By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Pelham Beautification Board President Maurice Mercer has announced he plans to run for Place 4 on the Pelham City Council during the upcoming election.

This will mark the second time Mercer has run for the council. In 2008, Mercer narrowly missed a runoff for Place 5 against incumbents Karyl Rice and Bob Sullivan.

Mercer said he has remained active in the community – serving with organizations such as the Beautification Board and the Library Guild – and said he decided to run again on the recommendation of several Pelham residents.

“I expect this election to be different since no incumbent is running for Place 4,” Mercer said. “I have remained engaged and active in our community since the (2008) election. After prayerful consideration and recommendation from many citizens, I have decided to run again.”

Mercer, a deacon at the First Baptist church of Pelham and an account sales representative at Pelham’s Junior Davis and Associates, said he would work to attract new businesses to the city, and said he would like to host quarterly “town hall” meetings with Pelham’s residents.

“I also have a sales background and I am not afraid to go recruit new business to Pelham,” Mercer said. “We cannot sit back and wait for business to find us.

“I want to see Pelham continue to grow and attract new businesses,” Mercer added.

He said he would also like to create a “taste of Pelham” event to showcase the city’s culinary offerings, and said he would support the Pelham Public library and its programs.

Mercer said he will “work with whomever is elected in August to ensure the future of Pelham continues to remain bright.”

“I feel I have the ability to work to bring the City Council together,” Mercer said.

Pelham City Council candidates can officially begin qualifying for the Aug. 28 election on July 3. Mercer’s campaign website can be viewed at mercerm.com.