As a former Anniston resident and a current speech pathologist for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services in Anniston, I care deeply about Anniston and its residents. Because my husband, Anthony, and I feel Anniston’s renewal and renaissance are within reach given the right leader, we personally urged Vaughn Stewart to seek the post of mayor. Our choice of Vaughn is based upon first-hand experiences that exemplify his leadership and diplomacy skills as well as his caring for people.

In the early 1970s, Vaughn was a student leader at Anniston High School who helped solidify the student body after the closing of Cobb High School. He was the right person at just the right time to bring unity into a situation that could have resulted in great discord. As well, I saw Vaughn shine in other leadership positions during and after high school. He was business manager of the student newspaper and sports editor of the yearbook. He was also elected youth governor of the Alabama Youth Legislature in a statewide election. We have worked together since then on projects for the class of 1974.

Vaughn also worked together with my husband through the court system while Vaughn was municipal judge of Anniston. Anthony was the volunteer head of a court project that Vaughn started in collaboration with Jacksonville State aimed at high-risk young adults. The project offered GED classes and job-interview mentoring, among other things. So I know first-hand that Vaughn shares my passion for affording young people every reasonable opportunity to succeed.

Please elect Vaughn Stewart mayor of Anniston. He has the right spirit and the right abilities to shepherd in much-needed renewal to this town that means so much to me. He is the right person at the right time.

Lora Elston Chatmon
Alexandria