It was a resident from somewhere in her ward, telling Virettia that her son was in the county jail and was in need of medical attention. BOTTOM LEFT: A sign for a business in Virettia's ward. A city resident wishing to become mayor must specifically run for that office. The Fayette Art Museum was founded in 1969 by Fayette City Council and Jack Black, who was the Musuem's Director for 35 years. LaFayette, Alabama maps, city districts, nearby cities, location The city had 4,285 residents as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. BOX 87 LAFAYETTE, AL 36862. But now it was the summer of protests after the killing of George Floyd. Design by Tara McCarty. Board of Alderman . One on the gas board. City of Fayette 203 Temple Avenue N. Fayette, AL 35555 Phone: 205-932-5367 Fax: 205-932-5788 email: cityhall@fayetteal.org Contact Numbers If Emergency, please call 911 Police: 205-932 5312 Fire: 205-932-5311 Gas: 205-932-5269 After Hours: 205-270-0088 Water: 205-932-5311 For all other departments, please click here. . what black person have you seen come to my defense Ill wait NO ONE, she had texted her cousin in a moment of frustration. In Ward Two, incumbent Councilman Eddy D. Campbell will face challenger Floyd Rogers Jr. for the position. Fayette is a city in Fayette County, Alabama. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Yeah you had mfs like me and my sis in your corner, Virettia wrote back. Mailing Address: 103 First Avenue NW, Suite 4, Fayette, Alabama, 35555-2627 But.. A few days later, Virettia was still upset, and when a tenant whod helped on her campaign stopped by her office, she started telling her what had happened. Incumbent Councilman Jerry Nichols will attempt to retain his position on the council in Ward Five, as he is challenged by political newcomer Garrett N. Rainey. I love you, but you owe me $77, Virettia said. There is Opportunity for You in Fayette! Aliska Hughes-Monroe and Scottie Carl Porter are seeking the council position in Ward Four. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Scottie Porter had responded to the post. We are also the home of the Sipsey Arts Alliance. Now she called Cedric Wilson, the former city councilman who had lost his bid for mayor. Basically, what happened was that Whitesides election broke what McCrummen calls the Rule of One in Fayette. ? her cousin wrote. Here in the shebeen, we are longtime fans of Stephanie McCrummen, who is posted in the South and who writes for the Washington Post. Virettia had always thought of her town as a nice place to live but a hard place to be anybody unless your granddaddys uncles cousins a somebody. For a while, her father had been somebody the citys first Black councilman but that was long ago, and she had always wondered what to make of his silence about the experience. [1] Federal officials The current members of the U.S. Senate from Alabama are: To view a map of U.S. House districts in Alabama and find your representative, click here . The population density was 530.2 inhabitants per square mile (204.7/km2). Finally, she said, Hey Cedric. I wouldnt be so rude, so I said, Hey. And she said, Whatre you doing? And I said, Keeping busy. She said, Thats good.' Residents sit outside Mayfair Manor. At the time, two Black women were organizing Black voters to try to change that when they were accused of absentee ballot fraud, convicted by all-White juries and given the maximum sentences of four and five years in prison. The median household income was $25,714 and the median family income was $36,589. So yall ever voted to change the outdated laws? Virettia asked Cedric now. Im telling you this is the best Ive seen him.. Subscribe now! Contact Glenda for availability and services provided by the staff. He pulled his hoodie over his face, pretending to avoid her. She was walking home on her first day of school when a classmate started pushing her, and another girl told her, Youre going to have to fight. Virettia had never fought in her life but standing there in the strange snow in a strange city, she realized no one was coming to help. The Fayetteville City Council conducts regular meetings on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Citizens only vote for a candidate running in their respective districts. Fayette is a town where people have always found opportunity waiting to be fulfilled. About Us Contact Us Add to calendar Details Date: So, when Whiteside won her council seat, in which she represents a mixed-race district, and a friend of hers won the traditional Black seat, there were two Black citizens on the city council of Fayette, Alabama, which proceeded to lose a bit of its mind. Subscribe now! Take the high road, people kept advising. It is time to become a member. Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Virettia's best friend, was elected in November to represent Ward 4. Mike, come in here, Virettia said, waving him in. I think Fayette dodged a bullet.. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. On Election Day, someone called police to report a possible fight outside a polling place, which turned out to be Virettia and the other Black candidates who were outside greeting voters when the sirens came screaming, and through it all, Virettia tried to maintain her composure. We have a place for you, a place where your dreams can have a beginning. LaFayettes proximity, transportation options, access to outdoor activities and major sporting events makes it a perfect place to live, raise a family, do business or just visit. Review our. The Fayetteville City Council hosts work sessions on the first Monday of every month. Black citizens are allowed to participate in local government, but not to approach anything remotely like controlling it. Its a lot of language about us in the Constitution of Alabama thats been there since 1921.. