Councilman Jerry Jennings, city servant
Councilman Jerry Jennings has watched the city of Madison boom, but has not stood by watching passively.
75 year old Jennings, who represents District 3 of Madison, has lived in Madison for 22 years and has lived in Madison County for over 50 years.
Jennings was born in New York City and moved to Huntsville in 1958, where he worked as an engineering manager at the Chrysler Corporation. He is retired from that job now, but with the hours he puts in at city council – and the pay – he’s not really retired for good.
“This is a job that you can turn into a full time job if you so would like to,” Jennings said, sitting in the lobby at city hall, greeting employees as they walk past.
Jennings was elected to city council eight years ago when he felt he could do a better job than the incumbent. But he wasn’t prepared for all that the job entailed when he first stepped into the position.
“The first year was very busy,” Jennings recalled. “It was like drinking from a fire hose. There was a lot to learn and a lot to do to come up to speed where you were reasonably effective.”
Effective is certainly an adjective that can describe Jennings now. During his time on the council, he has pushed for many large-scale projects such as the new hospital, high school, fire station and Target.
“I think it’s fantastic, we’re providing a service to the citizens, we’re doing what we were elected to do,” Jennings said.
In particular, Jennings pushed for there to be a law against texting while driving.
“We needed a law on books so driving instructors could tell teenagers that not only was it not a good practice, that texting while driving was illegal,” Jennings said.
Another project Jennings is proud of is when he promoted the funding and expansion of the Madison Senior Center.
“That involved several years of work,” Jennings said, explaining that one of the main duties of the council is to appropriate funds towards different projects.
Jennings was born in New York City and moved to Huntsville in 1958, where he worked as an engineering manager at the Chrysler Corporation. He is retired from that job now, but with the hours he puts in at city council – and the pay – he’s not really retired for good.
“This is a job that you can turn into a full time job if you so would like to,” Jennings said.
Day to day, Jennings checks his emails, goes to meetings, and keeps an ear out for topics to research more in depth. He says he is approached by people who have complaints and special interests, and that he does all he can to remedy any issue that comes his way. He acknowledges that though a lot of what is discussed at meetings is “cut and dried,” there are real situations and people involved.
“It’s good that problems like that come up and that we can come to a consensus,” Jennings said.
Jennings admits he doesn’t have time for much else, between being a councilman and visiting his three children and five grandchildren around the country. He loves to travel and read.
Jennings is also a member of the Madison and Huntsville-Madison County Chambers of Commerce, the North Alabama Transportation Foundation, the US Army Association, and the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Government. He is also a member of the fairly new Madison Lions Club, which seeks to provide all people with sight and hearing. He has been a member of Madison’s St. John Catholic Church for over 20 years.
Despite all the learning Jennings has done during his eight years on city council, Jennings says he can still learn something every day. If he hadn’t scratched the surface of Madison eight years ago, he’s certainly up to his eyeballs in Madison now.
“There is always something to do and learn about and meetings to go to,” Jennings explained, picking up a stack of invitations to events that he had received in the mail in one day.
Jennings sees his job for what it is – sometimes “cut and dried,” sometimes dramatic. But always effective.
“It’s interesting and informative and sometimes there’s some unpleasant stuff but generally it’s a good thing to do,” Jennings said. “It can be difficult at times but you learn to accept the good and the bad and hopefully all councilman and elected official will continue to represent their community and constituents in a positive manner.”
