Featured: Marshall Stiefel, his wife Nicole, and their five-year-old daughter Landrie.

By Tyler Pruett

tyler@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Lifelong Rainsville resident Marshall Stiefel announced this month his candidacy for city council. He’s a 1994 graduate of Plainview High School and finished Athens State with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Stiefel, working with his father, is self employed and small business owner. Marshall has been married to his wife, Nicole, for nine years. She teaches the preschool program for special needs children at Fyffe. They have a five year old daughter, Landrie.

Stiefel is a conservative Christian that believes in fiscal accountability. He’s always been fascinated by the political process and if elected wants to guard against government overreach.

“As a small business owner, I know what excessive government regulation can do to local business. I want to maintain the local infrastructure to help small business thrive,” Stiefel said.

Transparency and accountability is also important to Stiefel. When asked about recent citizen concerns on meeting attendance and conducting business behind closed doors, he made clear that citizens should been involved with the decision making process and it’s a councilman’s responsibility to be at most of the meetings.

“It should be like any company or job. Sometimes extenuating circumstances arise, but there should be a limit of only three meetings or so that can be missed. You should know the responsibility of the job when you decide to run,” Stiefel said.

“And the citizens are the town and business should be conducted in the open. There should be transparency throughout,” Stiefel added.

Stiefel will be on the ballot against incumbent councilman Joey Graham and fellow challenger Tina Pike for August municipal elections. There could be other challengers to join the race before the qualifying deadline on July 5.