Dear editor,

It is with great pleasure and honor that I throw my full political support behind, Darrio Melton, mayoral hopeful. My dad, Attorney J.L. Chestnut, Jr., always said; there three kinds of people in this world:

People who sit back and watch things happen.

People who wonder how and why things happen.

And people who make things happen.

Darrio Melton knows how to make things happen.

Voting for Darrio Melton is a vote for the common man!

A vote for Darrio Melton, is a vote for a new Selma. I choose Darrio Melton as candidate for the mayor’s office for a number of reasons:

He is young and brilliant.

He is energetic and open-minded.

He has excellent communication skills, especially the ability to listen.

He has the ability to inspire people of all ages.

He has the ability to delegate.

Darrio Melton has the ability to envision Selma’s future and make those visuals reality.

Darrio acquired a great deal of experience dealing with local, county and state legislation when he served as a staffer for attorney and Congressman Artur Davis and in the House of Representatives. In these positions, Melton gained respect from the public as well as the law makers and government officials.

Darrio is a tireless and effective champion for civil rights and for social justice. He will not rest until Selma works for everyone, not just a few people.

Melton is a local young man, graduated high school right here in Selma.

After graduating cum laude and with honors from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Emory University in Atlanta, he came back to Selma and began is political career in community organizing and ultimately became our state representative. His loyalty to Selma is unflappable.

Now he wants to serve our historic city as mayor. I for one cannot think of anyone more suited to do this job.

Beyond any doubt, Melton is the most qualified person to run for mayor of Selma. As a family man, a politician and a minister, Darrio has done it all.

In all he does, Darrio exemplifies honesty, fairness and thoughtfulness. Darrio will use those qualities to create a better balance between city government and Selma’s residents. We need Darrio Melton. Darrio needs you. Please vote for him on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Gerald Chestnut Riberio