Gary Palmer is the Republican candidate for Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. He will face off against Democrat Mark Lester in November. Lester is the second Democrat candidate to enter the race, as Avery Vise withdrew in early August. The district covers most of Jefferson County and all of Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa and Shelby Counties. It has been deemed the “reddest district in the country”.
For the last 24 years, Gary Palmer has led the Alabama Policy Institute (API), a research and education organization whose purpose is to identify, develop and promote sound public policies that emphasize a limited government, free markets, the rule of law and strong families. API is ranked the most influential conservative organization in Alabama.
Palmer’s decision to run for Congress came with his belief that we are living at a critical time. “America faces unprecedented challenges. Obamacare’s takeover of America’s health care system is sending premiums skyrocketing and its crushing mandates on businesses are crippling their ability to create jobs. Our national debt is spiraling out of control threatening all that we hold dear and Congress still refuses to get a handle on runaway spending carrying on with business as usual. Our federal government is bloated beyond recognition from just a few generations ago because it has been pushed far beyond its Constitutional authority.”
“We are living at a critical time. It is a time for leadership,” Palmer said. “Our nation desperately needs leaders who are willing to stand up and make the tough choices – willing to do what needs to be done to get our nation’s spending under control, get our economy growing again and create good jobs for American workers.”
Gary Palmer will be that leader for Alabama and the nation. He is not afraid of making tough choices and he has the intelligence and determination to turn our country around. Alabama is fortunate that Gary stepped forward this election cycle, and we look forward to the progress he will bring in Washington.
Representative John Merrill made the decision last year to run, not for reelection in House District 62 but, for Secretary of State. He will be looking to beat Democrat Lula Albert-Kaigler in the general election.
Merrill is a graduate of the University of Alabama. From 1994 until 2010, Merrill was the Director of Community Relations and Community Education for the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education. In this capacity, he served as the spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa County School System and coordinated twenty after school programs.
Merrill made the decision to resign from the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education upon his election in November of 2010 as the State Representative for House District 62. In the Legislature, Merrill has served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the House Republican Caucus and as a member of the Rules Committee; the Economic Development and Tourism Committee; and the Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee.
John Merrill is very active in his community and has served in many leadership capacities. John is a Deacon at his church, Calvary Baptist. He is or has been a member of numerous community organizations including: Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Children First Board of Directors, Alabama YMCA Youth in Government Board of Directors, Leadership Tuscaloosa, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, United Way of West Alabama, Boy Scouts of America, and West Alabama Literacy Council. He is also the past president of both the Alabama School Communicator’s Association and the Alabama Community Education Association.
John Merrill has proven himself to be a tireless leader always available to the people he represents. His go-getter attitude and strong work ethic will serve him well as our next Secretary of State. We look forward to the implementation of his plans for the SOS office.
Jerry McGilvray is running to replace Democrat State Representative Berry Forte for Alabama’s House District 84. The district includes Barbour, Bullock and Russell Counties. Berry Forte has served just one term in the State House and has been primarily funded by the AEA.
Jerry McGilvary is a retired insurance agent who came back to his hometown to make a difference. He is strongly supported by the Barbour County Republican Party and the Alabama Republican Party. The people of district 84 deserve better than what they are getting from their incumbent Democrat.
The people of the district are in need of conservative leaders who will work to create a pro-business environment to boost their local economy. Jerry hopes to foster this major change in District 84.
John Savage will also be taking on a Democrat incumbent this November. He is running against Senator Billy Beasley for Alabama Senate District 28. The district includes parts of Barbour, Bullock, Henry, Lee, Macon and Russell Counties. Democrat Beasley has held this seat for one term.
Savage earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is former teacher for the Eufaula City School system, and was recently recognized as Teacher of the Year in Barbour County.
Savage has mentored the lives of many young boys and girls, and wants them to have an opportunity to live and work in the county. That is his motivation for running for office, to impact the people of his community on a higher level.
Well liked in Barbour County, he has gained tremendous support from the county Republican Party. He knows he can be the change in Montgomery that District 28 needs. Senator Beasley has not done his job to protect and promote the people of the district, and John Savage is confident he can do better.
Heath Jackson is the chairman of the Escambia County Republican Executive Committee and is running for Sheriff of Escambia County.
A Republican has never held this sheriff seat; a win for Jackson would be a historical victory. Jackson’s experience and commitment to conservative values would breathe new life into Escambia County.
Jackson’s law-enforcement background is quite impressive. His extensive experience includes studying criminal justice at Jefferson Davis Community College and graduating from the Montgomery Police Academy and the Florida Law Enforcement Academy. He also spent six years with the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force.
Jackson is currently a homicide investigator with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He spent 12 years in narcotics, organized crime and drug trafficking divisions within the department. In addition to his duties as a homicide investigator, Heath is also assigned to the Hostage Negotiations Team. He is the Region 1 Hostage Negotiations Director for the State of Florida.
Giving back to his community and fellow law enforcement officers is a calling that Jackson takes very seriously. Jackson has stated, “I understand today’s issues and I have the vision and experience to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”