Hiram’s new Post 4 councilman has never run for office before, and the first time couldn’t have been easier.

Derrick Battle was elected without opposition Nov. 3 and will replace retiring Councilman Alvin Sims in the Post 4 seat.

“I knew Alvin was going to retire and wanted to come in to help the community with the new growth in Hiram,” said Battle, 4, of his reasons for seeking public office.

A native of Paulding County and 1986 graduate of Paulding County High School, Battle served in the Army Reserve and is now a gas company meter reader. He has two sons: Joshua, 16, a student at South Paulding High School; and Desmond, 15, a student at McEachern High School.

Battle has no complaints about how the city is being run and did not seek office to change anything in particular.

“Everything is going smoothly,” he said. “I haven’t heard any complaints. I want to help maintain course, help the community stay as safe as possible and help out as best I can.

“I’m happy with the Police Department, and the park has come a long way. It’s real nice. The streets are improving constantly — I have no complaints. And I’m happy with the water system.”

Battle has attended City Council meetings so he can hit the ground running when he takes the Post 4 seat in January. He said he supports moving the Police Department to the Hiram Community Center.

“With the county growing, the Police Department has to be up to date with equipment, cars and facilities,” he said. “Once everybody feels safe, people will feel safe to come out.”

The new councilman said he has attended events at Hiram’s Community Center, adding, “I grew up here, and we didn’t have anything like that.”

He supports building another community center to replace the one being taken over by the Police Department. The new community center “could be a little bigger, but I don’t think we need one as big as the one in Dallas.”

Battle said learning about the city’s bonds and financial matters will be his first challenge as a councilman.