By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – David Nichols recently announced his candidacy for the August mayoral position in Montevallo.

Nichols, a graduate of Montevallo schools and the University of Montevallo, served on the Montevallo City Council and Water and Sewer board during the late 1970s.

Nichols earned a doctorate in education from the University of Alabama and worked as a teacher and education administrator within Shelby County Schools, as well as associate dean of students at Samford University.

Nichols graduated from the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Va., and he also worked as the chief of police at Jacksonville State University, and taught courses at the university. Nichols served as president of Jacksonville’s planning commission and president of the Jacksonville City School Board.

“I believe I make an ideal candidate to serve in a university community,” Nichols said, noting his teaching experience.

Nichols was appointed to the Shelby County Planning Commission from 2003-2004, and then was elected to the Shelby County Board of Education from 2004-2010.

Nichols said city leadership needs to look to the north portion of the city for growth.

“I believe there is land and there is potential there. It’s very close to the interstate, probably the closest to the interstate at Highway 22,” he said. “A lot of the population is out here now, that’s where I live. I think we need to look to this area as one of our strategies as far as encouraging small industry and business.”

Nichols said he wants to build on the “good things that are happening now.”

“In my judgment, what we need, in addition to those cosmetic changes, is to make it pleasant and maybe encourage some people to visit Montevallo,” he said. “We still need a stronger business and industry market. To do that, you’ve got to go out and seek business and small industry.”