Walter Maddox

Walter Maddox
Maddox in May 2011
36th Mayor of Tuscaloosa
Incumbent
Assumed office October 3, 2005
Preceded by	Al DuPont
Member of the Tuscaloosa City Council from the 6th district
In office October 2001 – September 2005
Preceded by	Clell Hobson
Succeeded by	Bob Lundell
Personal details
Born	(1972-12-27) December 27, 1972 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Stephanie Roberts
Residence	Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Alma mater	University of Alabama at Birmingham (B.A., M.P.A.)
Religion	Methodist
Website	Official website

Walter Maddox (born December 27, 1972) is an American politician who has served as the 36th Mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama since 2005. From 2001 to 2005, he served on the Tuscaloosa City Council and served as Executive Director of Personnel for Tuscaloosa City Schools. Maddox was a Field Director for the Alabama Education Association from 1996 to 2001.^[1]

Early life and career

Maddox was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, attended the Tuscaloosa City Schools, and graduated from Central High School in 1991.^[1] He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science and a Master's in Public Administration.

From 1996 to 2001, Maddox served as a Field Director for the Alabama Education Association. In 2001, Maddox was appointed Executive Director of Personnel for Tuscaloosa City Schools, serving until his election as Mayor.^[1][2] On August 28, 2001, Maddox was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council, defeating incumbent Clell Hobson, 61% to 39%. Maddox ran on a platform of education reform and crime reduction.^[3]

Mayor of Tuscaloosa

In 2005, longtime Tuscaloosa mayor Al DuPont retired. Maddox was an underdog against former city councilman Sammy Watson. Maddox came in second place in the initial round of voting, receiving 31.1% to Watson's 38%.^[4] This forced a runoff on September 13, which Maddox won with 54% of the vote to Watson's 46%.^[5] Maddox was inaugurated on October 3, in front of Tuscaloosa City Hall.^[6]

On August 25, 2009, Maddox was re-elected without opposition.^[7]

On November 4, 2013, Walter Maddox was sworn in for his third term as Tuscaloosa’s 36th Mayor. Since his first inauguration, he has led initiatives to increase economic development, improve customer service with the implementation of Tuscaloosa 311 and provide quality pre-k education for academically at-risk four-year-old children.

2011 Tuscaloosa tornado

On April 27, 2011, a large tornado struck Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, killing 53 people in Tuscaloosa and inflicting $100 million in damage.^[8] Two days later, Maddox toured the tornado damage with public officials including President Barack Obama and Governor Robert Bentley.^[9]

Mayor Maddox has been nationally recognized for his crisis management following the EF-4 tornado that destroyed 12 percent of the City and severely damaged or destroyed 5,300 homes and businesses. Mayor Maddox is currently serving as a fellow with the Program on Crisis Leadership at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2012, Mayor Maddox was named Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County (the publication for state and local governments) for his strong, decisive and comforting leadership.

His response to the tornado was noted; The New York Times stated that Maddox "emerged as an efficient, earnest, unwavering hero of the storm," and American City & County magazine named Maddox its 2012 Municipal Leader of the Year.^[10][11][12]

References

External links

• Official website
• Campaign website