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). All right, well call the meeting to order, the mayor said. The biggest threat to the male ego is a black woman, she said, reading out loud a quote someone had sent her as she began work one morning at Mayfair Manor, where she had a glass-front office in the lobby and the first tenant of the day stopped in just after 8 a.m. You doing okay, Junie? Virettia asked an elderly woman. Drop by between 6:30 and 8:30 PM for free refreshments and a visit. Then came her last chance, the part of the meeting where the mayor asked each council member for updates on their own committees or anything else happening in Fayette. Laws were meant to be amended. That the judge had dismissed the lawsuit. The only municipal election within the county this year will occur on Aug. 25 in the City of Fayette, with every position on the ballot being contested. City government is comparable to a private corporation under the council/manager form of government. The mayor is avoting member of the Council. Click on the links below to view the Agenda and Minutes from the City Council Meetings. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), LEFT: Antiques store owner Scottie Porter lost a lawsuit against Virettia that disputed her eligibility to hold office in Ward 1 because she owns a home outside of it. He only has one kidney. Get your date and time reserved early while they are available. Now he spent most days at his antique store, happy to share with anyone who asked his belief that if all the Black candidates had won, Fayette would have soon resembled another Alabama town he knew of, an hour to the south, which in his mind had been a charming place when White people had the majority on the City Council. My trailer is paid for, cash. Its me. The only municipal election within the county this year will occur on Aug. 25 in the City of Fayette, with every position on the ballot being contested. Males had a median income of $34,271 versus $27,500 for females. How White colleagues hed come to consider friends after 24 years on the council had backed off supporting him after the rumors started that he had recruited all the Black candidates to run at once, which was not true. June 2, 2022 by by For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. TheFayetteville City Councilis an elected body representing the citizens of Fayetteville. Ox Bodies, now a division of TBEI, is a world leader in truck dump bodies, Fayette Fabrication, founded in 2014, provides custom carts, racks and skids for the automotive industry across the southeast. [3] [9] The Fayette City Hall, located in Fayette, AL, provides municipal services for residents of Fayette. The mayor acts as the official head of city government and presides at City Council meetings. She was on her own. Fayette Map. He lives near Boston and has three children. All meetingsstart at 7 p.m. and are open to the public. The mega-rich. Of the 2,092 households 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. There used to be no Black, Cedric said. Jordan, she said, interrupting. City of Fayetteville From its beginning as one of the earliest towns in northwest Alabama, industrious citizens have captured the future with their visions and dreams. See vital information about voting in our county. You see what Im saying? I cant understand why all of a sudden we are allowing this, said a White woman sitting in the front row with her daughter, addressing the board. It was also because he believed she had run for nefarious reasons including his belief that she was part of a vast plot by national Democrats and billionaires like George Soros and Bill Gates to retain power at any cost. She pretended like she didnt see me. Check back often to see our calendar of upcoming events and our latest county job openings. The more members the more the Chamber can promote Fayette and Fayette can promote your business. The City televisesregularly scheduled Council meetings liveand on playback on FayTV. We have a place for you, a place where your dreams can have a beginning. The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% 65 or older. Look at my heart., But that was not reality, she was saying the next morning, sitting in her office. From 30,000 feet we look at Aliceville and we know 20 years ago it had a White mayor and now it has a Black mayor, and a Black council, and its got s--- left, he continued. About Us. Our county is a wonderful place to live with tremendous opportunities for growth, development, and industrial development with our proximity to the I-22 Corridor. [5], According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.4km2), of which 8.5 square miles (22.1km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2km2), or 0.95%, is water.[2]. The same dreams and enthusiasm are still alive today in companies founded in Fayette. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. I believe it with all my heart.. The multiracial tenants include fast-food workers, veterans and elderly and disabled people. No suggestions! The Rot Beneath Green Labels on Forestry Products, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Her best friend was running in the traditionally Black ward. For a full list of our elected officials and department heads including contact information, click here. What is the reason for that? She had imagined a big speech about love and fear and bravery that would end with her telling people, It doesnt matter if youre rich, poor, old, young, Black or White, I care about you. Location of Fayette in Fayette County, Alabama. And I think developing those relationships is a good thing, the mayor said, moving on. P.O Box 1111 Montgomery AL. Council Meetings - Fayette, Alabama City Council Meetings begin at 5:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month in the City Hall. . (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Share your feedback by emailing the author. Virettia closed her eyes and thought about all the things she had wanted to say but had not said during the past months as she felt her legitimacy questioned. Copy editing by Wayne Lockwood. Her father: nothing. Stand behind me show up! Virettia had texted then. When investigators from the district attorneys office showed up at Mayfair Manor three times asking tenants if their absentee ballots had been coerced, she decided not to file a complaint with the NAACP. