Walter Thomas Maddox (born December 27, 1972) is an American politician who has served as the 36th mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since 2005. From 2001 to 2005, he served on the Tuscaloosa City Council and as executive director of personnel for Tuscaloosa City Schools. Maddox was a field director for the Alabama Education Association from 1996 to 2001.[1]
From 1996 to 2001, Maddox served as a field director for the Alabama Education Association. In 2001, he was appointed executive director of personnel for Tuscaloosa City Schools, serving until he was elected mayor.[1][4] On August 28, 2001, Maddox was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council, defeating incumbent Clell Hobson, 61% to 39%. He ran on a platform of education reform and crime reduction.[5]
Mayor of Tuscaloosa
Mayor Maddox at Snow Hinton Park in 2024
In 2005, longtime Tuscaloosa mayor Al DuPont retired. Maddox was an underdog against former city councilman Sammy Watson. Maddox came in second place in the initial round of voting, receiving 31.1% to Watson's 38%.[6] This forced a runoff on September 13, which Maddox won with 54% of the vote to Watson's 46%.[7] Maddox was inaugurated on October 3 in front of Tuscaloosa City Hall.[8]
On August 25, 2009, Maddox was reelected without opposition.[9]
Maddox was reelected again without opposition on August 27, 2013.[10] On November 4, he was sworn in for his third term as mayor.
For the first time since 2005, Maddox faced a challenger in the 2017 mayoral election. His opponent was the founder of the Urban Progressive Party, Stepfon Lewis.[11] Maddox defeated Lewis[12] with 89% of the vote to Lewis's 11%. He was sworn into his fourth term on May 22, 2017.
Mayor Maddox and President Obama surveying tornado damage in Tuscaloosa in April 2011.
On April 27, 2011, a large EF4tornado struck Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, killing 44 people in Tuscaloosa County and inflicting $927 million in damage to the city. The tornado, part of the 2011 Super Outbreak, was the second significant tornado to affect the city that month, as an EF3 tornado struck a similar part of the city on April 15. On April 29, Maddox toured the April 27 tornado damage with public officials including President Barack Obama and Governor Robert J. Bentley.[15]
The tornado destroyed 12% of the city; it severely damaged or destroyed approximately 5,300 homes and businesses. Maddox was widely praised for his leadership in the aftermath of the storm.[16][17][18]The Wall Street Journal described the Tuscaloosa disaster response as an attempt to "courageously create a showpiece" of "unique neighborhoods that are healthy, safe, accessible, connected, and sustainable."[19]
Municipal Leader of the Year
American City and County, a publication for local and state governmental officials, named Maddox Municipal Leader of the Year in 2012. One of more than 100 nominees across the country, Maddox was nominated by leaders at the University of Alabama, noting his work in the wake of the April 27, 2011 tornado. The application referenced his creation of a disaster plan, periodic training between different governmental entities, his creation of the Tuscaloosa Forward plan, which helped the city obtain grants and other funding needed during recovery, as well as the securing of adequate shelter and the disbursement of supplies at aid stations for victims.[20]
Core Beliefs
Four core beliefs coupled with a standard of excellence serve as the cornerstone of Maddox's leadership approach[21]:
"Our standard of excellence: to be the most accountable, innovative and effectively managed city in the United States."
Citizens must be safe, whether crime, fire, medical response or an act of nature, our response is swift and effective.
Neighborhood protection and economic growth are achieved through conservative financial management, comprehensive planning and strategic infrastructure investments.
All underserved areas deserve investments that enhance educational, economic and recreational opportunities.
Elite customer service is a shared responsibility of everyone and our work must be guided by responsiveness, respect and accountability.
Tuscaloosa 311
In 2007, Maddox established Tuscaloosa 311 as a non-emergency call center connecting Tuscaloosa's people with their government. It helps residents submit service requests, get assistance with permits or licenses, find information on City events, or report a problem with any City services[22]. The center was more successful than anticipated and has since had to expand its staff to accommodate call volume[23].
In 2024, Tuscaloosa 311 became Alabama's first nationally certified 311 center[24].
ELEVATE Tuscaloosa
Mayor Maddox and colleagues at Springbrook Park
Elevate Tuscaloosa is a community investment initiative funded by a dedicated one-cent sales tax and supported by federal grants. Launched by Maddox in 2020, its mission is to enhance quality of life through strategic investments in education, cultural arts, tourism, parks, recreation and connectivity.
Key accomplishments include expanding dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students, funding pre-k and summer learning programs and supporting over 230 small businesses during the pandemic. Elevate has over $290 million budgeted for projects and initiatives and over $109 million matched through grants and fundraising[25].
Pre-K Initiative
Mayor Maddox reading to students for Read Across America
During his first term, Maddox developed the Pre-K Task Force to investigate and plan the path to ensure all of Tuscaloosa's four-year-old children receive a quality pre-k education[26]. He also created the annual Mayor's Cup, which has raised over $350,000 to go directly into the pre-k classrooms. The nationally recognized Tuscaloosa Pre-K Initiative is now the model for the state's pre-k program[26].
Harvard Kennedy School crisis leadership fellow
Maddox served as a senior fellow with the Program on Crisis Leadership at the Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government for over a decade.[27] He was promoted to senior fellow in the program in August 2019, and partnered with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative's executive education courses to discuss lessons he learned during Tuscaloosa's tornado recovery efforts.[28]
Intergovernmental Emergency Management Task Force Appointee
In July 2025, Maddox was appointed by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) to serve as a member of the new Intergovernmental Emergency Management Task Force. The USCM is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more[29]. The Conference is a forum where mayors engage directly with the President and Congress on the most pressing issues of the day[29].
The Intergovernmental Emergency Management Task Force will focus the Conference's advocacy efforts regarding the federal government's responsibility to provide adequate funding and other resources to support response and recovery efforts that are beyond the capacity of state and local governments to fund[30].
On October 5, 2017, Maddox announced his plans to run for governor of Alabama, saying Republican leadership had failed the state, which "still ranks near the bottom in every quality-of-life indicator from education to healthcare."[31] He won the June 5 primary with 54.6% of the vote, defeating former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb. In November he lost to Republican incumbent governor Kay Ivey.
On December 27, 1998,[33] Maddox married Robin Maddox, a realtor. After having a daughter[34] together, they divorced in 2008.[33] On June 26, 2010, Maddox married Stephanie Nicole Roberts.[35] Their son was born in 2013.[34]
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