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Clay Carmichael, a dedicated public servant, is announcing his candidacy for re-election to the Selma City Council.

Having served with commitment and integrity, he remains focused on the needs and well-being of all residents.  He is committed to continuing the work underway and ensuring transparency and accountability for the citizens of Ward 3.  This campaign is grounded in his proven track record—built on his past service as a councilman and his longstanding commitment to our community.

During this time Carmichael has joined efforts for increasing pay and positions for the Selma Police Department and Selma Fire Department on multiple occasions and has been party to living wages for all employees.  He helped increase public safety department’s budgets by more than ten percent, citing the need for safety first.  He worked with others to negotiate and implement the city-wide camera system and stayed true to public safety through increased funding and appointments for Municipal Court.  He has led the Public Works Committee, worked with the county and ADEM for a partnership with Litter Control, is actively working to implement municipal litter control officers, and continues to lead multiple cleanups in his ward.  Through his service, he has been a party to more than 20 public works projects in Ward 3, continually advocates for existing sinkhole repairs, and is working to map the storm sewer system.  Carmichael is an advocate for safe streets and reclaiming storm gutters and alleys to the point of doing much of this work voluntarily.  The City Council has approved more than 300 houses to be demolished, and he is a constant reminder to the administration about the legal way to proceed with nuisance abatement.

He says, “Without code enforcement, absent property owners rule and existing property owners and businesses suffer, leaving a state of blight where Selma’s citizens ultimately lose.”  He also claims that all of these accomplishments are a concerted effort.  “Playing team sports teaches us that, if we hold down our position, the team wins,” he says.  This is what working together means.  When everybody does their part, Selma wins.

Carmichael has proven through his past service with the Economic Development Authority, Main Street Selma, Blackbelt Benefit Group, and others that he prioritizes the economy.

He is currently serving on the Selma Redevelopment Authority and has served on committees that negotiated contracts for fiber optic internet throughout the city, the sale and redevelopment of historic structures, and a Revolving Loan Fund to renovate homes in Selma’s National Historic Districts.

He has experience dealing with two natural disasters during this term, and his education in service includes 25 Certified Municipal Official credit hours, an Economic Development Academy certificate from Alabama League of Municipalities, classes on Municipal Budgeting and Auditing, Ethics Training, Auburn Government and Economic Development classes, and several Main Street downtown redevelopment trainings.

He grew up and was educated in Ward 3 and moved back to the same neighborhood to raise his family.  Carmichael will continue to ask the tough questions about appropriations of funds and the outlook of our capital assets and liabilities, and he will make sure that citizens know where their finances stand by posting financial reports publicly.

This speaks to his effort to be transparent with everyone.   He answers questions when called upon and gives his number out regularly.  This is accountability.  This is what Selma needs in a public servant.  Carmichael is choosing not to create campaign pages or take campaign money because he believes that people will vote for him based on what he’s done.  He wants to be open, and he is asking for your vote, Ward 3.

Call him anytime at 334-410-0582.  You can also join him at Valley Creek Park on Saturday, June 21, at 8:30 a.m. to help clean the area of garbage, trash, and debris.