Trussville Chooses Ben Short as New Mayor in a Defining Election
Trussville has turned a page in its political story. On Tuesday night, voters elected Ben Short as the city’s next mayor, handing him a decisive victory in a three-way race that captured the attention of residents eager for fresh leadership.
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Short, who has served on the Trussville City Council since 2020, will succeed two-term Mayor Buddy Choate, who chose not to seek re-election. His campaign message of steady leadership and community-first decision-making clearly resonated Short captured over 51% of the vote (3,477 ballots), avoiding the need for a runoff.
His competitors Jefferson County Tax Collector J.T. Smallwood and fellow council member Lisa Bright pulled in 26% (1,768 votes) and 22% (1,473 votes) respectively, signaling strong but not enough support to break Short’s momentum.
Council Races Bring New Faces and Clear Mandates
The mayoral election wasn’t the only shake-up on Tuesday. Trussville voters also weighed in on several City Council seats, delivering clear majorities and reshaping the political landscape:
Place 1: Ben Horton surged ahead with 68% (4,364 votes), defeating Wayne Taylor’s 13.7% (2,033 votes).
Place 3: Jaime Melton Anderson won by a commanding margin, taking 69% (4,430 votes) against Leslee Hughes’ 30.8% (1,975 votes).
Place 4: In a closer contest, James Miller secured 53% (3,428 votes) to edge out Mildred Reed, who finished with 47% (3,042 votes).
Place 5: Kimberly Farr came triumphant with 56% (3,913 votes), defeating Anthony Montalto, who got 44% (3,042 votes).
A Turning Point for Trussville
This election felt to many citizens more like a referendum on the future course of the city than a simple ballot-casting exercise. With growth pressing at its borders and the need for strong civic planning more urgent than ever, voters appeared ready to embrace leaders they believe can deliver stability while encouraging progress.
Short, who has built his reputation on pragmatic governance and responsiveness to residents, now steps into the city’s highest office with a mandate that is both clear and weighty.
“Elections tell us not just who we want in office, but where we want to go as a community,” one longtime resident noted after casting her vote.
As Trussville prepares for its next chapter, the message from Tuesday’s election seems unambiguous: voters want steady leadership, practical solutions, and a renewed vision for a city on the rise.
