By Staff Reports
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Rainsville native Lester Black has announced his campaign for DeKalb County Commission, District 4. Black is a lifetime Republican and active member of the Rainsville Community.
Graduating Plainview High School in 1972, Black attended Northeast Alabama Community College from 1972 to 1973; majoring in Business. He also attended Snead State College from 1995 to 1997; studying Electronic Engineering Technology while maintaining a 3.92 GPA. He is also a Certified Blast Technician.
Black also boasts a wide range of work experience within our local area. He has worked as a mine foreman, mechanic, electrician, cattle farmer, electronic repairman, and Owner and Operator of the Rainsville Tire Center.
During his time as the owner of the Rainsville Tire Center, Black was named the Alabama Tire Dealers Association’s Dealer of the Month for March 1998. Currently, Black works as a Electrical Welding Technician at Emerson in Rainsville.
Lester hopes to retire from his current position at Emerson in June 2019 to devote his full attention to recruiting manufacturing jobs to DeKalb County.
Black is also heavily involved with our local community and economic development. He has served as President of The Rainsville Chamber of Commerce and President of the Rainsville Lion’s Club.
Lester has been married for 38 years to Veronica Black. They have two sons: Jonathan and Bradley Black, and two grandchildren.
As our new county commissioner, Black will focus on increasing the county’s tax base for better road maintenance and recruiting new industries to our area.
“Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, companies see business-friendly government regulations. These businesses are releasing billions of dollars for expansion,” explained Black. “We need to improve our infrastructure to support new business opportunity so that our county can be well situated to take advantage of this expansion.”
Black also understands how improving our infrastructure can help bring in not only new industry, but industries whose money will stay in and grow the local economy.
“We have to foster an economically friendly environment to industries that will keep money in our county.
There are only three industries that generate new, lasting wealth that will stay in the county: farming, manufacturing, and mining. These industries also generate employment benefiting the county as a whole,” he explained.
Black also states he will work with the Sheriff’s Office to improve conditions for non-violent inmates in the county jail.
“I will work with the Sheriff’s Office to increase the number of non-violent inmates participating in daytime work programs for on the job training. Their salary will be put in a savings account where they can have a new start upon release,” said Black.
Politically, Black has been a lifelong DeKalb County Republican and has been a strong advocate for true Republican candidates to appear on the local primary ballot. He is also a former Chairman of the DeKalb County Republican Breakfast Club.
“I will not vote in favor of a new tax without consulting the voters of my district,” Black pledged.
Republican Lester Black would like your consideration for him as DeKalb County Commissioner, District 4 this November 6th.
DeKalb County Commission District 4 represents Rainsville, Fyffe, Sylvania, and Powell.
