Northport's Higdon Enters District 5 Council Race On Eve Of Retirement From TCSS

NORTHPORT, AL — Longtime Tuscaloosa County School System (TCSS) Chief School Financial Officer Danny Higdon has entered the race for Northport City Council District 5 amid plans to retire from his position with the school district in April.

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In a letter to TCSS Board Chair Bill Squires submitted in early January, Higdon said his retirement will be effective April 30.

"It has been a great honor to work for the Board these many years and to serve the students of Tuscaloosa County," he said. "It has been a humbling experience to know that I was able to help the employees and Board of Education in a very small way in educating the students of Tuscaloosa County during my employment."

While Higdon might be entering a new chapter in his life as retirement nears, he plans to stay busy by once again trying his hand at local politics as he aims to unseat appointed incumbent District 5 Northport City Councilman Anwar Aiken in the municipal election in August.

Higdon finished third in his first campaign for the seat in 2016 and, as Patch previously reported in March 2024, was later one of three candidates chosen to interview for the open District 5 seat. The three candidates who interviewed were chosen from a pool of nine candidates who submitted applications.

Aiken was ultimately appointed by the council to fill the remainder of the unexpired term vacated by former Council President Jeff Hogg earlier that month.

Higdon is an accountant by trade and graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.

He also served in the Alabama Army National Guard.

Higdon first worked for a few years as a field auditor for the City of Tuscaloosa early in his career before taking a job in Northport City Hall as an auditor in April 1994 — a position he held until the summer of 2005.

Higdon then embarked on a two-decade career as chief school financial officer for the Tuscaloosa County School System that will come to a close with the current school year.

During his interview for the open council seat last spring, which gives insight into his campaign platform, Higdon lamented the lack of public input for the highly contentious University Beach resort project that developers say will bring $350 million of capital investment to an otherwise quiet swath of the city.

"I was here the other night when the council voted on the resort and [citizens] were limited on time," Higdon said in March 2024. "So more opportunities to express concerns and procedures. I think it's vital you have those kinds of community meetings."

Higdon is also calling for financial transparency, namely the city posting its financial reports and audits online for the public to access.

The Northport Municipal Election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 26.

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