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Fayette, Alabama . including West Point Lake in Georgia, 15 minutes to the east and Alabama's Lake Martin, 30 minutes to the west. The racial makeup of the city was 73.4% White, 24.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. One world order. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), During her campaign, Virettia knocked on doors in Haughton Acres, a predominantly white, middle-class neighborhood in her ward. Oh baby, guess what? Cedric said, brightening, telling Virettia about a White woman hed run into at the bank, one of the many hed suspected of spreading the false rumors about him. No councilor lives in Ward 1; slap out of luck!. The volunteerswho are appointed to the boards andcommissions serve as the link that connectsthe public to its governing body and serve asadvisors who make recommendations thathelp shape the policies and programs ofFayetteville. She had imagined another version of the moment, one where she had turned to the camera and said to the whole town of Fayette, Why are you so frightened? There were 11 provisional ballots counted in the final results of the Fayette municipal election, and four provisional ballots cast were ruled ineligible to be counted. I dont have anything tonight, she said, looking out at the faces in the audience, and then at the mayor. The cameraman who live-streamed all the council meetings swung the lens toward Virettia, who cleared her throat. Elections are non-partisan, with the mayor and council members serving four-year terms. Council Lady Whiteside? the mayor said, turning to his left. Dont talk to her, talk to them, said the womans daughter, pointing to the board of three White men and one Black man. Hey Jordan, she said, and began telling him what the woman had told her. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. At the 2010 census there were 4,619 people, 1,924 households, and 1,206 families living in the city. Fayette County has four incorporated towns and cities including Fayette, Glen Allen, Berry, and Belk. The City Manager is responsible for managing the Citys employees, and the finances and resources as the chief budget officer. The Fayette time zone is Central Daylight Time which is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). All ninecouncil members are elected from singlemember districts and only citizens withineach district may vote for each district seat. She was still saying it now, trusting that the high road people had been advising her to take would eventually bring some relief, but it did not. Her first reaction was to consider quitting. The median household income was $31,705 and the median family income was $41,905. Cotton fields, such as this one in Fayette, still permeate the South. Shown from left: Councilman Cedric Wilson (sitting in chair at far left), Councilman Jerry Nichols, Councilman Jason Cowart, Mayor Ray Nelson, City Clerk Dawn Clapp, Councilwoman Linda McCraw and Councilman Eddy Campbell. The Fayette Art Museum has over 5,000 pieces of art by nationally recognized artists. Under the current electoralsystem, the City Council consists of ninecouncil members and a mayor. Ultimately, Donald Trump Beat the System. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of my hometown. The park will serve residents of the city and surrounding rural areas, offer a recreation area for people coming to work in LaFayette, and provide a gathering place for families, friends, and out-of-town visitors. Were you a slave? yelled her daughter, getting up to leave as the meeting degenerated into a tense silence, and when it was over, Virettia called Cedric. All members of the Fayetteville City Councilserve concurrent two-year terms following acitywide election held in early November inodd-numbered years. Have a question about our comment policies? She was raising two sons. One percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Its 20 years I worked for that. It wasnt just the house she had bought in another ward, he said, explaining why he opposed her election. City of Fayette Missouri - Timeless Character, Soaring Spirit. She said he was being ignored, that he needed help and she needed help, and so Virettia called a deputy at the jail, a White man she knew who was planning to run for sheriff and would need her support. Then she got a lawyer in Birmingham who asked the judge to dismiss the case, describing it as an attempt to intimidate Ms. Whiteside and to punish her for winning election to a traditionally white seat and literally an effort to keep Ms. Whiteside in her place. . This new twist on the old idea of gerrymanderingcloaking old Elbridges original notion in the moral camouflage of the Civil Rights Movementis not that uncommon. Pictured is the Fayette Civic Center, where the Fayette municipal elections will take place from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. History [ edit] Originally known as "La Fayette", it incorporated on January 15, 1821. Youre going to see some things, Cedric said. City