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Editor’s Note: This feature originally ran on February 26, 2025 in the 2025 Progress edition (Chambers County Is…). The Progress edition is a publication produced annually by the Valley Times News. If you would like to pick up a copy of the 2025 Progress edition, please visit our office at 4002 20th Ave Suite E in Valley.

Who better than a native to run the county? Regina Chambers has been the County Manager for almost 10 years, overseeing the operations in the county. 

“I didn’t see this as being my career path,” Chambers said. “I graduated, my degree was in finance, and you know, when you’re young, out of college, the main thing you’re looking at is a job. So I started off at Farmers and Merchants Bank, and then [a] position came up for here.”

She started off in accounts payable for a few years before being promoted to County Clerk. She had been working for the county for 18 years when the County Manager position came up. 

A County Manager is one of the highest positions in county government. They work for the County Commissioners.

“The main goal of a county manager,” Chambers said. “Is to run the county effectively, efficiently and orderly. That means, keeping us where we’re in compliance with state laws, bid laws or public work laws or any type of spending,” Chambers said. 

Her finance degree comes in handy often, as Chambers crafts the county budget annually. Her office also does payroll. 

“A lot of people don’t understand that we can’t just pick up money because we have it and spend it on this…we’re regulated on how we spend taxpayers money,” Chambers explained. 

Growing up in the more rural parts of the county, Chambers said she was not politically active early in life. 

“I knew we had a county commissioner because at election time they would come to my home and stick a card in the door,” she said. “But I was young and not concerned about what a county commissioner [did]…The older you get, you realize in working with county government the responsibilities of a county commissioner.”

Now, she not only knows about county government, but also helps run one. 

“If people just understood county government, the do’s [and] the don’ts, and then they would understand what Commissioner roles are and just how the county works as a whole,” she said. “How county government works, from a budgeting aspect, if they had more knowledge, then they would understand that we’re limited…we’re doing the best with what we have.”

Chambers is as local as her last name suggests. 

“I grew up here, and I’ve always wanted to go to Auburn. I did Southern Union two years, and then on to Auburn. And then just never been one that wanted to grow up and just leave home. I’m a family oriented person, all of my family is here,” she said. 

While wanting to stay close to family, she didn’t necessarily see herself in the county seat.

“It just happens to be in Chambers County…This is where God asked me to be. This is where I am, and I’m content.”

She is a proud LaFayette Bulldog and has seen the area’s ups and downs over the years.

“To see the strides we have made in Chambers County from years back is a plus…Growing up years ago, when we went to say shop, Valley wasn’t considered. They didn’t have down there then what they have now,” she said. “Chambers County as a whole, we’re thriving. We’re doing much better than we were 25-30 years ago, even 10 years ago. So we’re growing.”

Chambers says the Chambers area has a lot to offer people, as long as people invest in the area. 

“Some people always want to look at the big picture, they want the big city life…invest in giving the people something to do or giving the county resources to thrive,” she said. “We’ll never be a Lee county or City of Opelika or City of Auburn. We’re not that big to do so, but there are opportunities to grow, if people would only invest in giving us the opportunity to do so.”

Chambers said the progress made in the county is thanks to those who decided to invest in the area. 

“It’s what you put into it,” she said. “Thank God our Development Authority is doing well with getting jobs for citizens. When West Point Pepperrell shut down, a lot of people were devastated because they had a lot of jobs. But over the years, the Development Authority has gotten jobs here, which means more people are spending their money here.”

Chambers hopes to see not only LaFayette but the county get more industry and shops.

“We’re just hoping and praying that we do grow to get some of those things in this area. You never say never, you never know who’s gonna come in…I never would have thought in 100 years we would have a Dollar General but we do, or a Family Dollar, but we do. So, baby steps,” she said.

In order for growth to happen, she thinks young people need to be brought to the table. 

“[They] have younger minds to stimulate growth,” Chambers said. “Apply ideas…come up with an idea, or set goals that you would like to see Chambers County do or implement them with the County Commission, the city councils. Come in and talk with somebody.”

She adds, “A lot of times we get set in our ways of doing something, we’ve been doing it for 50 years, and we’re not going to change…You can’t grow if you don’t change something sometime.”

When asked who she thinks best exemplifies the county, Chambers thought for a second.

“I wouldn’t just say one person. Because that one person relies on someone else to help get something done as well,” she said.

She did name some people who lead organizations or governments in the area.

“I would have to say DeAnna [Hand], Chris Busby, Mayor [Leonard] Riley, Mayor [Jaime] Heard…Mayor Vines,” Chambers listed. “Sometimes you are limited in what you can do, or the group that you’re working with is, but I think all of them are involved and have a passion for Chambers County.”

As Chambers sits in her office on the top floor of the courthouse she shares her hope for the coming years.

“I do believe in the next couple of years, we’ll be greater than we are now…We’re going to grow. Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping,”