(a) In Clarke County, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person shall be eligible for appointment by the county board of education or for any political party nomination, or for election to the office of county superintendent of education unless such person:

(1) Holds a certificate in School Administration or Supervision.

(2) Is of good character and reputation, has not been previously convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, has not been previously found guilty of a charge which would justify cancellation, pursuant to Alabama law, of a tenured contract, and, if not active as a teacher, principal, supervisor, or in some other capacity as a school administrator, in a public school system at the time of qualifying for county superintendent, has left his or her last public school system position voluntarily and while in good standing in that system. He or she must also have had experience of not less than five years, within the eight-year period next preceding qualifying for county superintendent, as a teacher, principal, supervisor, or as some other type of school administrator, in a public school system.

(3) Submits proof to the state superintendent and to the Clarke County Board of Education that he or she meets the requirements hereof, and obtains from the county board of education a written certificate confirming that he or she is so qualified, under the terms hereof, to serve as county superintendent: the certificate from the county board of education must be obtained prior to and shall be a prerequisite to qualifying for the office of county superintendent.