By Chip Brownlee
Alabama Political Reporter
Another Alabama lawmaker has thrown his name into the hat for a run for governor. Businessman and State Sen. Slade Blackwell, R-Mountain Brook, qualified Friday for the race, he confirmed to APR — adding another name to a crowded Republican field.
Blackwell, who has represented Senate District 15 since 2010, is now the sixth Republican to qualify, joining Gov. Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, State Sen. Bill Hightower, evangelist Scott Dawson and Michael McAllister.
Friday was the last day to qualify.
Blackwell will appear with the other six candidates on the June 5 Republican primary ballot.
The Birmingham Republican has long considered runs for higher office — including Alabama’s 6th Congressional District and a run for the U.S. Senate last year, though both times he opted to stay in the State Senate.
Blackwell is the owner of the Birmingham-based Inkana LLC., a sizable real estate and development firm specializing in complex projects, partnerships and joint ventures in the healthcare and infrastructure industries.
In the Senate, Blackwell has forged a name for himself as a “commonsense fiscal conservative,” serving as the chair of the Banking and Insurance committee and vice chair of the Job Creation and Economic Development committee.
