Gomany excited about job change

Published 3:02 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2008

By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Gardendale’s former municipal judge Ken Gomany is enjoying his new job with Jefferson County.

On Feb. 28, the Jefferson County Commission approved Gomany as the new county treasurer. The previous treasurer, Barry Stephenson, was transferred to the court’s board of registrars.

“I’m very proud to be here,” said Gomany. As treasurer, Gomany said he is responsible for the county’s money by handling payroll and investing in various trust funds to make money for the county.

“This is a very well-run department. They have had perfect state audits for the past few years under Barry,” Gomany said. “It’s something I think I’ll really like, keeping the Jefferson County taxpayers’ money safe and investing it.”

Gomany followed Judge Norman Winston Sr., who served as Gardendale’s city judge for 35 years. Winston’s son, Norman Winston Jr., served for about a year after his father’s death.

Gomany served as Gardendale’s judge for three years, holding court on the first and third Fridays.

“I enjoyed it tremendously,” he said. “I’ll miss the people at City Hall. They were great to work with.”

Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker said the city will also miss Gomany.

“He was just fantastic. He’s a great judge,” said Walker, who had also been in court with Gomany when he sat in as a municipal judge in Birmingham.

“He’s just fair. He doesn’t play favorites. He’s consistent,” Walker said. “That was one of the things I was looking forward to when I came here, was working with Judge Gomany.” The city hired Walker as chief on Aug. 20, 2007, following the retirement of long-time chief Wallace Campbell.

Various judges are holding court in Gardendale until the city council appoints the next municipal judge.

While he was serving as Gardendale’s judge, Gomany, who lives in Hoover, also maintained a law practice in Birmingham. He gave up his practice in order to be the county’s treasurer.