Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks, left, shakes hands with Jesse Matthews, a Bessemer city councilman. Marks was elected vice president of the Alabama League of Municipalities for 2018-2019, while Matthews was elected president.

Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks has taken on a new leadership responsibility as vice president of the Alabama League of Municipalities.

Marks was elected by his municipal colleagues during the league’s annual convention in Montgomery, which ran Saturday through Tuesday. He will serve in the position for one year.

Jesse Matthews, a councilman from Bessemer, will serve as the league’s president for the next year.

“Ronnie has been actively involved with the league for many years,” said Ken Smith, executive director of the League of Municipalities. “… His municipal knowledge and leadership skills have been an asset to our organization. He will serve us well as vice president.”

Prior to being elected to his first term as mayor in 2012, Marks served on the council from 2004 to 2010. After former mayor Dan Williams won election to the State House in 2010, Marks — the sitting council president — assumed the role as mayor.

Marks said he appreciated the opportunity to serve in a leadership position with the league. As vice president, he’s in line to helm the organization as president next year.

“I spent some time thinking about this because it could take some time away from my activities here,” he said. “I’m glad (to serve) because I would do anything to protect our cities and towns.”

Given the Toyota-Mazda project coming to Limestone County and anticipated growth that will come with it, Marks said it’s a great time for Athens’ interests to be represented at the league and legislative levels.

“I sure hope I’ll have some influence,” he said.

League involvement

The Alabama League of Municipalities works to secure state legislation, offers training for municipal employees and “conducts continuing studies of the legislative, administrative and operational needs, problems and functions of Alabama’s municipal governments,” according to information provided by the league.

Marks serves on several league committees, including the executive committee. He also services on the board of directors for the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation, a mutual insurance company created by the League in 1989 to provide Alabama’s municipalities with liability insurance.

The mayor completed the league’s basic and advanced Certified Municipal Official programs and is currently working on his CMO Emeritus designation. The designation is awarded to officials who have acquired a minimum of 120 credit hours of continuing CMO education through a series of one-day programs designed for mayors and council members who voluntarily wish to receive formal training in municipal government.