As Alabama’s political parties ready battle plans for the 2018 election year, two more Republican candidates recently announced their intention to seek public office.

State Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, plans to seek re-election to the District 1 seat, which includes the top half of Lauderdale County and the west half of Limestone County. He was first elected to the post in 2014.

Businessman Steve Rousseau also announced last week he would run for the House District 6 seat currently held by Rep. Phil Williams, R-Huntsville. The seat encompasses parts of Huntsville, Madison, Harvest, Monrovia, Ardmore, Hazel Green and East Limestone.

Williams previously announced he would not seek re-election. Earlier this month, Madison County businessman Andy Whitt announced his intention to run for the seat.

About Melson

Melson’s interest in state government came on the heels of nearly dying when his liver began to fail. At the time, he was chief of anesthesia at Helen Keller Hospital, a position he had held since 1995.

After a successful liver transplant, Melson retired from the hospital and began thinking seriously about entering the political arena. He told The News Courier in 2014 he had the intention of making life better for residents in his district, and he recently reaffirmed his mission.

When asked what bills he’s sponsored or supported that have had the greatest impact on Limestone Countians, Melson said he believes the bills he’s worked to stop have been just as beneficial as the ones he’s supported. He explained he was against a move to settle the school tax lawsuit between school systems in Madison, Athens and Limestone County legislatively.

Last year, school officials in Madison had requested legislators reapportion how TVA-in-lieu-of-tax money is divided among the school districts in an effort to reap more of those financial benefits. Melson and other members of the county’s legislative delegation opposed the move.

The senator said he’s supported economic development efforts that have benefited North Alabama.

“It’s hard to slow down the economic engine in Madison County, and we’ve seen a lot of spillover in Limestone,” he said. “Limestone’s in a unique situation, because it’s getting the benefit of employees, but it’s getting the urban sprawl, too.”

Given his medical background, Melson was asked about how the Legislature will deal with arguably the largest drain on the general fund each year — Medicaid. Melson hopes the state will be helped greatly by unemployment rates now at a record low of 3.8 percent.

“Hopefully more people will be employed and get on insurance plans,” he said. “Just when we feel like we’re catching up, more people show up and enroll (in Medicaid). We’re becoming a society of entitlements, and that’s not a good thing.”

Looking forward, Melson said he wants to concentrate on infrastructure in Lauderdale and Limestone counties. He’s particularly concerned about safety of bridges in rural parts of both counties.

He said looking at the state Department of Transportation’s map of bridges, there are 24 rural bridges in Limestone in need of upgrades and about 25 in Lauderdale County. He said there were only one or two in Madison County in similar shape.

Melson and wife Lynn have been married 37 years. They have three children and four grandchildren. The Melsons attend Wood Avenue Church of Christ. Melson is a member of the Medical Association of Alabama, American Society of Anesthesiology and the National Rifle Association.

About Rousseau

Rousseau owns Rousseau’s Sporting Goods & Awards Inc. in Huntsville. In addition to owning a small business, Rousseau is also a licensed Realtor in Alabama and Hawaii.

He was a Huntsville police officer and ranger and twice received the Policeman of the Year Award during his 10-year tenure. He’s a past president of the Huntsville Fraternal Order of Police.

“As a small businessman, I can bring a straightforward and no-nonsense approach to Montgomery,” he said in a statement. “We are facing tough and trying times in Alabama, but there is much cause for optimism.”

Rousseau is a current member of the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Madison Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS, Alabama Republican Party Capitol Club, Tennessee Valley Republican Club, Madison County Republican Men’s Club, and Pachyderm Club of North Alabama.

He is a corporate member of the Association of the United States Army and associate member of the Republican Women of Huntsville and Downtown Republican Women of Huntsville.