The city of Selma will have a different mayor later this year.

State Rep. Darrio Melton and former Mayor James Perkins will face off in a runoff on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Melton received 2,448 votes (36 percent) and Perkins got 2,085 votes (30 percent.)

Incumbent George Evans, who has served as Selma’s mayor for the last eight years, was third with 1,274 votes (19 percent). City councilman Greg Bjelke finished fourth with 713 votes (10 percent) and Jerria Martin finished fifth with 358 votes (5 percent).

“We are very excited that the people of Selma sent a loud and resounding cry that they are ready for change, and we are excited to be a part of that change,” Melton said.

Melton said the results speak volumes considering he’s only been in the race for 10 weeks.

“We ran against an incumbent, we ran against the first African American mayor, and we were able to be the top vote getter,” Melton said. “I think that speaks volumes in regards to the change, that people are ready to go in a different direction. We’ve tried two different directions in the last 16 years and the numbers at the polls say people are ready and thirsty for some real change in Selma.”

Perkins, who served as Selma’s mayor from 2000-2008, said he’s preparing for the next six weeks leading up to a run-off with Melton.

“We get a chance to go heads up — at least to my understanding, Melton and I will be a run-off — and I am looking forward to going to that next step,” Perkins said.

For Evans, the defeat meant the end of an era. He said he spent the night reflecting on what he and his staff have accomplished in his time as mayor.

“I am definitely proud of what we accomplished and I can truly sit back and know we made a difference in terms of the things we’ve done and tried to do and what’s in store for us in the future,” Evans said. “I feel real good about that. I’m just somewhat concerned that we won’t get a chance to finish the things that were in motion already.”

For the first time in several years, Bjelke will not be serving Selma in a politics role. He’s been a Selma City Councilman for the last six years.

“I guess I go back to landscaping and a more peaceful, quieter life. That’s probably it,” Bjelke said. “Phone doesn’t ring as much, but I won’t give up helping Selma. We all love Selma. We’ve just got to do what we can to keep helping move it forward.”

Martin said she was happy that Melton, another young person hoping to create change in Selma, was leading the polls. However, she was still disappointed in the night’s results.

“We ran a campaign from Aug. 2015 to Aug. of 2016 with only $5,000,” Martin said. “I’ve grown a lot throughout this past year. I’ve learned a lot throughout this past year.”