Crystal McGough
Pinson Councilor Shane Shelnutt announced Thursday that he does not intend to seek re-election in August.
“I have had an enlightening experience my past eight plus years on the Pinson City Council,” he said. “When I first began on the city council, I thought that government was about implementing the best ideas for the city. I finally realized with this council, it is not about ideas, but rather it’s about personalities.”
Shelnutt said that there are three primary reasons he is not seeking re-election. The first reason is his belief in term limits.
“The President of the United States and the Governor of Alabama both have term limits and I think it should trickle all the way down to the local government level,” he said
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The second reason is to spend more time with his family.
The third reason, he said, is frustration with the city council.
“I am frustrated with this council and their lack of managing a balanced budget,” Shelnutt said. “Just over the last four budgets, we are $1.25 million over the General Fund budget. Hopefully, this next council will be able to stick to a budget and be fiscally responsible.”
Shelnutt said that one accomplishment he is proud of during his time in office is a Transparency checklist he got approved by the council last month.
“One of the most important accomplishments that I was glad to be a part of was establishing the groundwork for the City of Pinson to become one of the most transparent cities in the state,” he said. “One of Pinson’s residents, Phil Sims, brought the idea to me and after two council meetings of no progress, the council finally agreed to adopt his plan at the third meeting.”
Shelnutt said that he is also proud to say that he never voted to raise taxes or give himself a salary increase while he was in office.
“Pinson is one of the great cities (of) our state,” he said. “My hope and prayers are that we will always strive to look for ways to improve our city and improve the lives of our citizens. I will cherish my experience as a councilman and forever be grateful to the citizens of Pinson for giving me this opportunity.”