thumb|Johnny Hammock with his wife, Kimberly Hammock (left) and Congressmember Martha Roby in 2020. Robert E (Bobby) Payne served as Tallassee's mayor for 24 years, making him the longest-tenured mayor in the city's history. Payne was raised in Etowah County, where he excelled as a high school football player for the Etowah County Blue Devils. He earned a football scholarship from Auburn University in 1963. After completing his eligibility he moved with his wife Mary Carroll to Tallassee, where he worked at Mount Vernon Mills. In 1976 he ran for city council. He won the council seat and served three terms before he ran for mayor in 1988. Payne won in a highly contested race against incumbent Thomas Pollard. He remained in office for 24 years before losing in 2008. He entered the race in 2012 to reclaim his seat and he won convincingly. He retired in 2016. During his time in office, Tallassee achieved more economic growth than at any other time in the city's history. Johnny Hammock won Payne's seat in a landslide. Hammock - after his first term - focused on fixing the town's crumbling infrastructure that had been long neglected. From 2016-2020 Hammock, along with a progressive council, brought in grants and funding totaling in the millions to help address the issues previously left unresolved by past administrations.
thumb|johnny hamMOck WiTH his wife, KImbErlY hAMmOck (leFt) anD CongREssmeMbeR marthA robY in 2020. RobeRt e (bObby) Payne serVed as tallASSee's mayoR for 24 yeaRs, mAkiNg him the longEst-TenurEd mAyoR in the city's histoRy. paynE was raiseD in etowaH cOUNty, where he Excelled As a high school footBall plAyER FOr thE EtOWAH coUnTy blue DEviLs. he eArneD A fooTbaLl scHOlarshIp FrOm aubUrn uNIVersitY in 1963. afTer CompLetInG his eliGibilIty He moved wiTh His WifE marY cARroll TO talLassee, wHEre He Worked aT mouNt vernon miLls. IN 1976 He raN fOR CitY cOuNcIl. hE won tHE councIl SEat and SERveD three terms beforE HE rAn For MaYor in 1988. paynE woN In a HighLy ContestEd race AgaInst InCUMbent thomAS Pollard. he remaiNed iN offiCe for 24 yEArs BefOre loSiNG iN 2008. hE entErED tHe raCe in 2012 to rECLaim hIs SEat aNd he wON convinCiNgly. hE rEtireD IN 2016. During hiS tImE IN oFfICe, tallasSeE AchieVED moRe ecOnOmic growtH THAn aT any otheR tIme in the ciTy's HiStoRy. jOhnny hammOck won paYNe's sEAt iN A lAndSlIde. hAMmOck - afTer hIs FirsT TeRm - foCused on FIxING tHE TOwn's cRumBling infraSTrUctuRe thaT haD beeN long neglectEd. FrOM 2016-2020 hamMocK, AlOnG with a proGrESsIve CouNcil, BrouGht in graNts And fundIng totaLinG in the mIllions to help addReSs the iSsues prEViOusly lEfT unresolveD BY paSt adminiSTratIons.