Local News
West Point mayor to challenge Fields for District 12 seat
West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo has garnered cooperation from other officials to improve his town and he plans to use the same tactics in Montgomery to improve Cullman County.
Kilgo officially announced his candidacy for the District 12 seat of the Alabama House of Representatives Saturday during a meeting of the Cullman County Republican Party. The seat is currently held by Rep. James Fields (Dem.), who plans to run for re-election.
“I’ve had some real good luck with West Point working with local government to get some things,” Kilgo said. “I think I’ll bring some experience of being able to work with anybody.”
Kilgo, who is also the director of the Cullman County chapter of the American Red Cross, has served as mayor of West Point for three years. He previously served two years as a West Point town council member.
“I understand the functions of government,” Kilgo said. “I think I’ve got something to offer District 12 folks.
During his time as mayor, Kilgo and the council obtained West Point’s first federal grant.
“We went out and went to Washington D.C. and went to Montgomery,” Kilgo said.
The funding was used to construct sidewalks and gutters throughout the town.
“West Point doesn’t look like it did three years ago,” Kilgo said.
Kilgo said he decided to run for the District 12 seat due to the growth in government and spending he has seen in Montgomery and Washington D.C. over the last few years.
“I have a philosophical difference ... smaller government, less taxes and helping small businesses,” Kilgo said. “What I believe in doing is effective and efficient government. Make government work the best way you can with less bureaucracy.”
Fields said Cullman County would do well to have Kilgo as its representative, but added that he would be the better choice.
“Mr. Kilgo is a good fellow who has the ability to work with others,” Fields said. “I just believe I can do a better job. I think people readily see they’ve been represented well.”
Fields, who is the first black man ever elected to represent District 12, won the seat during a special election in 2008.
Fields worked for nearly three decades with the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, the last four as an unemployment fraud investigator. During former Gov. Don Siegelman's administration, he was assistant director of the agency in Montgomery.
While in office, Fields has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation that have benefited the community and saved taxpayer money.
“I got a bill passed to keep legislators from throwing away between $128,000 and $140,000 in (paperwork) materials,” Fields said. “If they want it, they have to ask for it. Now that money will be going back to the general fund next year.”
Fields said he sponsored a bill, which recently became law, that prevents municipalities from imposing fees on electric utilities that would ultimately be passed on to citizens.
“That’s a good piece of legislation,” Fields said.
Kilgo said it is too soon for him to lay out what his agenda would be if elected, but noted he would always do what is in the best interest of his constituents.
“If it makes sense and helps the most people, I’m for it,” Kilgo said.
‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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