Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr., to seek re-election

Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr., has announced that he will seek another term in this year’s municipal election.

Perkins made the announcement live on Facebook on the steps of Selma City Hall yesterday.

“Selma, we’ve come a long way — and together, we are not done yet,” Perkins said. “Over the last four years, we’ve faced disaster after disaster, but through faith, persistence and  unity, we’ve made real progress. Now, I’m ready to finish what we started —moving Selma forward the right way.” 

Perkins was first elected mayor in 2000, becoming the first Black mayor in Selma’s history. He was re-elected to a second term in 2004, but defeated by then-Selma City Council President George Evans in 2008. Perkins returned to the Mayor’s Office in 2020 when he won a third term.

Perkins has served during the COVID-19 pandemic and the tornado of January 2023, which destroyed an estimated one-third of Selma.

If elected to a fourth term, Perkins says his priorities include job creation, improving services and infrastructure, expanding affordable housing, investing in youth programs and workforce development and promoting unity, equity and integrity in city government.

The city election is Tuesday, August 26.