Ron Brown has gone viral — multiple times — for his love for the Yellowhammer State. Now, he wants to give back through serving the residents of Hoover as their newest councilman.

Brown on Thursday held a press conference at Hoover City Hall announcing his candidacy for City Council Place 2. The municipal elections will be held August 25.

Originally from Chicago, Brown earned a law degree from Birmingham School of Law. He first rose to viral fame after penning the powerful column entitled, “I’m a black man from Chicago who moved to Alabama, and here’s what I found,” for Yellowhammer News.

That column, which can be read here, is especially meaningful as the nation currently faces civil unrest following the death of George Floyd.

Brown also went viral in recent weeks for a video he posted on social media specifically about this unrest, warning would-be outside agitators, looters and rioters to stay away from Alabama. That video has been viewed over one million times and can be found here.

Brown’s family moved to Hoover six years ago. Brown and his wife have been married for 13 years and have two sons.

In a statement, Brown explained what motivated him to run for the city council.

“Everyone wants change but sometimes in life, you have to put yourself out there to encourage the change or simply become the change,” Brown said. “Hoover, Alabama is a great city to live and to raise a family but I believe it has the capabilities to be so much more than a city…. It can be a destination.”

The Hoover City Council Place 2 seat is currently held by Council President Gene Smith. Smith, instead of seeking reelection, is running against incumbent Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn