After becoming incorporated nearly two years ago, the City of Valley Grande will hold its first full-fledged election Tuesday.

On Aug. 24, registered Valley Grande voters will chose their new mayor and five city council members. Limited funds mean the mayor and city council positions, called Places, are all volunteer jobs, but that did not stop the 12 candidates running for six positions. The mayor and city council seats each have two candidates.

Current Valley Grande Mayor Herb Story, who is not running for re-election, says he was surprised by the amount of interest in the city election.

“I was just hoping to have people run for more than one Place,” Story said. “I think we were real lucky to have two candidates for each Place.”

Story said so far the campaigning has gone well, with all the candidates putting out signs and knocking on doors trying to get the word out about the election.

“When I looked at what has happened with the present council, I realized we accomplished at lot over the last two years,” Story said. “Everybody worked well together. We got the city hall paid for. We’ve given money to the sheriff’s department, the schools, and our volunteer fire departments. It has really been an exciting two years.”

Story was one of the founders of Valley Grande. The two men vying for his place are Summerfield resident Ken Melton and current City Councilman Tom Lee.

The two candidates running for Place One are incumbent Julie Drinkard and Roland Griffin. Roy Smitherman and Donna Harris Downs are both campaigning for Place 2.

In Place 3, the candidates are Elizabeth “Libby” Ezelle and Jeffrey Simmers.

Incumbent Edwin “Ed” Person is hoping to reclaim his Place 4 seat on the council against election newcomer Donald Chandler.

In Place 5, incumbent Patsy Moore is also running for re-election against Mike Stokes.

The Valley Grande Community Center will be the only polling place for residents to cast their ballots.

Unlike the Selma election, each Council Place does not represent a particular section of the city. Valley Grande voters will have to select a candidate for each of the five Places.

Also, not all residents in Valley Grande can vote in the upcoming election. The voter registration list is posted at Valley Grande Market, Valley Grande Grocery, Davis Amaco, R&B Restaurant, The Store in Summerfield and Gabe’s Grocery.