District 3 Commissioner Jamie Grant discusses his imaginative and prescient for Etowah County previous to changing into fee chair in January.
By Katie Bohannon, Information Editor
Whereas January marks the start of a brand new 12 months, it additionally signifies the introduction of a brand new Etowah County Fee Chair. Earlier than performing chair District 5 Commissioner Jeffery Washington passes the gavel to newly elected District 3 Commissioner Jamie Grant, Grant particulars his hopes for the county he calls residence.
Born and raised in Etowah County, Grant considers his childhood akin to most. He grew up in a blue-collar working class household and attended West Finish from first grade till he graduated, when he started working with the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit. Grant’s service-oriented drive outstretched past his residence, inspiring him to observe in his father’s footsteps and be part of the Alabama Military Nationwide Guard.
Whereas Grant’s childhood would possibly seem odd, his choice to pursue a army profession – and all his selections that adopted – would chart a course for his life a minimum of astounding.
Working within the Nationwide Guard’s Counterdrug Program, Grant started his service on the U.S. Customized’s and Border Safety port of entry in Birmingham earlier than touring to completely different narcotic companies all through the state. Grant labored in Blount, Calhoun and Cherokee counties earlier than culminating the final decade in Etowah County.
Though Grant famous that he labored narcotics like common brokers, his service within the Nationwide Guard’s 20th Particular Forces Group and his roles as a alerts intelligence analyst and felony analyst ensured {that a} mundane desk job by no means match his job description.
“Nothing was ever typical,” stated Grant. “No routine in it. On daily basis was completely different – that was the great thing about it. I by no means went to work a day in my life. It was all the time enjoyable and thrilling. I used to be lucky…not all people will get that chance.”
From touring nationwide for coaching to chasing criminals in different nations, Grant’s resume is enriched with infinite moments and unbelievable experiences. He visited quite a few faculties all through the years, educating college students in regards to the risks of medication and the significance of constructing optimistic selections.
“You attempt to make a distinction locally,” stated Grant. “If anyone was to ask me, I’ve waited tables and I’ve hunted murderers and warlords down. I’ve a rooster farm. I’ve labored in a retailer. I’ve chased drug sellers by the streets. [But] I’m as regular [as they come]. I’ve labored at each degree you possibly can probably work. I do know individuals from the bottom up. The best factor about my job is coping with individuals and giving them an opportunity, and attempting to avoid wasting that one child or get that one father or mother a possibility.”
Following Grant’s retirement as a Grasp Sergeant about 4 years in the past, Grant confronted a brand new route in life.
Whereas individuals questioned if he would possibly pursue politics due to his army background, jovial character and in depth data of the county, it was not till all of the items fell into place that Grant thought-about a brand new alternative at his ft.
“You belong to one thing,” stated Grant. “I belonged to the Nationwide Guard. I belonged to narcotics. Now, while you’re taken from that, it’s simply [about] discovering your home. The place do you belong? It’s not that narcotics was by no means going to run with out me. It’s not that the Nationwide Guard 20th Group was by no means going to perform with out me. It’s simply that you simply need to be part of one thing. I need to be part of one thing larger than me. I knew once I bought into politics, particularly native with the fee, I may nonetheless be concerned.”
When former District 3 Commissioner Larry Payne selected to not search reelection, the Etowah County Fee proved the subsequent place Grant would serve his neighborhood.
Though a just lately elected commissioner, Grant approaches his time period as chair with a perspective of equality and unity. He envisions the fee chair as no completely different than his fellow commissioners, longing for the prospect to amass extra details about the county as an entire, quite than simply District 3. Grant leans on the fee for recommendation, open to different viewpoints and endeavoring to study extra about his place every day. He’s not petrified of admitting when he must analysis a topic extra completely earlier than coming to a choice, noting that he would by no means mislead anybody asking a query.
As a commissioner, Grant hopes to witness extra improvement within the county and recruit business for the neighborhood. He believes that step one in reaching that final aim begins with reaching out to state legislators to welcome constructive communication on what boundaries hinder Etowah County from progressing. Grant envisions elected officers uniting to handle these obstacles, to resolve points and make sure the neighborhood thrives.
