Birmingham-based developer David Silverstein has qualified to run in the special election for Jefferson County Commission. He is seeking the seat vacated by Steve Ammons, who recently was appointed CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Silverstein has been a prolific donor to Democratic Party candidates for more than two decades. The amount of his contributions to those candidates, as well as to the state and county Democratic Party, exceeds $130,000, according to state and federal campaign finance records.

He announced his candidacy Monday night at the Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills city council meetings.

As a mainstay of support for Alabama’s Democratic candidates, Silverstein has given $30,000 to former Gov. Don Siegelman; $7,600 to former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones; $9,700 to U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham); $5,000 to Tuscaloosa Mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox; and $47,500 to Sue Bell Cobb’s unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Silverstein has made 51 contributions to Democratic candidates for federal and state office.

The founder of The FiveStone Group, a commercial real estate firm, Silverstein has recently become more outspoken on matters of public policy, including a call this year for Obamacare expansion at the state level.

The special election is July 18. The district includes parts of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Homewood, Mountain Brook and Leeds.