Cecil P. Williamson has announced intent to seek the office of Circuit Clerk of Marengo County. She will run as a Democrat.

Raised in Gallion, Williamson grew up working on a dairy farm, graduated from Demopolis High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from UWA.

Williamson said her experience serving as mayor for the City of Demopolis and small-business owner would bring a wealth of knowledge that would translate in the circuit clerk’s office.

“I am accustomed to working with individuals and committees on the local, county and state levels,” she said. “I understand the issues of administration such as managing personnel, establishing priorities and meeting deadlines.”

Over the years Williamson has served and chaired numerous committees in our area and was a founding member and former chair of the Habitat for Humanity Demopolis area organization. She is also heavily involved in the Marengo County American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Black Belt Community Foundation where she serves on the grant committee, assisting organizations in Marengo County fund their projects. Currently, she serves on the Black Belt Commission Small Business Committee, charged by Gov. Robert Bentley to establish new businesses and assist those already established.

She was named by former Governor Bob Riley as a Rural All Star, elected by her peers as state co-chair to one of five state committees and is a graduate of the Delta Regional Leadership program.

Williamson and her husband, Wayne, have been married for 47 years and have four children, all graduates of Demopolis High School. They are active members of Trinity Episcopal Church where she teaches the Adult Sunday School class.

Williamson said, following a conversation with retiring circuit clerk Rusty Nichols, she fully understands the challenges headed for the office and is equipped to take them on.

“…One of the main concerns of this position is the lack of funding to hire more personnel,” she said. “He has high praise for his current staff but knows the next clerk must take an active and responsible role, which will require ‘hands on not hand shaking’ in order to keep documents moving at a pace that is expected…Further, I would like to use my background from the mayor’s position in the political arena to lobby the legislature to return the court system to its previous status.”

Williamson said, drawing on her experience in the private sector and in government, she could effectively lead the clerk’s office.

“The best candidate for this position is the one that has a good work ethic history, is highly organized, task oriented and possesses a business knowledge,” she said. “From the dairy barn to the mayor’s office, I have maintained and developed all that.”

– from staff reports