I recently completed the Advanced Certified Municipal Official Program — more than 80 hours of focused training in ethics, municipal law, budgeting, planning, and how to actually govern.

Councilman Jonathan Ray did too.
Two councilmen. One standard: do the work, know the law, and lead with purpose.

Because if you don’t know the law, you can’t lead with integrity — and you risk breaking the very thing you were elected to protect.

I thought it was common knowledge that the will of a council majority doesn’t override state law or the Constitution.

Some have served for over 20 years and didn’t know that.
They’ve yet to complete even the basic CMO certification in over 20 years.

But 80 hours is just what gets recorded. The real investment?

Weeks of personal vacation time. Time away from my family. Countless hours spent asking hard questions and seeking better answers for Margaret.

I didn’t pursue this to impress anyone. I did it because you trusted me with a job, and I take that trust seriously. My goal has always been to protect your rights, your resources, and your future — with competence, not convenience.

Now — in an election year — some council members are attending training for the first time. I believe any effort to learn is a good thing.
But the approach has changed:

🔹 The city is now prepaying mileage and issuing $100-per-day meal stipends in advance, even though most meals are already covered during the conference

I’m not saying it’s illegal — I’m asking: why the change? And why now?
What message does it send when the benefits of training shift… just as some finally start attending?

This isn’t about comfort. It’s about commitment.
When public dollars are involved, the standard should go up — not slide into convenience.

I’ve already logged 6.5 hours toward my Emeritus Certification — a designation reserved for Alabama’s most experienced and consistent public servants. That’s not a finish line — it’s the next step in a larger mission.

If we want a better future for this city, we have to raise the standard — not just during campaign season, but every single day we’re trusted to lead.

#LeadWithPurpose #DoTheWork #CMOCertified #District4Strong #KnowTheLaw #TaxpayerTrust #MargaretDeservesBetter #NotAboveTheConstitution