Editor’s note: Today The Times looks back on our No. 5 local story of 2016.

Election season in 2016 brought with it some dramatic changes for local cities, towns and elected boards. And one of the biggest changes in leadership happened with a position that isn’t even decided by popular vote.

Shane Barnette was named Superintendent of the Cullman County School system in March, filling a vacancy left by the resignation of former superintendent Dr. Craig Ross.

Ross stepped away from his appointed role in late 2015, with one and-a-half years remaining on his initial contract, to pursue other opportunities. Dr. Brandon Payne, the former assistant superintendent, filled the position until Barnette’s hiring.

While Barnette’s position is appointed by the school board, numerous elected spots in municipal government also saw turnover when voters went to their polling places this year. 

The Cullman County Board of Education added Wayne Myrex as longtime member Wendy Crider decided to not seek reelection.

Incumbent Cullman Mayor Max Townson lost his bid for a third consecutive term, falling to former City Council member Woody Jacobs in August (The Times No. 7 story of the year).

In the county’s second-largest municipality, Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail easily won a third term — but was joined by two new members on the City Council. Hanceville’s election shook up the council, with incumbents Doug Batemon and Greg Baker losing reelection bids to newcomers Sharon Porter and Justin Pruett, respectively.

At Fairview, Keith Henry defeated incumbent Mayor Dale Seals, re-emerging into an active local government role for the first time since serving a separate mayoral term in the late 1990s.

Just down the road at Holly Pond, the open mayor’s race was taken by former coach Bill Oliver, who defeated Angela Finley. Newcomer Gladys Wisener also won her first term on the council, landing the Place 5 seat.

Good Hope’s city council saw one change, with Greg Brown defeating incumbent Matthew Glover to earn the Place 4 seat.

Colony’s Town Council finally achieved full membership. New Mayor Donnis Leeth and council members Margaret Dimbo, Curtis Johnson and Myra Twitty appointed Tammy Malcom to Place 2 and Julian Fields to Place 3. The seats had been vacant for months. During the October election there were not enough candidates to fill the openings.

The Cullman City School Board featured four challenged races this year, with voters hanging on to only one incumbent. Lee Powell, Chris Branham and Joey Orr all won first-time seats on the school board, while Suzanne Harbin was the lone incumbent to successfully hang on to her seat in a contested race. Jason Neal, school board president, was unopposed and retained his position.

(Year in review No. 6) Trump takes Cullman County in record showing