By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Cheryl Ciamarra (R) is running as a Republican for State of Alabama House District 43. House District 43 is currently held by Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (R) from Indian Springs. Rep. McClurkin has announced that she is not seek re-election.
Ms. Ciamarra told The Alabama Political Reporter on Thursday that McClurkin did much for the state as a legislator and she feels that the state needs another conservative woman to take her place. Ciamarra said that the legislature needs more conservative women who can come to the microphone and speak intelligently in the face of opposition from liberal men and women.
Ms. Ciamarra said on Facebook, “Alabama House District 43 is a special place for myself and my family. It would be an honor to serve as your representative in Montgomery. I will be responsive and dedicated to the concerns of families and businesses in our district.”
According to her website, Cheryl Ciamarra has lived in Birmingham Alabama since the mid 1980′s and wrote that she has found the people and the vibrant Christian faith of the State a delightful breath of fresh air to raise a family.
Ciamarra said that she supported Mary Sue McClurkin in her first bid for the office and has lived in House District 43 in North Shelby County since 1998 where she has raised her five children, Mark, Allison, Michael Joe, John and James.
Ciamarra was Born in New Orleans into a Catholic family with a strong faith. Cheryl was a child actress at the La Petite Theatre where she won city wide competitions in Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation and gained experience as both an actress and directer. At 14 Young Life a non-denominational Christian Youth Outreach ministry took her to Boulder Colorado’s Frontier Camp where she developed a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ including on-going bible study, which supplemented her Catholic upbringing.
In 1979, Cheryl graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette, Magna Cum Laude with degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology, a Psychology Minor, and diagnosis of reading disorders specialty. During College, she was in Chi Omega Fraternity and participated in New Orleans vibrant community theater. Ciamarra attended LSU Medical School where she earned a Masters in Communication Disorders graduating Summa Cum Laude.
After graduation she started a private practice in speech language pathology.
Later she worked for the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul’s Hotel Dieu Hospital where she served the handicapped elderly and disabled.
She moved to Birmingham after marrying and took a job as staff development director for a national concern. She also started a private practice providing individual professional consulting to NME and PIA’s program development. Cheryl became Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital’s Speech and Hearing Department Director where she specialized serving traumatic brain injury and stroke patients. Cheryl became a full-time stay at home mom after her third child was born. She remained active in the community attend and leading women’s bible studies and helping with Meals on Wheels and Gods Helpers of His Precious Infants. Cheryl also became politically active in the legislative process and the pro-life movement.
Cheryl started the Showers of Blessing Birmingham ministry with the assistance of area churches connecting women’s groups to support girls turned around from abortion with material goods through baby showers.
Cheryl moved to Montgomery with the Fob James administration and became involved with Alabama Citizens For Life serving as their Legislative Director and as an alternate to the National Right to Life Committee Board in Washington D.C.
Cheryl’s believes in less government interference in business. Cheryl also strongly believes in promoting legislation to protect innocent human life from euthanasia.
Ciamarra has served as Alabama Citizens for Life public relations and media spokesperson and has appeared on several TV and radio shows, including For the Record and The Hank Irwin Show. Ciamarra created and hosted a culture of life radio show with The United For Life Foundation www.focusonliferadio.com
Ciamarra is currently a single mother of 5 children, with three in college and is serving as the Board Director Representing Alabama on the National Right to Life Committee where she travels to D.C. quarterly to be a voice for Alabama. Cheryl has been the keynote speaker at SAV-A-LIFE Director Retreats and Pregnancy Resource Center fund raising events over the years, where she has shared, “her personal walk of faith and the practical steps average citizens can take in their homes and community to stand up for our religious freedom and God given rights.”
Cheryl, due to her wide range of knowledge and experience regarding healthcare delivery of services, has been invited to participate in CATO Health Policy Summit’s in Washington D.C. and New Orleans. Cheryl has been a presenter on media relations at The National Right to Life Convention. Ciamarra also has her private practice, Ciamarra Communication Consulting has been part-time.
She attends continuing education on a full range of adolescent and elder care issues. Through the years Cheryl has been an active member of the Confraternity of Christian Motherhood, Eagle Forum of Alabama, a Founding Board member of Her Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, is a Save A Life supporter, and as a Strong supporter of Second Amendment rights she is a member of the National Rifle Association.
Cheryl writes that running for Alabama House of Representatives is a natural next step. Cheryl Ciamarra believes that Alabama needs more Republican women representation in Montgomery (only 5 of the 107 house members are conservative women).
Ms. Ciamarra said that she is a proven advocate for life and family values, is a small business owner, and promises that she will keep taxes low and will look out for the concerns of those in HD 43.
The Cheryl Ciamarra campaign for Alabama House District 43 will hold a kick off event and fundraiser on November 14 at 7:00 pm at the Brava Grill at 5184 Caldwell Mill Road in Birmingham.
Incumbent state Representative Mary Sue McClurkin is not seeking re-election. In the Republican Primary, Ciamarra will face former Miss Alabama Amie Beth Shaver (R) who is also running for the seat.
