As legislative sessions and fiscal years come to a close for 2023, the Lede is reaching out to your representatives to look back on this year while they plan for the next.

This week Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson answered some questions about what’s on her mind for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins in October for the county.

Development in her own District 2, which stretches across the southwest part of the county from Birmingham to Bessemer, will be Tyson’s number one priority in the coming year, she said.

Is there anything you learned on the commission in 2023 that was surprising to you?

After almost five years on the commission, I still find myself discovering new things about my job and how I can better serve the citizens of this great county. I encounter different issues with the residents daily as they reach out for assistance. Navigating my job as a county commissioner requires me to wear multiple hats. First and foremost, I must be a good listener. Secondly, I must advocate for the residents. And finally, I must partner with both the private and public sectors in order to accomplish the changes my district requires.