By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

HARPERSVILLE – Don Greene recently announced his candidacy for Harpersville mayor.

Greene worked for the Alabama Army National Guard in Vincent for 32 years before becoming the director of Shelby County Emergency Management Agency for 10 years. He retired in 2010.

Greene was the mayor of Vincent for one term in the early 1980s. He said he is running for Harpersville mayor because of his concern about Harpersville’s financial situation.

“I’m concerned with some of the activities going on there,” Greene said.

Greene said he prepared and managed budgets on the local level as mayor of Vincent, on the county level with SCEM and state level with the National Guard.

Greene looks in improve Harpersville’s tax revenue, as two federal highways intersect in the heart of the town.

“Most rural towns would like to be in that position,” he said. “The secret is to get more retail and commercial business in the town and more residence. Harpersville is blessed with a lot of land. There’s a lot of available, suitable land for residents and commercial alike.”

Greene has worked with the county’s municipalities through the SCEM.

“I’m familiar with other officials in the county,” Greene said. “I would look to them for their experience and ask what advice they can give us.”