COTTONWOOD: The registered voters of the City of Cottonwood will go to the polls this Tuesday, August 26, 2025 to decide the future path of their city.
In what I will call one of the worst campaign seasons witnessed, not because of the two candidates, but “ some “ of the supporters, the race of Mayor has been one hot race. A lot of accusations have run rapidly in circles.
SET THE STAGE
In January 2025 the Mayor Pro Tem resigned. The sitting council named Councilman Van Granger as Mayor Pro Tem. Then the current Mayor, James Coachman resigned for health reasons. The Mayor rolled to the Mayor Pro Tem and the Council later selected Van Granger as Mayor.
MAYOR OF THE CITY
In most cities the Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer who manages the entire city operations and staff. Nothing critical of James Coachman tenure but he was not a hands on manager. Van Granger was a hands on manager, wanting to know all aspects of the city government.
Staff hates to be asked questions. Most especially when they had little to no supervision and now had supervision. The members of the City Council were asking questions about financial matters. And they were not getting answers or documentation with credit card expenditures. The financial data was not being provided at council meetings and checks were bouncing. And Van Granger was not getting answers to his questions for himself and the council members.
Mayor Van Granger was reeling in overtime hours which had gotten out of control. Some salaries had gone from $ 30,000.00 to $ 44,000.00 in a year, which was not Mayor/Council approved but overtime hours with no justification.
Finally Mayor Van Granger had enough. Election was coming up and close friends of Van Granger urged him to wait on changes until after the election. But Mayor Van Granger replied, the City of Cottonwood can not wait until after the election, and even if it costs him the election, he felt that he had to do what was best for the City of Cottonwood and the financial stability.
So Cottonwood Mayor Van Granger made changes. And the drama and rumors began. And Mayor Van Granger, on advise of legal council, like Steadman Shealy, advised the Mayor that he could not speak about the matters.
THE MAYORS RACE
Two candidates for Mayor for the City of Cottonwood, Van Granger and Sara Welch.
From all I can find both fine people. However there is major differences.
VAN GRANGER
Van Granger has proven in 8 months that he can ask tough questions, and make tough decisions in management for what he feels is in the best interest in the City of Cottonwood. Not focused on election, but making the decisions to right the ship. Which has caused him a lot of grief and drama from people who do not know the inside details of the City of Cottonwood. Making decisions which are not popular but to make the City of Cottonwood stable.
SARA WELCH
On Thursday I visited Sara Welch’s house. I spoke with her and asked about a interview. She had been working in the yards so we decided on Friday for the interview. Told Ms. Welch where my office was located and we discussed the approximate time. Ms. Welch was a no show.
From the community everyone speaks kindly of Ms. Welch. She lives in government housing and has now moved to her brothers home. Her brother, now deceased, was a man named Boyette who held a Ku Klux Klan rally in May 1998 in Cottonwood. Ms. Welch still has her government housing residence but lives in her now deceased brother’s home.
While Ms. Welch is a fine lady, having the strength to manage the staff of the City of Cottonwood and right the ship financially, not sure that Ms. Welch has the management skills to do so. And those terminated quickly jumped on the Welch bandwagon because of their being mad at now Mayor Van Granger. And the combined supporters of Ms. Welch have caused turmoil.
THIS PAST WEEK’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Some vocal supporter’s of Ms. Welch and opponents to Van Granger were denied privileges of the floor. So they were setting up a large projector screen directly across from the Cottonwood City Hall to challenge the City Council meeting. Because of fear of possible violence Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza was asked to assist the Cottonwood Police. When four Houston County Sheriff Deputies rolled into Cottonwood City Hall that ended the drama across the street.
ELECTION
A lot of FACEBOOK rhetoric. Some saying to save their town on election and are opponents of Van Granger. And most FACEBOOK chatter are close friends with some affected with management decisions to try and right the ship that have been made by Mayor Van Granger.
The drama comes down to a simple issue: No one wanted to be managed and wanted to continue to do as they please.
Some of the staff would not allow the Mayor access to office or financial data. And would not answer his questions. Money was found never deposited and the grant paperwork on money to replace the fire station and senior citizens center was not completed. Alabama State Representative Paul Lee and Alabama State Senator Donnie Chesteen, following the tornado, secured funding for construction of the Fire Department and Senior Citizens Center.
When signing a document in front of a Notary Public you are under oath. The accusations floating around, unless the statements are notarized which would mean perjury would attach, they are just drama designed to sway the election.
While Ms. Welch is a fine lady, it is the opinion that the City of Cottonwood’s future is in electing Van Granger as Mayor. Someone with the strong hand to make difficult decisions, who will make city staff work in service of the citizens. Who will make sure financial data is accurate and transparent to the citizens of Cottonwood.
And he made the decisions that were not popular, not concerned about the election but only concerned about the stability of the City of Cottonwood.
This election is very important and the future of Cottonwood depends on it.
