FROM STAFF REPORTS

PELHAM – Darius Foster, a past chairman of Pelham’s Commercial Development Authority and youth football coach, is in the running for Place 4 on the Pelham City Council.

Foster announced his candidacy in January, with the city’s municipal election taking place on Tuesday, Aug. 26. He is seeking to fill the seat left vacant by Maurice Mercer, Pelham’s current City Council president, as Mercer is running for mayor of Pelham.

“This is the right time in my life to pursue elected office,” Foster said. “My marriage is in a good place, and the kids are thriving. With their support, I can take everything else as it comes.”

Foster has been an active member of the Pelham community for several years, serving as both the chairman and vice chairman of Pelham’s CDA.

“I have learned so much about economic development and about infrastructure from city staff,” Foster said. “Working alongside city hall for four years has definitely increased my knowledge of how local government works.”

Foster has also led the volunteer coaching staffs for both third and fourth grade youth flag football and fifth grade youth tackle football—fueling his passion for not only youth athletics, but for Pelham families.

“When you are coaching, you really get to meet the entire family—often grandparents as well,” Foster said. “My wife Brittany and I were blessed to have a great group of parents with both teams. We continue to support the kids off season as they play other sports.”

Foster has also been an active PTO volunteer at Pelham Oaks Elementary. In addition to his local roles, Foster has been appointed to serve the state of Alabama by the last three governors.

The first appointment was in 2009 at the direction of Gov. Bob Riley to the state’s Amistad Commission, one of the state’s textbook initiatives responsible for the implementation of education and awareness of the contributions of African-Americans in Alabama history.

His second and third appointments came from former Gov. Robert Bentley to the Affordable Homeowner’s Insurance Commission in 2011, established to examine the state’s insurance market and recommend improvements, as well as to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in 2012, a 12-member board responsible for the planning and coordination of higher education in the state. With the appointment, Foster became the youngest Alabamian to be appointed to the Commission on Higher Education.

Foster’s most recent appointment was by Gov. Kay Ivey to the Alabama Prison Repurposing Commission in 2020, where he was tasked to make recommendations to retain, renovate or repurpose ADOC facilities. Foster also served on the Board of Directors with the Business Council of Alabama—the largest advocate for business and industry at the Alabama Legislature and for Alabama businesses in the halls of the United States Congress.

Foster is seeking to bring his experience in public policy, community development and critical thinking to the Pelham City Council.

“Our city is poised to go from good to great,” Foster said. “We have phenomenal public safety, our school system is strong and we have quite a bit of land in our city that needs to be purposefully developed. We are missing a few key ingredients which I will share along the campaign trail.”

Foster is a business owner and lives in Pelham with his wife, Brittany, and their three children—who attend Pelham City Schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He is also a member of Pathways United Methodist Church.