By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Alabaster resident and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Russell Bedsole has announced he plans to run for the Ward 5 seat on the Alabaster City Council during the upcoming election.

Bedsole said he decided to run for the position after current Ward 5 Councilman and Council President Jim McClain “indicated he will not run again” for another four-year term. The qualifying period for the election begins on July 3, and the election will be held on Aug. 28.

“It’s something I’ve always had a desire to do,” Bedsole said. “Everyone talks about national politics, but I think you have the ability to make the biggest difference on the local level.”

Bedsole, a Montgomery native and father of two, moved to Alabaster with his family in 2008 and said he has “come to love what the community has to offer.”

He and his wife are members of Alabaster’s Westwood Baptist Church, and he recently served as president of the Shelby County Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police

If elected, Bedsole said he plans to evaluate the city’s needs and continue the work begun by the current administration.

“As someone who has never been involved in politics, my intent is to take an opportunity to evaluate the state of the city and look at what will be of the greatest benefit to the most number of people,” Bedsole said.

According to his campaign website, Bedsole said he plans to support offerings at the city’s parks, encourage economic growth and local churches and support events such as CityFest.

He praised Alabaster’s current leaders, and said he plans to “continue their progress.”

“We have great people in leadership positions now, and I’d like to continue the work they have done,” he said. “I want to make sure we continue to do things that will strengthen Alabaster.”

To learn more about Bedsole and his campaign platform, visit his campaign website at Rbedsole.com.