block,

34:15 a challenger team, or nothing? >> Meaning you. Okay, start over again on that question,

34:25 please. >> Voters often want to know the deeper reason for candidacy. What truly drove

34:31 your decision to run? And do you see yourself as part of an incumbent block,

34:36 a challenger team, or an individual? >> Okay. My motivation to run goes back to

34:44 u this community. I love this community. this community helped raise me. Uh my

34:51 family and um everyone in this community shaped my values such as honesty and

34:57 hard work and uh giving back to those who have given so much to you. So that's

35:02 my motivation for running and my motive motivation to to keep trying to do that.

35:08 I enjoy it. I consider myself an independent thinker. I have lots of acquaintances on both sides. uh those

35:16 who are uh in public office now and those who are running for public office

35:20 and I think both sides of this the the winner in the end is going to be our

35:26 citizens. Uh we have an election process it happens every four years or so and u

35:32 in the end the healthy discourse like this that we're going through uh the

35:38 community will be better served. Thank you for your response. And Jenny, we'll stay with you for our final

35:45 question of the debate. And this regards legacy and vision. If voters look back

35:51 in four years at your service, what single statement do you want associated with your name?

36:01 >> I want a single statement with my name. um that I've been a committed um

36:07 committed public servant. I've enjoyed everything that we do. Looking back on the last

36:15 five years, all of the accomplishments we've we've made are just too numerous uh to mention. Looking forward, I want

36:22 to be part of that vision and move us forward. I uh appreciate everything that

36:28 has uh that we've done so far. I love this community deeply and uh I want to

36:33 keep serving. >> Thank you for your response. Kim, same question. Legacy and vision. If voters

36:41 look back in four years at your service, what single statement do you want

36:45 associated with your name? >> So there's a song that I listened to for

36:52 several years while in education and it's actually the name of the song is

36:55 Legacy. And in the chorus it says,"I want to leave a legacy and how will they

36:59 remember me? Did I choose to love and did I point to you enough?" And so that

37:04 is what I want to be remembered for for loving enough, listening enough, caring

37:08 enough, working enough, and pointing to him enough and doing what's right by people to serve the people of this

37:15 community. And just to share my heart um for each individual, no matter where

37:20 they come from, no matter what walk of life, just to show love. Thank you for your response. I would

37:27 like to thank both Miss Folsam and Miss Hall for coming out today and

37:32 participating in this debate. And now we will get to our closing statements. Uh

37:38 Miss Hall opened and so Miss Folson, you will have the opportunity to go first on

37:42 our closing statements. >> Okay. I want to thank you for enabling us to have this discussion today. Um, in

37:50 closing, I want to tell everyone how much I appreciate everything that you do

37:55 every day in this community. Um, we, yes, we're growing and, uh, I, the cost

38:03 of living is going up and we're trying to do what we can as a city government

38:07 by not raising any taxes and trying to alleviate um, things that we can control

38:13 such as water, sewer, or sanitation rates. Um we we haven't had a rate

38:18 increase in three years and uh because of we do conservative budgeting and we

38:23 try to listen to the people and try to do what they is expected of us. Yes,

38:29 we're growing but I still think we have that same f small town feeling that we

38:34 all love. And I want to help preserve that sense of community, our community

38:41 with all every single family in Cullman and every single neighborhood. And um I

38:48 would appreciate your your vote and support on Tuesday the 26th. And u thank

38:54 you very much. >> Thank you so much for your closing remark. And Miss Hall, your closing

39:01 statement. You have 90 seconds. Uh, thank you Noah and to the Cullman Tribune. Noah, I know you've you've put

39:07 in some time this week doing this and we appreciate the work that you've put in.

39:11 Um, to all the candidates who are running and who have served in office, I

39:15 just appreciate your willingness to put yourself and your families on the line. I am ready to serve for the next four

39:21 years with innovative leadership, with visionary leadership, with that relation relational leadership that I bring to

39:28 the table. I'm ready to serve all citizens in our community and to work

39:32 together with the next council, with our county commission, with our state legislators and those in Washington to

39:38 do what's best each and every day for the citizens of Cullman. And I would

39:42 appreciate your vote on August 26th. >> Thank you so much. And again, I would

39:48 like to thank uh Jenny Folsam and Kim Hall for coming out today. I would also

39:52 like to thank all the other candidates who are running for Cullman City Council. The ones who came out on

39:59 Thursday who are running for Cullman City School Board. Tuesday we had multiple county debates and then the

40:06 Saturday before we had Hansville. So, we've had quite a few come through in

40:10 just the last week. Um we will have a um another debate uh right before the

40:19 October election. So look for that roughly one week before the election. Other than that, we'd like to thank

40:25 everyone who came out today, everyone in the audience. We'd also like to thank

40:29 everyone who watched at home. Uh I would like to give a special thanks to Janet

40:33 Chandler who manned our front door and Dustin is uh co-owner of the Tribune who

40:39 actually handles all of our technical and audio visual that we have done this

40:44 week. So thank you all and thank you Dr. Carlicks and thank you to Wall State for

40:49 allowing us to be here and host these debates. Again, remember, just get out

40:55 and vote. It's on Tuesday. Not that hard. >> Thank you.