Russellville business owner Chris Wallace has announced his plans to seek election to the Franklin County Commission.

Wallace is seeking the District 1 seat.

Wallace grew up in Manassas, Va., but had family in Franklin County and decided to move to the area after his first year of college. Having visited here each summer as a child to help his uncle, M.C. Hargett, on his farm, Wallace decided that Franklin County would become his home.

He moved to Russellville and attended Northwest Community College in Phil Campbell, later transferring to the University of North Alabama.

“I always felt like Franklin County was home, and after a year of college I decided to make the move. Franklin County is a wonderful place to raise a family and call home, and it would be an honor to represent our citizens on the Franklin County Commission,” said Wallace said, who is running on the Republican ticket.

He is an active community volunteer, serving on the board of the Russellville City Schools Education Foundation, a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Belgreen Bassmasters and the Cotton Flats Cruisers Car Club.

He has worked in the construction business for more than 25 years.

He has  purchased foreclosed properties in Franklin and Colbert Counties, renovated them and successfully recruited businesses into those locations. One example of this business recruitment is Atlantic Dry Ice, which employs 18 in Cherokee.

Wallace hopes to bring his business recruiting experience to the Franklin County Commission and will make industrial growth a priority of his term.

“I have experience in recruiting new businesses in difficult economic times. I have been fortunate to have created opportunities for employment through this process, and we need to be actively recruiting new business opportunities as well as continued expansion of local industry through county government,” Wallace said.

“Given the opportunity, I believe we could do some good with business recruiting in our county. There are many attractive reasons for businesses to locate within Franklin County,” Wallace said.

With his construction experience, Wallace pledged to focus on road and infrastructure improvements within Franklin County.

“Opportunities for industrial growth exist now and there’s no reason Franklin County shouldn’t be right in the center of those opportunities.”

Wallace and his wife Cheri have two children, Slate and Julianna. They are members of the North Highlands Church of Christ.