Editor’s Note: Candidates for mayor of Selma were given the option to publish one announcement in The Selma Times-Journal free of charge. This is the first of potentially five announcements.

Alabama State Rep. Darrio Melton is one of five candidates running for mayor of Selma. The municipal election is Aug. 23.

Melton is married to Christi Amory and they have two children, Darrio II and Kinslee Joi.

A graduate of Selma public schools, Melton graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with university honors in 2001. Following his undergraduate studies, he earned a master of divinity degree at Emory University and graduated at the top of his class in 2004.

Melton was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010 and is currently serving in his second term.

During his time in Montgomery, he has earned several honors. In 2011, he was recognized as the Freshman Legislator of the Year and was named the House Democratic Caucus Legislator of the Year in 2013.

In 2014, Melton was named one of Alabama’s Top 20 Leaders Under 40, and the House Democratic Caucus elected Representative Melton as caucus chair in 2015.

Melton said having worked on the federal and state level he has experience in government that will benefit Selma. He said he also has energy and vision that is “innovative and inclusive of all of Selma.”

A motto of Melton’s campaign has been “Putting Selma First,” and Melton said he is committed to strengthening the Selma Police Department, infrastructure and workforce.

“I believe that we have to change our politics and how we interact with each other,” Melton said. “We don’t have to agree on everything, but instead we must find common ground. We have to raise our politics from a politics of fear and division toward a politics of hope and unity. As your mayor, I will lead with three simple principles: accountability, integrity and transparency.”