By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Current Alabaster Mayor David Frings recently announced he plans to run for re-election during the city’s Aug. 28 municipal elections.

Frings has been the Alabaster mayor since 2000, and said he would like to “continue the progress” by being elected to another term.

“When a city hits the size we are at now, you want proven leadership. You don’t want unknowns,” Frings said. “I think my record speaks for itself. I don’t think anyone can look at Alabaster and say the city has not been successful under my tenure.”

If elected, Frings said he plans to “continue to market the city in a positive light” and draw more economic development to the city.

Over the past several years, Frings said he has worked with the Alabaster City Council and other city officials to secure the Colonial Promenade shopping center, build Veterans Park off Alabama 119 and bring companies such as Alabama Crown to the Shelby West Corporate Park.

Frings said he and other city leaders also worked to secure the upcoming Alabaster Exchange shopping center, which is scheduled to be built near the southern portion of the Colonial Promenade.

He said the biggest issues facing the city are working to secure tenants for the Alabaster Exchange and working to support the city’s new school district, which is set to separate from Shelby County Schools in the next few years.

“We need to work with the new school board to do whatever we can to support them,” Frings said.

He said once the Alabaster Exchange shopping center is completed, it likely will generate about $5 million in additional sales tax revenues for the city, which will support projects such as upgrades to the city’s parks and new city facilities.

“We’ve got a new administrative building in the works now, and we will look at a new police department,” he said. “Economic development over the next four years will allow us to do that.”

To date, Frings and Alabaster resident Marty Handlon have declared intentions to run for the Alabaster mayor’s seat. The qualifying period for the election begins on July 3.