By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A longtime community volunteer said she would like to work to promote “planned management” of Alabaster’s future growth and development in announcing her candidacy for the Alabaster City Council.

Jamia Alexander-Williams has announced she plans to run for the Ward 5 seat on the council once the candidate-qualifying period begins on July 5. She is running against Ward 5 incumbent Russell Bedsole.

If elected, Alexander-Williams said her goals include working to manage the city’s growth, creating more opportunities for inclusion of the special needs community, supporting and instilling pride in the city’s schools and reaching out to the Alabaster senior citizen community.

“Growth is important to Alabaster, but it is vital that we proactively manage the growth and development of our city including our infrastructure,” Alexander-Williams said. “As our wonderful city is growing, infrastructure planning is critical and we must make sure the roads and city resources can adequately support where our city is going so we can avoid growing pains.

“I want to collaborate with community partners to create more activities and opportunities for children, youth, and adults with special needs in our community,” Alexander-Williams said.

Alexander-Williams also said she would like to provide more programs for the city’s senior citizens.

“Through my community involvement over the years, I have met some fantastic seniors that have rich life experiences and wisdom to share,” she said. “Working together we can develop programs to engage our seniors in mentoring and tutoring our youth.”

Williams and her husband, Victor, have lived in Alabaster for 15 years, and the family currently attends Kingwood Church. Williams has served as the president of Alabaster Sports and Entertainment Foundation, in various Alabaster PTO leadership positions, as secretary of the Alabaster Beautification Board, as a member of the Alabaster Arts Council and as secretary of the Alabaster City School Foundation. She currently volunteers with the Alabaster City Schools summer feeding program and with the Sowers of Seeds Organization.

“Victor and I are proud to call Alabaster home and raise our children here,” Alexander-Williams said.