Attorney and Alabaster resident Christopher S. Linton has announced his candidacy for the Alabama House of Representatives District 49 seat being vacated by Cam Ward.

Linton, co-owner of Integrity Capital, Inc. in Pelham and member of the Birmingham law firm Blankenship and Harrelson LLC, believes his legal and business experience makes him a uniquely qualified candidate.

If elected, Linton plans to focus on education, traffic congestion and economic development. His first order of business would be to secure additional funding for schools in District 49, which includes southwestern Shelby County and the northern half of Bibb County.

Linton is a graduate of Troy University and earned his doctorate of jurisprudence from the Birmingham School of Law. He previously worked as a law enforcement officer.

Linton and wife Carli, a teacher at Meadowview Elementary School, have two children, Connor and Carter. The family attends Westwood Baptist Church in Alabaster.

Linton is the fourth person to announce his candidacy for the District 49 seat, following Shelby Baptist Medical Center spokesperson April Weaver, Helena resident Jack Gray and Alabaster City Council President Jim McClain.

Ward, who was elected to represent District 49 in 2002 and 2006, is vying for State Sen. Hank Erwin’s seat.

Erwin is seeking Alabama’s lieutenant governor seat.