By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Les Zemnes has qualified to run for the Ward 3 Alabaster City Council seat during the city’s upcoming municipal elections.

Zemnes, who moved to Alabaster with his wife nine years ago, said he decided to run for the council after attending council meetings and work sessions over the past few years, and after meeting with every Alabaster department head.

“I truly want to serve this community because it has given me more than I can ever pay back,” said Zemnes, who has been the manager of Alabaster’s Enterprise Rent-a-Car for six years. “This community has given me a wonderful place to raise my family and a place to grow a business.”

Zemnes said if elected, he plans to support Alabaster’s newly formed city school district, and encourage Alabaster residents to strive to shop in the city to support the new district.

“I think that (school district) is an opportunity to put Alabaster on the map even more,” Zemnes said. “We need to keep our money here not only to support our school system, but also other services like police and fire.”

Zemnes praised the city’s current leadership, and said he would like to work to continue the growth the city has seen over the past several years.

“I think we are in good shape, and I think our leaders work well together,” Zemnes said. “The great majority of people in Alabaster feel we are doing good, but we can be great.”

Zemnes said he would work to ensure Alabaster’s municipal departments and offerings keep pace with the city’s rapid growth.

He also said he would like to work to keep Alabaster residents informed about the issues facing the city through websites such as Facebook.com. He said he would also like to set up a system to allow city residents to regularly share their ideas with him.

“I want to be a voice for Ward 3, not the politician from Ward 3,” Zemnes said.

Zemnes will run against Ward 3 incumbent Stacy Rakestraw during the Aug. 28 election. His campaign website is at Facebook.com/electleszemnes, and he can be reached at electleszemnes@att.net.