Staff Report
Linda Coleman (D-Birmingham) announced today that she will seek reelection for Alabama Senate District 20 during the 2014 election cycle. Senate District 20 comprises the City of Birmingham (Ensley, North Birmingham, East Lake, East Pinson Valley, Roebuck, Huffman), unincorporated Northwest and Northeast Jefferson County (including Grayson Valley and Clay/Chalkville), Forestdale, Tarrant, Centerpoint, Irondale, and Trussville. Coleman is currently serving her second term in the Senate, having previously served one term in the Alabama House of Representatives District 60, and three terms on the Birmingham City Council.
“My hope is that the voters will continue to trust my experience in representing the interests of the residents of Jefferson County and the State of Alabama,” said Coleman. “I work very hard to put people before politics and make sure that the voices of the people in District 20 are heard everyday and in every meeting of the legislature.”
During her second term, one of Coleman’s proudest achievements was her sponsorship of legislation that established the Alabama Land Bank Authority, which gives local governments a tool to clear back taxes and public liens on blighted and abandoned properties. The law assists in reducing governmental expenditures for maintenance of abandoned properties and cleaning overgrown lots.
“The Land Bank Authority is just one example of my commitment to preserving the value of neighborhoods and communities while allowing properties to be recycled into productive use that will add value and enhance community and economic development. In all of my years of public service, this one issue crosses all boundaries and has been a huge barrier for local governments in community redevelopment and economic recruitment,” remarked Coleman.
Coleman reflected on her priorities for the future: “My top priorities in the Senate will be to continue working with state and local governments to support quality public education, promote legislation that will support, recruit and retain business and industries for the Birmingham area that will provide opportunities for job creation, improve the quality of life for citizens, and continue working with local municipalities to support local legislation.”
During the current legislative session, Coleman is spearheading an effort to allow counties, if they choose, to offer two-year automobile tag renewal. “I hope my colleagues in the legislature will make it a priority to give Alabamians the option to renew their automobile tags for two years versus annually. If passed, this will alleviate the burden of citizens being forced to wait in long lines at the courthouse to renew their tags.”
Senator Coleman received her Bachelor of Science degree from Alabama A&M University, and her Masters of Arts degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Professionally, Coleman is an Americans with Disabilities Compliance Administrator for the City of Birmingham. She is an active member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Fairfield. Coleman serves on the board of directors for the Birmingham Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Positive Maturity, the Lakeshore Foundation, Alabama Industries for the Deaf and Blind (Birmingham Region), the Alabama Head Injury Foundation.
