MOBILE (AP) — Mobile’s first African-American mayor is trying to help U.S. Rep. Artur Davis become Alabama’s first African-American governor.

Mayor Sam Jones held a news conference Monday in Mobile, where he issued his first endorsement in a statewide campaign.

Jones, a Democrat like Davis, has a positive vision for the future of Alabama’s economy and is not satisfied to let Alabama lag behind neighboring states any longer.

Jones was elected Mobile’s first African-American mayor in 2005 and was re-elected this year. Jones said Davis can get elected in Alabama and he has the potential to become one of the state’s greatest governors.