By Randy Garrison

For the Enquirer

This time four years ago I was finishing up a 14-year career in the newspaper business. When I began that career, I had very little knowledge about the business and naively thought the primary purpose was to share information. In fact, I unknowingly assumed the newsprint was unlimited, space was primarily for news and you sprinkled a few ads in there for good measure.  

Well, about my second day, I learned without the revenue from advertising, there would be no news to for the readers to partake of. In fact, your newspaper page count is completely related to the advertising inches needed for the publication.  

So, I found out my job of selling ads would make the newspaper even better for the readers. 

Later on as publisher, this really came into play when it was my job to print a quality newspaper but also to create a profit for the owners of the newspaper. Since I was also involved in the profit sharing, this was even more important to me in this position, as well.  

But as publisher I took on the goal of using the newspaper to make Hartselle an even better place for all to live, work, play and worship. I did my best to always print stories to promote the good things in our city – not that bad things never happened, but I tried to overcome some of the not–so–positive with extra–positive news items.  

After all, have your ever smiled at someone with a scowl or frown on his face and realized it is very difficult for that person to not return your smile? That is, unless he prefers to go through life in a constant state of bad moods. 

When I felt the nudge and call to seek the office of mayor, my goal did not change: helping the city I had called home my entire life become even better.  

I wanted to promote the lifestyle Hartselle offers, share all the great attributes our city has and work alongside others to make what was already a great hometown stretch itself to become even better and shine brighter. This is for those who live here now and those who will either be born here, move or transfer here. 

Well, when I followed God’s lead – and I will always testify to the fact that He led me to this position – I knew early on that I was where I needed and wanted to be. I have truly enjoyed serving the folks of Hartselle for the past four years. In fact, I have mentioned to many and in this column that the past four years have been the best of my working life.  

When I was blessed with serving another four, I was very humbled and appreciative that I would be able to continue working to help grow our city – to help her to continue to prosper, grow and offer an even better life for those who call her home, now and in the future. 

So as of Nov. 2, I have begun my second term of serving you, my friends, family, neighbors and citizens of Hartselle in what I believe and pray will be the continuation of what we began several years ago at the newspaper.  

I used the slogan “Together We Can” when I campaigned the first time in 2016. I believe by doing this, Hartselle has prospered. I am working alongside a terrific city council whose goal is also to serve the citizens of Hartselle to the best of our ability. With this, Hartselle will continue growth in business, jobs, revenue, housing and services for our citizens. 

Working alongside a great team and awesome group of department heads that share the same goal of service – along with our city employees who go above and beyond the call of duty – Hartselle will continue to gain in all avenues, and our citizens will be the recipient of those gains. 

As we begin this next term, I ask for your prayers for guidance, wisdom and discernment as we all work together for our city.