When voters go to the polls today in Valley Grande, they’ll have two options for mayor — Matt Dobbs or Barry Hilliman.

Whoever wins will replace outgoing Valley Grande Mayor Wayne Labbe, who elected not to run for re-election.

Dobbs is the executive vice president of a company in Selma, where he also serves as secretary/treasurer of the board of directors and manager of the facilities. Dobbs’ biography did not name the company he works for.

He said he oversees millions of dollars in annual sales, which he said is more than the money the city of Valley Grande budgets for each year.

He has been married to Jennifer Dobbs for more than 30 years. Jennifer and Matt purchased a home in Valley Grande in 2004 and have lived there since. The couple has raised three daughters, who are all now adults. Jennifer is the director of Safe Harbor Women’s Clinic in Selma.

“I have found myself over the years saying they should do this or they should do that. Instead of continuing to say someone else should do it, I decided it was time to take action,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs said his biggest concern in Valley Grande is ensuring public safety.

“The biggest thing I hear from the citizens of Valley Grande is we need more patrols,” Dobbs said. “We don’t really feel safe, so protection and safety is one of the first and foremost things that I will address if I’m elected.”

Hilliman moved from Prattville to Valley Grande six years ago. He said to become familiar with Valley Grande, he regularly attended council meetings for those six years so that he could gain an understanding in how the city operates.

He is a general contractor in Florida and a residential home builder in Alabama. He founded Diamond One Construction, LLC in Valley Grande and has won several awards from the Home Builders Association of Alabama.

He and his wife Mary attend Praise Park Ministries of Valley Grande.

“If I get elected to be mayor, I think I can move the city forward a little bit,” Hilliman said. “I’m not trying to be a big city. I’d just like to see a little bit more happen in Valley Grande.”

Hilliman said the city owns acreage near city hall and would like to see it used to create a town center where local businesses could set up shop.

“I have my ideas where I want it to go but I’d like to see the people of Valley Grande tell me what they are looking for,” Hilliman said.