Two Republicans, one Democrat running in HD 11 special
Left to right: Don Fallin, Alex Braswell and Heath Allbright qualified for the HD 11 special election. The primary between Fallin and Allbright will be on May 13, and the general between that winner and Braswell will be on Aug. 26. (photos courtesy of candidates/graphic by Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
One Democratic candidate and two Republicans have qualified for the House District 11 special election, scheduled for August.
Democratic candidate Alex Braswell, an American Sign Language interpreter, will face the winner of the Republican primary in May between Heath Allbright, a lumber business owner and a former member of the Cullman County Board of Education, and Don Fallin, a retired U.S. Army colonel.
The seat, taking in eastern Cullman and northern Blount counties, became vacant after Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, resigned last month to become constituent services director for Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman. The seat is solidly Republican. Shedd never faced general election opposition after winning a special election for the seat in 2013.
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Braswell, 35 moved to Cullman in 2012 and worked as a pharmacy technician. She later went to Troy University to get a Bachelor's degree in interpreter training. Since then, she said she has traveled across the state interpreting for the deaf and hard of hearing community using American Sign Language.
'I know that I'm a Democrat, and I know that that could be a disadvantage, but whomever you voted for for president is between yourself and God,' she said in a phone interview last week. 'I just looked around my community, and I saw we needed an advocate. It's what interpreters do.'
Braswell said she wants to advocate for the protection of Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating based on disability.
The law covers a wide range of disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments, autism, diabetes, Down syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD. A group of Republican attorneys general sued the federal government in September over the Biden administration's addition of a gender identity-related disorder to the disabilities protected under Section 504. Disability advocates said the suit could weaken protections for all people with disabilities.
'It would have disastrous side effects on not just our district, but the state as a whole,' she said. 'I wanted to speak up and help advocate for those communities that would suffer under the lack of Section 504.'
Her experience as a pharmacy technician also motivates her candidacy. Braswell supports SB 99, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, which would create new state regulations on the prices and and purchases that pharmacy benefit managers can charge pharmacies.
'They provide genuine, one-on-one care. But for the last decade, they have really been suffering under prescription benefit managers,' she said. 'They're not getting proper reimbursement for the cost of drugs, and these pharmacies are taking a huge toll.'
Braswell also prioritizes opposition to SB 110, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, which would allow for the increased weight per axle when traveling with large loads. She said it would impact the Cullman community directly by making the roads less safe.
'If you add extra loads to 18-wheelers, or any company that is allowed to carry a larger load on their trucks, you're going to decrease the safety of our roads. That would be detrimental to the infrastructure of Cullman County,' Braswell said.
Allbright, 39, said in an interview Tuesday he is running for office to make a positive impact on his community.
'Being in business my whole life and being on the board of education, I've always wanted to have a positive impact on people,' he said. 'People have approached me about seeking higher office, and we just felt that everything lined up.'
He said education, traditional family values and cutting taxes and regulations for Alabama businesses are his top priorities if elected.
'I'm a conservative Christian. I have a family, a wife of 18 years, a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old daughter,' he said. 'Supporting traditional family values and defending those values against big big government, investing in local education.'
He said his values and leadership ability make him qualified for the job.
'My ability to lead people, … and knowing how things work and being able to get things accomplished,' he said, referring to his time on the Board of Education.
In his candidacy announcement on social media, Allbright promised to listen to his constituents' concerns with dignity and determination.
'I'm not your candidate, where I'm going to beat my podium, and say 'I'm going down there and going to fix this,'' he said. 'That's not me. However, I've always enjoyed leading people and having a positive impact on them.'
The Business Council of Alabama, a major force in Republican politics, has endorsed Allbright for the seat.
Fallin, 60, announced his candidacy via social media, and said in an interview Tuesday he prioritizes transparency and being a voice for the people of District 11.
'My number one priority is to be a voice for the people. I've talked to a lot of folks in the community, so I'm listening to what their concerns are,' he said.
According to a statement, Fallin served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and went on eight combat tours. He said he wants to run for office to continue to serve.
'Why I'm running is to continue to serve and be a voice for the people,' he said. 'That's kind of my message, and it seems to resonate well with all the people.'
He said he wants people to vote for the best candidate for them.
'If that's not me, then I will fully support whomever they they choose. But I believe, I think I bring a fresh look,' he said. 'I will represent the people, and that's really it to me. It's not overly complicated right now.'
After Fallin retired, he partnered with the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, a nonprofit that funds scholarships for children of fallen military.
'I look forward to continuing my commitment to service to my state and district with honesty and integrity, bringing a grounded perspective to the district and serving the people of District 11,' he wrote on Facebook.
The qualifying period for the election ended Tuesday at 5 p.m. The special primary election will be on May 13, and the special general election will be on Aug. 26.
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