OZARK: 8:05 PM On August 26, 2025 the registered voters of Ozark Alabama will go to the polls to elect Mayor of Ozark.
The incumbent, Mark Blankenship is running for re-election. The challenger is the retired Colonel of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Charles Ward who was later appointed as Interiem Police Chief of Ozark, then Director of Ozark Department of Public Safety which includes Police, Fire and EMS.
On July 20. 2021 Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship asked the Ozark City Council members to enter into an executive session. THe purpose was an ambush on then Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker. Mayor Blankenship got the Ozark City Council to terminate Marlos Walker as Police Chief, illegally. The next morning, July 21, 2021 at 9:00 AM Mayor Mark Blankenship called a press conference introducing Charles Ward as Interiem Police Chief.
Because Mayor Mark Blankenship did not tell the Ozark City Council Members the truth the Ozark City Council had to re-instate Marlos Walker as Ozark Police Chief. That resulted in negotiations and a seperation agreement with Walker.
Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship has made allegations against Charles Ward. One was Ward “begged” to be police chief. Well first, Charles Ward served as Colonel over the entire uniform disvision of the entire State of Alabama. But the “begged” according to Mark Blankenship to be Ozark Police Chief!!! The truth, in my opinion, Mark Blankenship knew getting rid of Marlos Walker, a black male, that he had to replace him with a black male. While I like and have confidence in Charles Ward, it was not about Ward begging Blankenship.
During the tenure of Marlos Walker he brought out some cold case files on murders. I know of two different cases, three victims, Walker solved their murder cases. And got convictions. And all Mark Blanlenship did was put a boot up Marlos Walker’s rear. The Mayor and City Council never formally recognized and thanked Marlos Walker for doing something no one else had done. And he gave families peace.
Mark Blankenship said in his post that Ward cost the City of Ozark a multi million dollar lawsuit. That was not Charles Ward but it was Mark Blankenship, 100%. It was Blankenship who got arrest warrants on a veteran and lost the case in court. And Mark knows it.
When Mark Blankenship served as Dale County Commission Chairman, he drove then Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson insane. A very respected and dedicated law enforcement officer and servant of the people, Olson was constantly having the battle with Mark Blankenship. Sheriff Olson was an elected official that Blankenship had no management authority over. And finally it got so bad the four members of the Dale County Commission cut most of Mark Blankenship’s powers as Chairman of the Dale County Commission.
Blankenship wants to say he has not micro managed the Ozark Police Department. The Chief of Police is appointed and he has some management over the police chief. So if as Dale County Commission Chairman he was attempting to micro manage Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson, do you honestly believe Mark Blankenship that he has not micro managed Ozark Police Department?
In my opinion Mark Blankenship is a narcistic individual. He got into the Dale County Commission Chairman race after he became Mayor of Ozark and lost. He picked the fight with the Army Veteran and lost.
The citizens of Ozark Alabama deserve more. And Chiarles Ward is not doing it as self serving or adding to his resume. He has already been top dog of the entire Alabama State Troopers. A much more important job and respected job then the Mayor of Ozark Alabama.
I did not want to leave Mark’s post unanswered. He sent me a text thanking me for my endorsement and it helps in. That was his smart rear response. DO NOT TAKE THIS AS AN ENDORSEMENT. It is some things you, the registered voters of Ozark Alabama need to know.
