By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, July 24, 2017, prominent Russellville businessman Jamie Kiel announced that he was running for the GOP nomination in State House District 18.
Jamie Kiel (R) said, “I am a businessman. I have balanced my budget, met payroll and made ends meet. What Montgomery needs is a common-sense, conservative businesslike approach. That is what I intend to do as your next Representative.”
Kiel is the founder and owner of Kiel Equipment. What began as a local business 22 years ago now serves customers across Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, selling and leasing mowers, tractors, and other heavy duty equipment.
Kiel is a graduate of Russellville High School. He has a Management and Marketing degree from the University of North Alabama.
Kiel is a founding member of the Franklin County Broadband Taskforce, and has served on the SACS Accreditation and the Federal Monitoring Committees for the Franklin County school system. He is known for being a community activist, and for his financial generosity to the sports teams, school events, dance squads, and charities in the Franklin County area. Kiel has also served as a Youth league basketball coach and PA announcer for Tharptown High School football games.
Kiel and his wife Melissa have three daughters. Melissa is a teacher at Tharptown. She was named Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year for 2016. They attend Tharptown Baptist Church, where Kiel has served as the music director for 20 years.
Kiel is running for the seat that is being vacated by longtime Democrat Johnny Mack Morrow (D-Red Bay) who is running for State Senate.
HD18 includes: Russellville and portions of Florence, Tuscumbia, as well as the cities of Cherokee, Red Bay and Waterloo. The district stretches across portions of Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale Counties.
