By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Six of Alabaster’s seven new City Council members were elected to their positions during an Aug. 6 council meeting after no opposition qualified to run against them.

During the meeting, incumbents Sophie Martin was elected as the Ward 1 councilwoman, Bob Hicks was elected as the Ward 2 councilman, Rick Walters was named the Ward 4 councilman, Scott Brakefield was named the Ward 6 councilman and Tommy Ryals was named the Ward 7 councilman.

Candidate George Oldroyd originally qualified to run against Hicks for the Ward 2 seat, but he later withdrew from the race, said Alabaster City Clerk Marsha Massey.

Council newcomer Russell Bedsole, a sergeant at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, was elected as the Ward 5 councilmember. He will replace current City Council President Jim McClain, who did not run for re-election.

Although Alabaster’s municipal elections are not until Aug. 28, no opposition qualified to run against the six candidates. The qualifying deadline for municipal seats was July 17.

The only contested Alabaster council seat will be Ward 3, for which Les Zemnes and incumbent Stacy Rakestraw have qualified.

Voters will also be able to chose between incumbent Mayor David Frings and candidates Kevin Brand and Marty Handlon for the mayor’s seat during the Aug. 28 election.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Aug. 28.

The new candidates will be sworn in to their new positions in November.

The Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce and the Shelby County Reporter are teaming up to host a public forum for Alabaster’s mayoral candidates on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at the Thompson High School auditorium. The forum will be one of several held in Shelby County as part of a partnership between the Shelby County Reporter and the Greater Shelby, South Shelby, Montevallo and Calera chambers of commerce.