BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
While Rusty Jacksland has been a Prattville Police Officer for 20 years, he is expanding his abilities and education after winning in a run-off election Tuesday against opponent Dave Burns for Autauga County Commission District 1.
Jacksland announced his intention to run for the open seat in July of last year.
“When I started having children six years ago, like any other parent, we all want the best the best for them,” he said. “If I can make a difference in my child’s life, I can make a difference in other children’s lives also.”
In speaking of his opponent, Jacksland said his goal was to always have a clean, positive race, and is very glad that worked out as planned.
“In this race, I knew it was going to be close. He (Burns) is a fantastic gentleman. I know him personally and I knew from the start that I wanted this to be a clean race. I respect him. I am looking forward to serving on the Commission, and I hope that we can all work together for the betterment of our county. It is all about cooperation,” Jacksland said.
As District 1, Jacksland’s seat covers all of Prattville within Autauga County.
“I want to see economic development in my district in Autauga county, to include unoccupied businesses. We have a lot of them. Food World has been empty for 10 years or more now. The Highpoint Shopping Center (which is located in Elmore County but in city limits) is mostly unoccupied, and some stores have never had a business occupy that space. You can tell by the rotting canvas awnings over doorways how long they have been empty,” he said.
Jacksland said there are many examples of empty buildings throughout his district, and it is his goal to work on getting them filled with new economic development. Though, learning the process of making that a reality is on his agenda. He says he has much to learn, but is eager to begin the process.
“I have harped on the Pine Level exit, where Hwy. 31 and I-65 meet,” Jacksland said. “That is the only exit off of I-65 where both sides are within Autauga County. I love my Elmore County neighbors, but I am all in for Autauga County. Everything is growing to the north anyways. So, it seems like now is the prime opportunity to invest in the Pine Level exit. We must do what we can and work on the infrastructure up there.”
Hwy. 82 has a lot of potential out there as well, he said.
“With the current atmosphere in some of our neighboring counties, it just feels like Autauga County is about to explode. We need to take advantage of that,” he said.
Jacksland will continue his full-time job as a Prattville Police Officer, but will take his role as a County Commissioner just as seriously, he said.
He will take office in January, 2021.
He has been married for eight years, and has two children. His family moved to Prattville in 1988 as a military family. “We stayed here. I grew up in Prattville and graduated from Autauga County Schools,” he said.
He also serves as an Elder at Riverside Presbyterian Church.
The position for District 1 was formerly held by Sid Thompson, who had announced her retirement prior to the election.
