“We need to identify things that are unique to Pelham, that others don’t possess,” Powell said. “We’ve got a 10,000-acre state park, the Civic Complex and the Oak Mountain Ampitheatre. We need to develop some strategies to developing and marketing those offerings.”

Waters said he decided to run again after he was narrowly defeated in a runoff with Murphy in 2008.

“I really care about Pelham, and I think I can do some good for the city,” Waters said. “I lost by seven votes in 2008. If I had lost by 700 votes, it would be a different story. I want to give the people who supported me the benefit of the doubt and give them another chance.”

Waters accused Murphy and his administration of “squandering the Pelham workforce,” and said, if elected, he plans to “restore ethical government, revive a positive business climate and renew faith in city government.”

“I don’t think the current administration is meeting the needs of the citizens,” Waters said. “I think my platform is going to hit home. If you don’t have good leadership, the leadership doesn’t trickle down.”

Murphy said he is seeking re-election to continue work on several city projects, such as building a new library, building a new recreation facility on U.S. 31, moving a fire station to Shelby County 11 and possibly bringing a new University of Montevallo campus to Pelham.

Murphy said he “does not see a disconnect” between he and the city employees and Pelham business community.

“The reason there are not more businesses coming in is the economy, and that is happening everywhere. We have stayed in the black, and we are working with our businesses just fine,” Murphy said. “You don’t get elected by attacking others, you get elected by hard work. That’s what I got elected on the first time, and that’s what I will get elected on again.”