Former Sheffield mayor Ian Sanford has announced that he is running for the position again. Sanford served two terms as Sheffield's mayor from October 1996 to September 2004. In discussing his new run for mayor, Sanford said that during his term, he showed that he could work together with other elected officials for the betterment of the Shoals; specifically citing the effort to bring in the Retirement Systems of Alabama project, SCA Tissue, and the Walgreen's call center to the area. He added that he is aware of Sheffield's ongoing projects such as the overlook at the historic standpipe and the Love Plaza project on Montgomery Avenue, and understands that one the city's major issues is a lack of sales tax revenue. Sanford is a Sheffield native, as well as a Sheffield High School and University of North Alabama graduate. He will be running against current mayor Billy Don Anderson, who annouced his plans to run for re-election earlier this year.