After four years on the Cullman City Council, it’s only fitting longtime former Cullman High football coach Andy Page falls back on sports analogies as he announces his reelection: He’s only at half-time, and he wants to stick around for the third and fourth quarters.

“I’ve got a lot of football coach in me, and I’m all about the team,” Page said. “I’m running again for the same reason I ran the first time — for the future of Cullman. My motivation hasn’t changed a bit. I’ve been here about 40 years, and I really love this community. I think, having coached for the people for many years, I kind of knew a little bit about their expectations, which has helped me on the council.”

Page said he was pretty raw as far as political procedure coming into his first term, but he said the trial by fire of the past four years has more than prepared him if voters decide to keep him around.

“I’ve probably learned more than anyone, because I was just full of coaching and teaching,” he said. “I’ve learned this mayor and council can work together and respect each other, listen to one another’s opinions; and if things don’t go our way, everyone can accept it and go on to the next problem. None of us have agendas, and the only agenda I’ve noticed is we all want what’s best for Cullman.”

With everything from the April 27, 2011, tornadoes hitting the area, to the council’s tense few months drafting an alcohol ordinance following a wet/dry referendum in late 2010, Page said it’s been an exciting, and challenging, first term. But, he believes those situations have made him a better leader and councilman.

“Dealing with those things, we all knew we had to get it done,” he said. “When you know you have to get it done, it makes it easier to come together and work as a team. I’m honored to have served the past four years, and would be humbled and honored if people chose to let me serve them again.”

Page also commended the city employees for their efforts during the months following the storm, and in their regular day-to-day duties.

“City employees do a great job, and have been outstanding,” he said. “That makes our job a lot easier.”

Looking toward the next four years, Page said he hopes to see the Duck River dam secondary water source project through to completion, and have a hand in developing the recently purchased Burrow property on County Road 222.

“The big one is Duck River, but I’d also like to see us develop the Burrow property, because I think it has so much potential, especially if we can get a [Interstate 65] exit there at Co. Rd. 222,” he said. “That would be high on my priority list, along with continuing to work on downtown redevelopment.”

Citing his decades of experience in the education field, Page said he would also continue to work closely with the Cullman City Schools on any upcoming projects.

“We rank third in the state, which is amazing,” he said. “I intend to do everything I can to keep us there.”

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.