Kenneth Nail
Kenneth Nail (born in Hanceville) is a former Mayor of Hanceville.
Nail grew up in Hanceville and graduated from Hanceville High School.
Nail retired from the Cullman Police Department after 25 years. During his career in law enforcement he served on the boards of the Cullman Mental Health Authorty and Cullman County Chamber of Commerce. He was elected to the Hanceville City Council in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. He was elected Mayor in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 and 2016.
In 2017 Nail wrote to New Orleans, Louisiana Mayor Mitch Landrieu requesting that the Confederate monuments removed from public display in New Orleans be donated to Hanceville for display in Veterans Memorial Park.
In 2018 Nail was criticized for a flippant comment he made on a Facebook photo of him posing with Governor Kay Ivey. State Senator Paul Bussman called for Nail to resign over the comment. He apologized but did not resign.
In August 2023 Nail was the subject of an anonymous complaint made to the Alabama Ethics Commission. The commission referred the complaint to Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker. Nail denied any wrongdoing. In November 2023 Nail was indicted on 15 charges of using his office for personal gain. It was alleged that he instructed Hanceville Police chiefs Bob Long and Joshua Howell to perform work at his home and trailer while on duty and also benefitted from the labor of three city jail inmates.
Nail pleaded guilty to 15 misdemeanor counts on December 19, 2023. He was fined $2,500, ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution, sentenced to 120 hours of community service, and given 15 years on probation. As part of his plea he apologized to citizens of Hanceville and pledged not to seek future public office. He resigned the same day.
| Preceded by: Katie Whitley |
Mayor of Hanceville 2008–December 19, 2023 |
Succeeded by: Jim Sawyer (acting) |
References
- Leonard, Amy Hasenbein (June 25, 2016) "Hanceville’s Nail talks reelection." The Cullman Tribune
- Leonard, Amy Hasenbein (July 29, 2016) "City Council: Hanceville heated heading into election." The Cullman Tribune
- Mann, W. C. (June 22, 2017) "“It’s not about hate.” Hanceville mayor talks Confederate monuments and potential costs." The Cullman Tribune
- Gattis, Paul (January 25, 2018) "Mayor defends sexually tinged Facebook comment about Alabama's governor." Huntsville Times/AL.com
- Murphy, Cayla Grace (August 4, 2023) "Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail gives statement on ethics hearing." The Cullman Tribune
- Koplowitz, Howard (November 8, 2023) "Hanceville mayor had police chief, inmates work on house, trailer, indictment claims." AL.com
- Robinson, Carol (December 19, 2023) "Hanceville mayor resigns after pleading guilty to using employees, inmates as private labor." AL.com
- Lewallen, Ayron (December 19, 2023) "Hanceville left mayor-less after Kenneth Nail resigns, mayor pro tem to step in temporarily." WVTM13.com