Anthony Williams is running for his fifth term in office for Abilene City Council. Early voting starts April 28, and the election is on May 10.
Williams, chief business services officer at ACU and Place 3 city council, has been working hard for the upcoming elections. He has begun door-to-door campaigning and meeting with the citizens of Abilene to hear their interests and problems from potholes to solid waste issues.
“Abilene is my hometown,” Williams said. “I love Abilene, and I think we’ve done some very significant things in our community and I want to be part of that process to make Abilene as good as it can be.”
In Nov. 2001, Williams was elected to fill an expired term in the city council. He officially began in May 2002 and has been in office for 12 years.
“I have been heavily involved on local communities and boards,” he said. “My leadership progressed, and an individual asked me to consider running when an open seat was available.”
The city council has seven members: three from the north side and another three from the south. The mayor oversees the council agenda. Moreover, each year, a mayor pro tempore is selected among the members. Williams has held the title for four years and serves as a temp to Mayor Norm Archibald when the mayor is unavailable.
“We’ve had a healthy team environment,” he said. “Although there are times we have opposing views, I think, for the most part, we’ve worked together in a collective manner that has put the interests of Abilene in the forefront.”
A full term in the city council is three years and elections are organized after each term has ended.
“I have always loved the way the government works and am fascinated about the whole political process,” Williams said.
This term’s election will present a challenge for Williams because he will have an opponent, Joseph Cochran, running against him.
According to the Abilene Reporter-News, Cochran has raised $55 against Williams’ $6,883. Cochran has lived in Abilene for seven years and has had different jobs. He has worked in sales, business management and a as contractor for the Reporter-News in the past.
“When I run, I think I’m the very best selection and I try to articulate that to the citizens,” Williams said. “A part of what makes the system we have is that everybody has an opportunity to run and be part of the process. At the end of the day, it’s up to the citizens of Abilene to see if that person is the best candidate.”
Williams said he is confident he is the best candidate and looks forward to the results. If he wins, William said he has plans to concentrate his time on the water issues around Abilene and cities alike.
