Russellville City Councilman David Grissom announced Tuesday that he will run for the mayor’s seat in 2012.

Grissom, a business owner with stores throughout northwest Alabama, is currently serving his first term on the city council.

“After prayer, careful consideration and thought, and with the encouragement of many 

friends and family members that I trust and believe in, I have decided to run for mayor of Russellville,” Grissom said.

“I really believe this is a crucial time in Russellville’s history and a change is needed.”

Grissom, who represents District 5, said the city needs fresh leadership that is willing to listen to the needs of all the city’s residents.

“Russellville is a great city, it always has been,” he said.

“We face some challenges now that are different from any that we have ever had before. We have all got to be willing to work together as a team, listen to one another and build our city for the future.”

Grissom said the city faces economic challenges that require sound fiscal governing and he believes his background prepares him for that role.

“Money is tight. It is tight for every family, every city and every state in this country,” he said.

“The decisions we make as city leaders have to be in the best interests of each citizen in Russellville. The decisions we make affect far too many people for them to be taken lightly.”

Grissom, 39, is a 1990 graduate of Russellville High School and graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing. He currently owns six stores across the area, including two in Russellville and one each in Red Bay, Moulton, Sheffield and Haleyville.

His wife, Melissa, is an art teacher at Russellville High School and the couple has one daughter, Kate, who is a first grader at West Elementary School.

“My family has been in Russellville for years,” he said.

“This is our home. I am just concerned about the city’s future. I want Russellville to be the greatest place that it can be for my daughter to grow up in. For that to happen, we have to have some team players in leadership roles – people with a vision for the future. That’s why I have decided to run for mayor.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone for their vote and their support in 2012 in the mayoral election and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy New Year,” Grissom said.

The municipal election will be held in August 2012.