“It’s my job to make you profitable,” stated Grant. “When any individual walks in my workplace, inform me what your plan is and I’m going to present you all instruments to achieve success. I’m going to present you all of the coaching, sources and gear to achieve success, in order that while you depart right here or while you give up, it’s not since you didn’t have the coaching or sources. We’ve bought to arrange individuals to achieve success. We’ve bought to present that individual motivation, give them the proper instruments, the proper training and the proper mindset [to succeed].”
Grant expressed how his profession within the army will affect his method to serving as commissioner, noting that he’ll depend on his efficient choice making abilities to research what’s greatest for Etowah County.
He mirrored on how the army reworked his perspective on life and the world, recalling a second he skilled abroad. After Grant’s group requested a person serving to them setting up a fireplace assist base how a lot cash he needed in fee, the person declined. As a substitute, he pointed to a cleaned out 55-gallon drum that was reduce in half. The person stated, “Cash does me no good. I would like that drum as a result of I’ll have one thing.”
Grant contrasted that man’s need to personal a possession, and his drive to work tirelessly to amass it, with the materialistic sense of abundance People typically expertise with out a lot consideration. Whereas some people toss televisions away or spend tons of of {dollars} on a meal with out batting a watch, others battle to take care of what little they’ve, or possess nothing in any respect.
The attitude Grant gained from his previous interactions hold him grounded at the moment, reminding him of the true riches in life. These experiences instill in him a eager consciousness of the world, gifting him with humility and ceaseless gratitude.
“If you see a four-year-old child carrying a pink boot and a yellow boot as a result of that’s all he has for his ft, otherwise you see a child dragging a tin can on a string as his toy as a result of he has nothing, you see what the world is like,” stated Grant. “It occurs proper down the street right here. You go residence and also you assume, thanks, as a result of I’ve been blessed. And you realize that any day, you’ll be able to get up and all of it be gone.”
However whereas Grant’s experiences with others have shifted his notion to a holistic view, occasions in his private life reworked the way in which he lives.
“I’ve quite a lot of religion,” stated Grant. “In 2002, I used to be hit head on and went by the again windshield of a automobile and survived. In 2007, I used to be blown up in Afghanistan and left for useless. In 2017, I used to be hit by an 18-wheeler and known as in useless. I’ve died 3 times. [But] I’ve been introduced thus far. Don’t dwell for your self; dwell to maneuver ahead. Dwell to make another person profitable, as a result of your success is determined by another person’s success.”
Grant’s motivation for others to succeed prospers in his army background, which taught him the need of all people performing his or her function to make sure the general mission was achieved. He attributed his personal accomplishments and present place to his groups in Afghanistan and Africa, in addition to all these surrounding him, who he strives to make sure obtain the important sources for their very own triumphs.
“I simply need different individuals round me to achieve success,” stated Grant. “That’s my motivation. I don’t care what’s stated about me, or how good I’m. If I give [others] all of the glory, I don’t want glory. Simply by return, I’m going to obtain that.”
He requested that residents pray for him as he strikes ahead and shared one side of the county that he admires most.
“Etowah County simply retains taking a punch,” stated Grant. “We lose the metal plant, we survive. We misplaced Goodyear and we’re going to rebuild. That is my residence. That is all I do know so far as the place I’ve lived. I’ve been world wide and I’ve seen nice cities, however Etowah County retains taking a punch within the mouth and we hold coming again. I’ve seen the place we don’t get alongside, however I’ve seen the neighborhood come collectively when unhealthy issues occur. It’s a fantastic neighborhood. That’s what I like about it…we’re going to proceed to develop and combat.”
From officiating native basketball video games to discovering a distressed father’s lacking daughter, from giving out meals to these in want at his grocery enterprise to serving three fight excursions, Grant’s dedication to the betterment of others is clear in his dedication to his neighborhood, state and nation. His personal resiliency and drive mirror the combating coronary heart of the county he calls residence, whereas his religion fuels a objective a lot bigger than himself. By his management, dedication and perseverance, Grant represents a resident of Etowah County decided to enhance his neighborhood with every new risk that arises sooner or later.
“I need to all the time study and develop,” stated Grant. “I hope I depart [the commission] higher than it was. It’s good now, however I hope I make it higher not directly. I hope when my time period is finished that any individual goes, ‘Hey, Jamie left fill-in-the-blank.’ I hope there’s yet one more enterprise right here. I hope there’s yet one more street paved. I hope once I depart, somebody says, ‘Hey, Jamie, you probably did a very good job.’”
