Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Rosson Announces Re-Election Campaign 
Paul T. Rosson has announced his candidacy for re-election as Lawrence County Executive.
Paul was elected Lawrence County Executive in 2006. He will be a candidate for re-election in the May 4th Democratic Primary, in advance of the August 5th General Election.
Paul and his wife Melanie live in Leoma with their two children Matthew and Mikayla. He and his family are members of the New Prospect Baptist Church.
Paul is a member of the Loretto Lions Club and is a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow. He is a former youth baseball and football coach and a past president of the Loretto Youth Football League.
He has been an active supporter of youth sports programs, having personally sponsored more than 25 teams throughout Lawrence County.
Prior to his election, Paul worked for Columbia State Community College as a Program Director in the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Paul has served as an evening adjunct professor for Columbia State, Martin Methodist College and the University of North Alabama. Paul is the former Executive Director of the Southeastern Law Enforcement Training Seminar.
He is a native of Lawrence County, a graduate of Loretto High School and Columbia State Community College and earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of North Alabama.
“I was honored to be elected as your County Executive in 2006 and have worked hard since that time to help move Lawrence County forward.
Our economic development structure has been revamped and the infrastructure is in place to make the Team Lawrence Commerce Park ready for industry.
Our county has been very blessed during these tough economic times to welcome several new businesses and local job expansions including Bertolini Corporation, Precision Laser, and the newly announced expansion of 200 jobs at Modine Manufacturing Company.
I have been a strong supporter of our county’s education system from the start and will continue to do so. We have worked hand-in-hand with the county commission, school board, director of schools and our teachers on educational projects and other issues.
Our greatest accomplishments thus far have been new computers, school buses, school facility upgrades and the construction of 10 new classrooms which will start later this year. I will always stand and be counted for our children’s future through education.
The new Justice Center is operational, replacing the jail facility which was closed by the state due to overcrowding. We are actively seeking state and federal contracts for inmate housing to offset operational costs and capital expenses.
The Administrative Center opened a year and a half ago, providing better service to citizens who have business to conduct with the county’s administrative offices. Plans are also in place to address remodeling of the courthouse offices and to expand our solid waste facilities.
Standard and Poors recently upgraded the county’s credit bond rating from a Baa1 to an A+. This is the first time in our county’s history that we have had an A+ rating. This is something our entire county can be proud of.
When our administration took office, the county’s debt stood at approximately $52 million and our jail had been closed by the state. We have been able to address many of the county’s longest standing problems during this term, including the new justice center, with the debt remaining at the same level, approximately $52 million. We will be paying off approximately $17.7 million of the county’s debt load in the next four years.
Lawrence County has received its first grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission after being admitted to that organization in 2008. The $700,000 will provide a new water storage tank to serve the West End community.
We have extended more than 50 miles of waterlines to our neighbors throughout Lawrence County. This has been accomplished through millions in grants and resourceful partnerships with local utilities.
We have also been a strong supporter of our volunteer fire departments by providing $1 million in operational and grant matching funds over the last four years. We have also assisted in acquiring $1.5 million in grants for our fire departments.
Together, we have accomplished a great deal of work in the last few years, but I believe the greatest accomplishment for our citizens has been the teamwork which has developed across our county. I’m proud to say there is a new feeling of cooperation and friendship among our leaders and I believe this spirit of teamwork is helping to move Lawrence County forward.
I look forward to visiting with many of you in the coming weeks to discuss the campaign and Lawrence County’s direction for the future.
I humbly ask for your vote and support in the upcoming primary election and beyond. I believe Lawrence County will continue to move forward if we work together. Please visit our campaign website at www.paulrosson.com.”
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