For the second-straight time, incumbent Hank Sanders will face former Selma police chief Robert Green in the Alabama Senate’s 23rd District Race.

The pair also faced each other in the 2010 race. The winner will be decided on June 3 in the Democratic primaries and represent parts of nine counties — Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas Lowndes Marengo, Monroe Perry and Wilcox counties.

Green is a Dallas County native. As a child, he lived just north of Selma’s city limits, near Kenan’s Mill. He graduated from Dallas County High School in 1973. Shortly after high school graduation, Green entered the Navy. Following his military service, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M.

He returned to Dallas County in 1982, working for the Selma Police Department. Green worked his way up and eventually became the chief of police, a position he held for three years.

After leaving the Selma Police Department, he became Northport’s police chief.

Now, he is running for the state senate’s 23rd District seat for the second-straight time, using his previous experience as a benefit.

Green said the reason for his candidacy partially stems from a visit to Montgomery during his time as Northport’s police chief.

“While there I had an opportunity to see [legislators] in action,” he said. “While watching those guys in action, I decided that this is what I want to do when I retire.”

Green’s focus in the 2014 campaign centers on workforce development, education and reducing prison overcrowding.

“Our prisons are bursting at the seams and eating the state’s budget up,” he said. “The governor is talking about building a new prison, but the brick and mortar concept no longer works. I think community correction programs are very beneficial and they are working because there is rehabilitation that comes into play.”

In his time meeting voters, Green said he is constantly asked about job creation.

“Everyone wants to know what are you going to do about jobs,” he said. “Eight of the counties in District 23 have double-digit unemployment figures and that’s simply unacceptable.”

Green said his work ethic is a primary reason why he is the best candidate for the 23rd District.

“You won’t find a harder worker,” he said. “There will never be any complacency with Robert Green.”

Sanders is originally from Baldwin County. Sanders said he was raised in a poor family and, at one point, lived in a three-room house.

“Not a three bedroom house, a three-room house — kitchen, middle room and front room,” Sanders said.

He had several jobs before attending Talladega College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Some of Sanders’ early jobs included an electronic technician and working at a sawmill.

Sanders earned his law degree from Harvard in 1970 and came to Selma in the fall of 1971.

If re-elected, it would be Sanders’ ninth term, but he originally was against the idea of running for Senate. Legendary Selma lawyer J.L. Chestnut, who ran for the Alabama Senate twice and the state House once, convinced him.

Chestnut asked Sanders to pray about running. Sanders said he threw it in a prayer, but only a few seconds. Immediately after, Sanders said people began approaching him saying they “just got that feeling” that Sanders should run.

Sanders ended up qualifying for the race. After qualification was over, Chestnut revealed he had orchestrated the whole thing.

Eight terms later, Sanders said one of his proudest achievements is adjusting education-funding formulas to help rural schools.

“Education and jobs are always the two top issues with me,” Sanders said. “You need good education to have jobs and you need jobs to keep people after they have been educated.”

An expansion of Medicaid is also top priority if re-elected, Sanders said.

He said experience is the primary reason he should be re-elected.

“These are really difficult times for Democrats and you need every bit of experience that has been gathered over these thirty years to be effective in spite of being a super minority,” Sanders said. “I have built up respect that cuts across political parties and I know how to get things done in terms of interacting with people.”