Jamar Gayles (Phenix City- City Council District 3, Alabama, candidate 2025)
Jamar Gayles (Nonpartisan) ran for election to Phenix City- City Council District 3 in Alabama on August 26, 2025.[1]
Elections
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jamar Gayles completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gayles' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Jamar Gayles is a U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and business honors student running for Phenix City Council, District 3. Born and raised in West Englewood, Chicago, he overcame early adversity—losing both his biological and adoptive mother by age five—and was raised by his older brother after time in foster care. After serving at Fort Benning, Jamar transitioned into law enforcement and later founded Anytime T.V. Mounting, Inc., now one of the highest-rated AV installation companies in the Tri-State area.
He is currently pursuing a business degree at Troy University, holding a 4.0 GPA, while raising his 3-year-old son, LJ. In sixth grade, Jamar’s nationally recognized essay was hand-delivered to First Lady Michelle Obama, and the charter school he attended earned a Gold Distinction Award during his time there. Under his leadership, Anytime T.V. Mounting has been voted the #1 Home Audio/Video company in the Columbus/Phenix City area two years in a row by the Ledger-Enquirer’s People’s Choice Awards.
Now, Jamar is seeking to make history as the youngest elected official in Phenix City Council history. His platform focuses on youth opportunity, infrastructure reform, and public accountability—bringing bold, grounded leadership and a deep commitment to the people he’s aiming to serve.
- Youth Empowerment Focused on creating opportunities, outlets, and programs for young people in District 3 — especially where resources have been neglected.
- Infrastructure Reform Tackling busted water lines, crumbling roads, and neglected public spaces — holding the city accountable for long-standing issues.
- Animal Welfare Partnering with outside organizations to reduce the stray animal population, end unnecessary euthanasia, and improve neighborhood quality of life.
It can help, but it’s not required. What matters more is being in touch with real people, having leadership experience, and a track record of delivering results. Government experience without vision often leads to the same status quo that people are tired of.
The city council is the most direct link between government and the people. Unlike other levels of government, this office operates where problems are felt first — in neighborhoods, on streets, and in homes. Councilmembers shape how city resources are allocated, how fast infrastructure is repaired, and how accountable city departments truly are. What makes this office unique is its proximity to the people — decisions are made at the ground level, and the impact is immediate. In District 3, that means being present, responsive, and focused on real-life change — not just policy talk.
I look up to people who turned adversity into impact — especially those who stayed grounded in service. One example is Barack Obama. Growing up in Chicago, I saw firsthand what his election meant for our communities — it gave us hope, but more importantly, it gave us an example of what calm, disciplined leadership looked like under pressure.
I lead with discipline, resilience, and results. As a U.S. Army veteran, I understand structure and accountability. As an entrepreneur, I know how to solve problems, manage resources, and deliver under pressure. I built a top-rated service business from the ground up, earning the trust of hundreds of clients across the region.
I also bring empathy and lived experience — I’ve faced adversity most people only read about. From growing up in foster care to raising my son while running a business and pursuing a 4.0 GPA, I know what it means to juggle real responsibility.
I’m not a politician — I’m a problem-solver. I believe those who are closest to the issues should also be closest to the solutions, and I bring the courage, discipline, and community focus needed to make that happen.
Communication — You can’t lead people you won’t talk to. • Budget literacy — You must understand money to make it work for the community. • Problem-solving mindset — Residents don’t want excuses, they want solutions. • Entrepreneurial thinking — City government needs innovation, not just tradition.
I want to be remembered as the man who broke cycles and built bridges — someone who didn’t come from power but earned respect through action. I want to leave behind a stronger Phenix City where young people have more options, not fewer… where broken streets get fixed, not ignored… and where leadership looks like the people it serves. If my legacy is that I gave people hope and a clear plan to move forward, I’ll consider my work meaningful.
Integrity, accessibility, and courage. An elected official should stand on principle, not popularity. They must be visible in the community, willing to listen to people directly, and brave enough to challenge broken systems — even when it’s politically inconvenient. Without accountability and heart, leadership becomes just a title.
To represent the needs and concerns of the people in their district, not just during elections, but every day. This includes voting on budgets, improving public services, creating youth opportunities, addressing neighborhood-level problems like blight or infrastructure, and ensuring transparency across city departments.
I’m most interested in local policy that directly impacts working-class families — especially youth development, infrastructure, and public accountability. My focus is on creating more access to educational, athletic, and mentorship opportunities for young people, ensuring our neighborhoods have safe and reliable water systems, and holding city departments accountable to the people they serve. I also care deeply about animal welfare and the quality-of-life issues that too often get ignored at the neighborhood level.
It’s non-negotiable. Taxpayers have a right to know how every dollar is spent. In a city like Phenix City, where certain issues have been ignored for years, transparency is the only way to rebuild trust. I believe in open books, clear communication, and holding departments to measurable outcomes.
City council members are the closest link between the people and the policy. Unlike federal or even state positions, this office requires hands-on involvement — from voting on budgets to showing up at broken water mains or school board meetings. We’re not removed from the people. We are the people.
Many people don’t realize how much influence council members have over budget allocations, infrastructure priorities, zoning decisions, and the hiring or firing of key city leadership. This office can help shape the trajectory of a city’s future — or allow it to stagnate if not used boldly.
My first every job was at Target and I was there for approximately 6 months before enlisting into the United States Army as a Armor Crewman.
A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. It’s more than just a song — it’s a statement of faith through struggle. Every time I hear it, it reminds me that no matter how heavy things feel — personally, politically, or socially — change is still possible. That message stays with me, especially now as I work to create real, lasting change in my community.
Scorpions” by Walter Dean Myers. I read it when I was young, and it stuck with me because it was one of the first books where I saw pieces of my own reality reflected. It tells the story of a young boy caught between survival and doing the right thing — something a lot of kids growing up in tough environments can relate to. It showed how pressure, loyalty, and circumstance can shape choices, but also how leadership and growth can emerge from pain. That book helped shape my mindset early on — that your environment doesn’t have to determine your outcome.
Losing both my biological and adoptive mother by age five was a pain I carried before I even understood it. Growing up in foster care and later being raised by my older brother, I had to learn early how to survive — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That struggle taught me discipline, empathy, and self-reliance. It’s the reason I take fatherhood, business, and public service so seriously. My past gave me pain — but it also gave me purpose.
Growing up Black, you ever ask your mama if you could go somewhere… …and she said, “We’ll see”?
That meant “No.” But she just didn’t feel like arguing yet
Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead. Because when the world fell apart, he didn’t wait for permission — he protected his people, adapted fast, and led from the front. He made hard calls, took losses, and kept going. That’s the kind of leadership I respect — not perfect, but relentless, loyal, and built for pressure.
The Miseducation of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson and “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. One shaped how I think about systemic barriers and the need for real empowerment. The other shaped how I lead — focusing on disciplined thinking, strong execution, and service leadership.
The first historical event I clearly remember was Barack Obama’s election in 2008. I was 8 years old, and growing up on the South Side of Chicago, it was one of the first moments that made me feel like anything was possible. Seeing someone who looked like me become President changed how I viewed leadership, power, and purpose.
A few years later, in 2011, I wrote a nationally recognized essay that was hand-delivered to First Lady Michelle Obama. That moment solidified my belief that my voice mattered — even as a young student — and it helped spark my passion for service, representation, and civic leadership.
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External links
[1] ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2025.
