Editor’s note: The following was written and submitted by the candidate.

I am Jerome Webster, known by most in the community as Coach Web, and I am seeking candidacy for Atmore’s city council District 2 seat.

I am a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many in the community. I have been involved in the community since I moved to Atmore in 1992.

I fell in love with the close knit community and decided to call Atmore home.

I was employed for the state of Alabama as a correctional officer at Holman Correctional Facility for 22 years.

From there, I transferred to the Atmore Work Center and worked there an additional six years until my retirement in 2015.

Working at Holman and being in an environment where there were many young people who simply made bad decisions and choices made me want to make a change in my community.

My involvement in the community includes volunteering at the YMCA, Pee Wee Football League, City Parks, chaperoning for Atmore Kappa League and working with the local schools.

In 2000, my wife and I started a children’s outreach and mentoring program through the game of basketball known as Atmore Trouble.

This program was geared towards teaching the youth involved discipline, honesty, respect, self worth and the fundamentals of basketball while being supervised.

Atmore Trouble created a positive impact on over 200 kids in our community for eight years while also building lifetime friendships and relationships with the parents of these children.

We worked a rigorous schedule during the year and during the summer we traveled to the Alabama Sports Festival, which was located each year in different cities in Alabama.

The love and support shown to this program, by our community was outstanding.

In 2008, I started volunteering at Escambia County High School with the boys and girls basketball programs.

This was an easy transition for me being that most of the players had at one point participated in my mentoring program.

During my time working with ECHS, I stepped in as head when Coach Hayes was called to active duty to support our country in Iraq.

During this time, I lead our team to win two area and regional tournaments to advance on to the state Final Four games for two consecutive years.

Through my involvement in with the basketball team, I became closely acquainted with school officials and members of the community. I am a firm believer that it takes a village to raise the younger generation and that attitude reflects leadership.

I also believe that it will take a village to fix the issues and concerns of our community.

I would like to solidify your vote for city council District 2.

With your vote, I look forward to working hand in hand with the community to make Atmore a better place.

Instead of staying away from the problem, let’s get in the midst of it to be the change. Together we can Impact the community for a better tomorrow.

God Bless