By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Pelham City Council President Teresa Nichols recently announced she plans to run for re-election during the city’s upcoming municipal elections.

Nichols, who was elected to represent Place 1 on the council during the 2008 elections, said she is looking to use the experience she has gathered during her current term for the next four years.

“During the past four years, I have learned a lot about what it means to be a member of the City Council, and I’ve learned a lot about the people in our city,” Nichols said. “I feel like the past four years, the city has invested a lot in developing me as a member of the City Council.”

During her term, Nichols said she has obtained certification from the Alabama League of Municipalities and has graduated from the Leadership Shelby County program.

“That (Leadership Shelby County program) was a really good opportunity for me to get a better understanding of Shelby County, and to be a better advocate for our city,” Nichols said.

If elected, Nichols said she plans to continue to “nurture a high quality of life for residents of Pelham” and support education, work to maintain property values and support “cultural and recreational opportunities” in the city.

She also said she plans to “aggressively seek businesses” for the city, work to address infrastructure issues and “streamline city government expenses while maintaining essential services.”

Nichols said she is “most proud” of working a few years ago to coordinate a planning charrette now being used by the Alabama Department of Transportation to design a future U.S. 31 widening project.

She also praised the Mercer city employee salary study, which the council recently passed to “begin an assessment of efficiency” in Pelham, Nichols said.

Nichols also said she supports the council’s passage of a new sewer rate ordinance. “I know that was a hard decision, but it ended the city paying $1 million a year to bail out the sewer department,” she said.

Nichols has established a campaign website at Teresanicholsforpelhamcitycouncil.com.

“I challenge voters to look through the council minutes and agendas and see what I have voted for and against, and make a decision based on that,” Nichols said.