By Chip Brownlee
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama’s most powerful State senator will seek re-election to the Legislature’s upper chamber next year.
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, will seek re-election to the Senate, he announced Wednesday. The move comes after he considered running for both the US Senate and for Governor.
“Since Republicans took over the Legislature, we have been able to pass many key pieces of legislation,” Marsh said. “However, the work is not done and if I am fortunate enough to be sent back to Montgomery by the people of Senate District 12, I look forward to continuing conservative policies that make government more efficient and accountable to the taxpayers.”
Marsh had previously said he would decide whether to seek the Governor’s Office depending on whether Gov. Kay Ivey would run for a full term. She has yet to make a decision publicly, but Marsh encouraged her to do so.
“Governor Ivey and I have had a great working relationship through her time as Lieutenant Governor and since she took over the office earlier this year,” Marsh said. “If she decides to run, I hope to continue this work as we move forward to accomplishing our conservative agenda.”
Marsh was first elected to the Senate in 1998 and was later elected as Pro Tem in 2011. He has been a proponent of education reform during his time there, sponsoring the controversial Alabama Accountability Act and subsequent changes to that law.
“Education and Infrastructure are going to be two key issues which face the Legislature in upcoming years,” he said. “I am currently working with the education community to work on a comprehensive education plan that is educator-driven and will give us direction on how to move the state forward and improve public education in Alabama. I hope to do the same thing with infrastructure to make sure our roads and bridges are among the best in America.”
