Editor’s Note: As a courtesy to our readers and community, The Walker Leader is providing space for each qualified candidate in the upcoming Jasper municipal election to share information about themselves and their goals for office. These profiles are submitted directly by the candidates and are published as received, with only minor edits for clarity or length when necessary.
The Walker Leader does not endorse any candidate for office. Our goal is to inform, not influence. We encourage all eligible voters to read, research, and participate in the voting process.
Name: Patrick Banks
How long you’ve lived in Jasper: I am a Walker County native and graduate of Parrish High School class of 1990. I returned to Jasper in 2020 after 28 years away for school at The University of Alabama and my career. Some may assume my Jasper residency of 5 years is pre-mature for this position, but I have obscurely observed Jasper for 5 years allowing me to have a clear vision.
Family: The Banks family was an early Alabama settler. I married my first love Tracie Beck Banks after 31 years apart in 2020 bringing me back to Jasper. She is a graduate of Oakman High School and has served Jasper for 26 years at Alfa Insurance. I have a stepdaughter, Jordan Self.
Why are you running for city council?
I am running for Jasper City Council not out of ambition—but out of obedience to a higher calling. I believe this campaign is a mission of service, rooted in faith, family, and a lifelong connection to Walker County. After decades of professional leadership and nonprofit service, I have returned home to put my experience and vision into working for the community that shaped me. I came back to Walker County to give back. This is not just where I grew up, it is where I have chosen to build a future with my wife, stepdaughter, and extended family. I am committed to helping Jasper grow without losing its heart. With 28 years in sales leadership and nonprofit operations, I understand the importance of strategic planning, responsible investment, and results-oriented leadership. I see too many missed opportunities due to reactive decision-making, and I am ready to change that.
What key issues will be your top priority if elected?
If elected to the Jasper City Council, my top priorities will be guided by four foundational pillars: Image, Innovation, Infrastructure, and Industry. Each of these reflects not just what Jasper needs today—but what we must build for the future.
- Public Safety & First Responders
Public safety is non-negotiable. I will fight to ensure our police and fire departments are fully funded, properly equipped, and trained to protect and serve with excellence. Our first responders are the backbone of a thriving community—and under my leadership, their mission will be our mandate. - Strategic Infrastructure Planning
Jasper needs a forward-looking infrastructure plan that addresses roads, water and sewer systems, housing, and broadband. We must invest smartly and act now—before the cost of inaction becomes greater than the cost of investment. - Downtown Revitalization & Gateway Development
Our downtown is the heartbeat of Jasper. I will champion efforts to expand on the success of Jasper Main Street while also focusing on developing gateway corridors like I-22 to connect travelers and businesses to our city’s core. - Economic Growth Through Industry & Innovation
I will work to attract and support businesses—small and large—by creating a business-friendly environment and partnering with educational institutions to align workforce training with real-world opportunities. From tech to trades, Jasper must be a place where talent thrives, and opportunity is born. - Affordable Housing & Community Development
I will prioritize partnerships with developers to build both single-family homes and modern, multi-unit housing that meet the needs of young professionals and working families. Everyone should have the opportunity to live, work, and raise a family in Jasper. - Faith-Based, Compassionate Response to Homelessness
Inspired by Matthew 25:40, I believe we must lead with both practicality and compassion. I will work with nonprofits, churches, and regional partners to develop shelters, transitional housing, and access to critical services for our most vulnerable. - Education & Workforce Partnerships
Working with Bevill State, Jasper City Schools, Walker County Schools, and the Heman Drummond Center of Innovation, I’ll help build bridges between education and employment—ensuring that every student sees a future right here at home.
What personal or professional experiences have best prepared you for this role?
I believe I am prepared to serve on Jasper City Council because my life has been shaped by service, leadership, and faith. Born and raised in Walker County, I returned after nearly 30 years not just to come home—but to give back.
With 28 years of experience in sales and operations, I currently serve as Director of Sales for Maintainer Truck Bodies at Waters Group. I have worked with everyone from small business owners to top executives, learning to lead with clarity and conviction. As a Founding Member, former National Director of Disaster Operations, and former Executive Board Member for Operation BBQ Relief, I helped build a nonprofit that will soon surpass 13, 000,000 million meals served—an experience that taught me how to lead through crisis and deliver results.
My roots run deep in service. My late father, William “Hoggie” Banks, was a coal miner, firefighter, Water Works Board Member, two-term councilman/mayor pro-tem, and beloved citizen of Parrish. My family has served this community in healthcare, business, and faith—and their example drives me.
From nonprofit work to first responder support, I’ve led real initiatives that create real impact. I understand public safety, planning, economic growth, and infrastructure—not as ideas, but as lived experience.
This isn’t about politics, it’s about people. I’ve been called to serve, and I’m ready to lead.
What is one thing you love about Jasper?
In Jasper, people still look out for one another. Neighbors become family, churches are the heartbeat of our values, and when someone is in need, this town shows up. That spirit of unity—rooted in faith, family, and shared history—is what brought me back home and what drives me to serve. Jasper is not just where I live, it is who I am. Jasper’s downtown scene reminds me of Fairhope where I returned from!
Favorite Local Event, spot, or tradition: Our history does it for me and nothing brings me more joy than sharing it with a new visitor. If it’s your first time here, you’re in for something special.
Jasper draws you in not just with its beauty and deep coal heritage, but with its people. From friendly smiles downtown to that unmistakable Southern hospitality, you’ll feel like you belong from the moment you arrive.
Walk our historic square and you’ll see more than old buildings—you’ll feel the heartbeat of a community shaped by craftsmanship, coal, and generations of hard work. And just minutes away, nature takes over with the peaceful backroads, Bankhead Forest, and Smith Lake offering a chance to slow down and take it all in.
That’s the magic of Jasper—rich in history, surrounded by beauty, and filled with heart.
Something others might be surprised to know about you: As the pitmaster of Bootyque, I made significant strides in the competitive barbecue scene. The winner of numerous grand championships, reserve grand championships, first place category wins and perfect scores, I travelled competing nationally prior to retiring in 2020. I joined the Auto B’ Grillinteam and secured the 2014 Memphis in May (MIM) World Rib Championship. I further demonstrated my prowess with a 2nd place rib finish at MIM 2015, dispelling any notions of the previous win being a fluke. I was a 3-time competitor at The World Food Championships, two-time finalist and three-time World Pork Champion.
Planning Ahead…, Leading with Heart…