of Fayette Mayor - jdawson@cityoffayettemo.com . County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. The population density was 575.1 inhabitants per square mile (222.0/km2). This type of government was developed in Virginia in 1909 and today is the predominant form of local government in North Carolina. Mine will be a home too, once I get through with it.. At thesemeetings, Council receives information andasks questions. The Rule of One really was broken. The Fayette City Council meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month. I was in the next window. get driving directions from your location, Fayette County Death Certificates & Records, Voter poll locations and election procedures. Phone 205-932-5367. Rent out our incredible multipurpose complex for your next event. Fayette is a city and the county seat of Fayette County, Alabama, United States. Phone-Number: 334-864-7181 Meeting-Type: regular Submission . (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). Federal election monitors were sent to Aliceville, and in the years after that more Black people were elected, a development that led to White flight and divestment that is the story of rural towns across the South. No FBI Agent Should Just Trust Trump to Tell Truth, Republican Senators Form Wingnut Xylophone, How to Line Your Pockets While Reshaping the Court, SCOTUS Ponders Whether to Dub Loans Unforgiven, Effort to Recall N.O. . A federal judge later tossed out the decisions, but not before the matter helped spark the largest civil rights march in the South since the famous Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. It was like living through Rod Serlings old Twilight Zone episode, The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, over and over again. Over the course of its history our town has been the starting point of many endeavors that became larger than the the city itself. Any of you want to talk further on this? the mayor said, turning to his right and then turning to Virettia, who shook her head no. We would love to have you come and visit Fayette County and see rural living at its best! Rod Northam, Mayor The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,285 people, 1,888 households, and 1,178 families residing in the city. Oh no, youre not going there, said the White woman. Hey Jerry, the mayor said to one of the other councilmen as he came in. Council members and the mayor are notfull-time City employees, but they arefinancially compensated for their time andcertain expenses. FayTV is available on Spectrum Cable on Channel 7 and video content is also available for viewingonline. She listened for a moment as he responded mm hmm, she said, mm hmm and then, growing impatient, she did what she finally had the power to do. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. An indication that the actual power structure might change surely brings the night sweats to the good white citizens of the town. All Rights Reserved. Whitesides subsequent experiences surely stemmed from the same kind of panic. The Aquatic Center will begin taking Party Reservations on April 3. All members of the City Council are elected to represent you. Mike! she said now, seeing him pass by her office. The Municipal Court has created an Amnesty Program for all defendants that have outstanding balances from cases prior to December 31, 2020. Name Fayette City Hall Address 203 Temple Avenue North Fayette, Alabama, 35555 Phone 205-932-5367 Hours Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:00 PM CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Were you a slave? Vying for office in Ward One are Steve Herring, Kevin Rhudy and Virettia L. Whiteside. Lord give me the strength, Virettia thought to herself. City of LaFayette 50 Alabama Ave W LaFayette, Alabama 36862 334-864-7181 info@cityoflafayetteal.com. I kept my yard up. You may rent any of several rooms, including the auditorium, for your special event. Fayette, AL 35555-2684 (205) 932-4510 . But getting back to what you were saying, baby.. Not that Virettia, who had never been in Scotties store and had never been one of the people he sometimes invited in for afternoon tea and conversations amid the antiques, had heard him say any of this; she only had the lawsuit, along with her own knowledge that it was precisely because of what had happened in Aliceville and places like it that in 1988, Black voters in Fayette were able to elect the towns first Black councilperson, who happened to be her father. In accordance with that act, four of the nine districts are drawn so that minorities are assured a voting majority within that district. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Virettia put the cap on her pen, and a few minutes later, the meeting was over. Whitesides election messed with this informal order of things. Call us today to get any more information about our county. Virettias mother had shopped at his store. The Fayette City Council with members Tommy Williams and Virettia Whiteside meets at City Hall in the small Alabama town in January with Mayor Rod Northam in attendance. Fayette County Circuit Clerk Democratic Party Samantha Howard (205) 932-4617 Website Fayette County Coroner Republican Party Timothy "TK" Kimbrell (205) 361-4828 Fayette County Probate Judge Republican Party Mike Freeman (205) 932-4519 Fayette County Sheriff Republican Party Byron Yerby (205) 932-3205 Email: info@fayetteso.com Website Others with regional and national reputations have also called Fayette home. However, that was far from the actual reason, as Porter made clear to McCrummen. Here's a small story from a small place that teaches us big lessons about what kind of country we actually are.

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