Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba endorsed businessman Jeff Coleman’s campaign for Congress on Tuesday. The Circle City mayor is the most high-profile in a string of endorsements received by the Coleman campaign in recent days.
In a statement provided by the campaign announcing the endorsement, Saliba called Coleman “a community leader, successful businessman, father, and husband,” adding he is “a proven and prudent leader who will get results.”
Mayor Ed Beasley of Luverne announced his support of the businessman on Monday, and the state Automobile Dealers Association followed in kind on Wednesday.
Coleman is currently in a Republican primary runoff against former State Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) to be the party’s nominee for Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
Saliba was first elected in 2017 and was a familiar name in the city before that. He runs the prominent construction firm Alfred Saliba Corporation, which was started by his father. Saliba’s father also served as Dothan’s mayor from 1989-1997.
Coleman commented on the endorsement, saying, “I am honored to have the endorsement of my hometown mayor, Mayor Mark Saliba. He has been a tremendous leader for our city, and I am excited to work with him to continue the great progress.”
Dothan is the largest city in Alabama’s Wiregrass region, with a population of just under 70,000 individuals. It is the largest municipality with the entirety of its city limits in the Second Congressional District.
Beasley said Coleman “is a strong candidate for Congress.”
He added, “I know that he will represent our district and ensure that our voice is heard in Washington.”
“I want to thank Mayor Ed Beasley for his endorsement of my candidacy to become your next Congressman,” responded Coleman, adding that believes Beasley is a “great public servant.”
Luverne is the county seat of Crenshaw County and has a population just shy of 3,000.
President of the Automobile Dealers Association of Alabama Tom Dart remarked, “Jeff Coleman will be a strong pro-business leader that Congress needs,” and continued on to say that he believes “Auto dealers across the district and Alabama as a whole will benefit from [Coleman’s] leadership.”
“It is a true honor to have the support from auto dealers across our great district,” replied Coleman to the endorsement.
Coleman will face Barry Moore at the ballot box on July 14.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
