FOLEY – Roderick Burkle was sworn in Monday, Oct. 6, as the new District 3 representative on the Foley City Council, filling the unexpired term of the late Councilman Richard “Dick” Dayton.
Burkle was the only candidate to qualify for the District 3 seat in the 2025 municipal election. While newly elected officials are scheduled to take office when the new term begins Nov. 3, the council appointed Burkle to serve the remainder of Dayton’s current term following Dayton’s passing on Aug. 21.
Two other new council members will take office in November — Tim Lower in District 2 and Larry Engel in District 4. Councilmen Wayne Trawick (District 1) and Charles Ebert III (District 5) were both re-elected and will begin new terms at that time. Mayor Ralph Hellmich will also start a new term after running unopposed in his re-election bid.
A lifelong Foley resident, Burkle brings extensive community involvement and professional experience to the council. He previously worked in telecom engineering before returning home to work for Gulf Telephone. He served with the Foley Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years as both firefighter and officer, spent eight years on the Foley Planning Commission, and currently serves on four city boards and the Foley Public Facilities Cooperative Improvement District.
Burkle earned his Alabama Real Estate License in 2016 and his Alabama Broker’s License in 2024.