Tommy L. Oswalt

Tommy Oswalt has announced he will run for Revenue Commissioner in Colbert County, a position he currently holds. Here's his bio:

Tommy L. Oswalt was born and raised in Colbert County, Alabama. He graduated with honors in 1985 from Colbert Heights High School, and chose to enter the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marines, Tommy had numerous deployments overseas, was meritoriously promoted, and participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Tommy was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for “outstanding job performance during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield”. In 1992 he received an Honorary Discharge and returned home to Muscle Shoals after serving six years of active duty.

For 19 years, Tommy worked at a Decatur Chemical Plant, Ascend Performance Materials (formerly known as Solutia, and before that, Monsanto) with his last position being a Night Shift Operations Supervisor, where his over saw 3 production departments. During his time there he also served as Nylon Intermediates Safety Coordinator, Nylon Intermediates Hiring Manager, and he coordinated the payroll for Nylon Intermediates. In 1998, while still at Solutia, Tommy pursued his Real Estate license and worked at Century 21 part time. In 2004, Tommy obtained his property and casualty license and worked with Farmers Insurance part time.

In 2009, Tommy and Luisa decided to take a chance and open a business in Muscle Shoals. They opened a sandwich/coffee shop and revived an old name of a well loved restaurant, the “Trojan House.”

After years of commuting to Decatur, the opportunity presented itself to be closer to home; Tommy accepted a job with Sara Lee of Florence as a 2nd Shift Production Supervisor were he oversee 47 employees, on two production lines. Last year Sara Lee changed its name to Hillshire Brands.

While he still works at Hillshire full time he is able to also work at the sandwich shop. This has been a great opportunity to serve the community, meet new people and make many new friends. It’s “family owned” and therefore allowing Tommy and his wife to work alongside each other, with their older children and some great employees, too.

In August 2013, Governor Bentley appointed Tommy to the position of Revenue Commissioner of Colbert County. This was a humbling honor and he looks forward with the opportunity to serve the citizens of Colbert County. In the first two months of office, Tommy had the tax roll and the Revenue Commissioners budget that needed to be completed. The tax roll, with the help of the great employees of the office, was ran with no issues. Tommy was also able to review the Budget, and reduce it by 20%. This reduction his budget was vital in helping the Colbert County Commission with the much needed funds to give the employees of Colbert County a 2 ½% pay raise.

Tommy and his wife have 4 wonderful children, ages 21, 18, 15 & 10. He and his family are active members of their church, their church youth group and the Hispanic ministry.

Tommy has always led an active life and in previous years has run for office twice. He came very close both times, when running against an incumbent for the county commission seat (once in District 2, and due to redrawing of the district lines, once in District 5).

In past years he’s been involved with the Red Cross as a disaster relief action team member. In addition to that, he’s served on the Muscle Shoals Planning Board and the Muscle Shoals Civil Service Board. He’s currently a member of the Colbert County Republicans Executive committee, where he currently serves as Treasurer, and has done so for the last 4 years. He is also a member of the Association of Alabama Tax Administrators.

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We are currently updating the data program that runs the tax roll and assessing. This conversion will bring us into the 21 Century. It will save time and make the office more efficient. Within two months in office, We reduced the Revenue Commissioner’s budget by 20%. We also expanded the job classifications for each department. We have developed a progressive career path that the employees can grow into.

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It's early in the game yet, but we expect to begin making endorsements later in the spring.




Shoalanda