Tony Picklesimer elected mayor of Chelsea

Barely 45 minutes after polls closed, Brandon Picklesimer, the youngest son of Chelsea mayoral candidate Tony Picklesimer, stepped on stage at Liberty Baptist Church. As Brandon Picklesimer read off the final tally of votes, his words were met with a round of applause.

“Ladies and gentleman, it is with pleasure I give you the mayor-elect of Chelsea, Alabama and the first lady of Chelsea — Tony and Cindy Picklesimer,” he said.

In Chelsea’s Oct. 4 runoff election, Tony Picklesimer was elected as the city’s next mayor with around 57 percent of the city's 1,863 votes, a total of 1,064 votes. Dale Neuendorf received 799 votes. Picklesimer and his wife Cindy Picklesimer entered the room to applause, hugs and a few tears.

Sandi Herron, campaign manager for Picklesimer, said the last several months have been a journey for their team.

“With Tony Picklesimer, I knew before the start of this campaign, I knew he was a man of integrity,” she said. “But over and over throughout this entire campaign, he has proven himself to be even more.”

Picklesimer later took the microphone, thanking everyone present at the watch party for their encouragement and work during the campaign.

“What a privilege it is to have a family like I have,” he said. “What a privilege it is to have a campaign team like I have.”

At an election watch party at Johnny Ray’s BBQ, Neuendorf thanked everyone for their support and said his feelings toward the election’s results were a mix between relief and disappointment.

“In some ways I’m relieved that I don’t have to deal with the problems he’s got to deal with, but I’m still disappointed I didn’t win,” he said.

Neuendorf added that he still wants to be mayor, but “that’s not going to happen” because he does not plan to run again.

“I really wanted the job, and I really wanted to do things for Chelsea, but Tony does a nice job,” Neuendorf said.

Now that the election is over, Neuendorf said he and his wife Mary Neuendorf plan to take a cruise and relax a bit.

“Life goes on, and so we’re going to celebrate that this thing is over, which is a celebration in itself,” he said.

Looking toward the future

As he looks toward taking the position of mayor, Pickelsimer said he understands that he may not have 100 percent support.

“I will do my best to be a mayor that you will be proud of,” he said. “I know that one of the privileges I have is to follow Earl Niven. I told Mom way back, I said, ‘Look if we win this by a landslide, that means 45 percent is going to be mad.’ … This is not a job that you get 100 percent agreement. This is not a job you get 100 percent approval, but it is a job that you stick to your guns. It is a job that you stick to your integrity.”

Picklesimer said he intends to follow in Niven’s footsteps as mayor, and later noted that while they have some different management styles, they have discussed those differences. Once he takes office, Picklesimer said he plans to implement some of his own management styles. Since asking him if he would accept an appointment to the city council 10 years ago, Niven has continued to support and guide him, Picklesimer said.

“I feel like he has spent extra time with me. I know he cares very deeply about Chelsea, but I also feel like he cares very deeply about me, and I feel like he wants me to walk in my own light, not in his own shadow,” Picklesimer said. “He told me tonight, he said, ‘Yes, I’m leaving the office, but I will never leave your side.’”

Chelsea’s next city council includes four new members — Casey Morris, Cody Sumners, Tiffany Bittner and Scott Weygand — and incumbent David Ingram, and Picklesimer said he looks forward to working with everyone. One goal is to help assign committees to the council members based on things they have expressed and interest and expertise in, Picklesimer said.

Past council experience will serve as a roadmap to get things started, although it might take some time to completely get his footing, Picklesimer said. Meeting and interacting with the city’s business owners is one thing Picklesimer said he most looks forward to, as well as getting started on some of his campaign promises.

While there are some formal appearances that will come in the future, Picklesimer said there is an less formal appearance he looks forward to Wednesday morning.

“I want to meet our business owners, I want to be a mayor that’s accessible, and I think that’s a huge thing, to get out and meet people,” he said. “But shoot, I have a grandparents breakfast at Forest Oaks Elementary School at 7:15 in the morning, and I’m pumped. That’s a great first thing to do as mayor-elect.”

Lexi Coon contributed to this report.