Murray Pushes For Improved Diversity In County Departments

TUSCALOOSA, AL — One Tuscaloosa County commissioner is urging officials across the metro to improve diversity in government departments after providing hard numbers Wednesday to underscore the need to address shortcomings, particularly with African-Americans in leadership positions.

"There's a huge disparity in leadership positions and earnings in the county," said District 4 Commissioner Reginald Murray — the lone Black elected official on the Commission. "Also. there’s the same thing in the City of Tuscaloosa and the City of Northport."

After a brief, yet thorough, presentation, Murray also made a motion for the creation of a five-person committee to address these needs, before then also requesting that he be appointed as one of two commissioners on the committee. Both measures were approved unanimously.

"If we would just look within our hearts and do the right things, I believe we can eliminate a lot of the social problems we experience today," Murray said. "This is nothing new. This is something that’s been ongoing since slavery and we have to bring it to an end. This county and the cities within the county can make a difference and be a model for other communities."

Here's a breakdown of employee demographics

- Data provided by District 4 Commissioner Reginald Murray

What to know ...

• Murray's presentation primarily focused on a lack of representation for African-Americans in leadership roles, while also underscoring the need to improved salaries for those employed by the county.
• In terms of leadership positions, Murray's data showed African-Americans made up 12% of supervisor positions within Tuscaloosa County departments.
• Data relating to representation for leadership demographics says African-American are 17.5% underrepresented in leadership positions for Tuscaloosa County, compared to 10.2% underrepresentation for the City of Northport and 23% for the City of Tuscaloosa.
• At present, the highest-paid leadership position currently occupied by an African-American is the Tuscaloosa County License Commissioner, who is paid $90,899.95 annually.

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