The Selma Times-Journal

Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. is not ready to leave office.

On the steps of City Hall on Friday, he announced he is running for a third term in the 2008 election.

The theme of Perkins&8217; campaign is &8220;Still we rise.&8221; In a written statement, Perkins said the city is in transition, which can sometimes be painful, but he is still hopeful.

Perkins will be running against

current

city council president George Evans during the 2008 election as no other candidates have made a formal announcement.

At 47, Perkins made

history when he became the first African-American mayor of Selma in 2000. He defeated 10-term mayor Joseph T. Smitherman, now deceased, who was then 70.

Vinay Sharma, general manager of the Ramada on West Highland Avenue, said he appreciates that Perkins is down-to-earth, and is excited about Perkins&8217; vision for the city.

Perkins is a 1971 graduate of

Selma High School and has a bachelor&8217;s in Mathematics from Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, where he graduated in 1975.

He is the father of four, husband to Cynthia and son of Etta and James Perkins Sr.