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By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer

 HELENA – Helena City Councilmember Laura Joseph announced that she will not be seeking reelection during a city council meeting on Monday, Sept. 23.

In 2016, Joseph was elected to Place 4 for her first term and was reelected in 2020. According to her, she ran on the promise of only serving for two terms, and she is proud to keep that promise.

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve you these eight years and I’m incredibly thankful for your prayers and your support,” Joseph said. “This office has provided an amazing opportunity to meet many of our wonderful citizens, several of whom have become dear friends. Thank you for your patience with my endless questions and ideas for ‘creative solutions.’”

Joseph shared that being a city councilmember has taught her about municipal law and process, but during her tenure, she has learned even more about herself.

“A very smart lady once told me to ‘always vote your conscience,’ and that’s harder than you’d think,” Joseph said. “I’ve learned that I can be courageous when it comes to fighting for what’s right: limited government, low taxes, individual freedoms and more.”

For Joseph, the most rewarding part of her job has been having the opportunity to love others and accomplish good things for her community.

“During my time on City Council, I’ve worked hard to capitalize on opportunities, find solutions to challenges and connect people,” Joseph said. “This part of the job is incredibly rewarding.”

Now, Joseph looks forward to spending more time with her family and seeing what the city of Helena will accomplish in years to come.

“Everything has a season, and this season is coming to an end,” Joseph said. “I’m proud that I held true to my Alabama values and only served the amount of time I said I would and got a lot accomplished. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family who has been supportive throughout my tenure, and I’m excited for what the future holds for our precious city.”

Joseph’s announcement comes after fellow Helena Councilmember Hal Woodman announced that he will also not be seeking reelection in the 2025 elections. So far, they are the only two Helena councilmembers to announce their intentions.