Brian Bishop Announces
Arab City Council Candidacy

Brian Bishop - Arab City Council Candidate
 

January 22, 2008
Brian Bishop announced his candidacy today for the office of City Council for the City of Arab. He is seeking the Council seat which is being vacated by Councilwoman Dianne Prestridge.

In announcing his candidacy, Brian stated, "As a member of the Council, I would like to help improve on the many successes that Arab has seen over the past decade as we continue to grow. The actions we take today will decide what kind of town we live in ten years from now. Organized growth does not happen by accident. It takes city leaders who are willing to look down the road and plan for the future."

Brian is employed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Boaz City School System and was formerly employed in that same capacity with the Marshall County School System. He is the incoming President of the Alabama Association of School Business Officials and has successfully managed budgets in excess of $60 million dollars annually.

Regarding city finances, Brian Bishop believes city finances must be handled conservatively, “Fiscal responsibility is key to the growth and prosperity of the city." He added, "As public servants, we must run the city finances the same way we run our personal finances and live within our means. While I believe that our current Council has tried to manage its money well, I have concerns about the amount of debt that the City currently maintains. Arab needs to start building a reserve fund so that we have something to fall back on in difficult economic times."

Bishop is also dedicated to helping maintain Arab's excellent City School System, "As someone who has spent many years managing the finances of schools, I am proud of the education that Arab's children are receiving. It is no accident that the Arab City Schools consistently rank in the top ten in the state. It is a result of the partnership that has developed over the years between the City and the School System. I will work to insure that the City maintains its commitment to our school system."

Bishop is excited about his run for the Council, "I have the time and the strong desire to make Arab a great place for my children to grow up. My door will always be open to any citizen who wants to share his views with me about our town."

Brian Bishop is a 1994 graduate of The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Additionally, he earned a Masters degree is Business Management in 2007. Brian is the son of Tommy and Mary Ann Bishop of Arab. He and his wife, the former Lori Williams, have two daughters, Maggie and Mollie. Lori is employed as the librarian at Arab Primary School and is the daughter of Jim and Marguriete Williams of Union Grove. Brian Bishop and his wife are life-long residents of the Arab area and both were educated in the Arab City School System. He and his family are active members of the First United Methodist Church of Arab.