A Lauderdale County business owner and anesthesiologist has joined the race for the District 1 seat in the Alabama Senate.

The district — currently held by Democrat Tammy Irons, who is not seeking re-election — covers parts of Lauderdale, Limestone and Madison counties.

In kicking off his campaign in Florence, Republican candidate Tim Melson said his top priorities are economic development in northwest Alabama, improving workforce development, and increasing the quality and availability of health care in Alabama.

“I am running for public office because I want to help bring more jobs and economic development to northwest Alabama,” Melson said. “We need a state senator who can go to Montgomery and be a real advocate for our area.”

Others on the June 3 primary ballot who are also seeking the seat are Athens City Councilman and former University of Alabama football player Chris Seibert and small businessman Jonathan Berryhill.

Other priorities

Melson said other priorities include promoting conservative values, improving public education, and increasing the availability of health care in Alabama.

“Obamacare is an absolute disaster,” Melson said. “As a physician, I have seen firsthand what Obamacare is doing to our healthcare system. We need to focus on lowering costs and improving patient access, not a federal government takeover of health care. As both a physician and the recipient of an organ transplant, I understand both sides of medicine. Our state Medicaid system needs to be fixed, and I believe my experiences qualify me to be a part of that.”

Background

Melson was raised in Florence and graduated from the University of North Alabama. He received his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After college, he returned to Florence, where he began practicing as an anesthesiologist at Helen Keller Hospital and where he served as chief of anesthesia from 1993-2008. He served on the board of directors for the Florence Surgery Center from 1995-2008. In addition to his duties as owner of Shoals Medical Trials, Melson owns and operates a crop farm and is a hobbyist cattleman. He is a member of the Medical Association of Alabama, the American Society of Anesthesiology and the National Rifle Association.

He and his wife, Lynn, who have been married 33 years, have three children and three grandchildren. The family attends Wood Avenue Church of Christ.