By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Thursday, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox announced that he was running for Governor of Alabama as a Democrat.
Maddox released a video pledging to end Alabama’s crisis in leadership.
“I believe in Alabama and I believe in our potential which is why I believe that we must solve the crisis of leadership. In the past 18 months, the Governor, the Speaker, the Chief Justice, and the Majority Leader have left office in shame. And, when courage was required, silence was the only response from Montgomery’s leaders,” Maddox said in a statement.
“The crisis of leadership has led to a crisis in state government where Alabama still ranks near the bottom in every quality of life indicator from education to health care. Preserving the status quo is not a strategy for creating a brighter future for all Alabamians,” Maddox claimed.
Maddox is the Mayor of the city of Tuscaloosa. Maddox is in his fourth term as Mayor but has not held a state office before.
Maddox stated that he will rebuild trust in state government, and focus on lost jobs, closed rural hospitals and crumbling roads and bridges.
Three months ago, Maddox announced the formation of a committee to explore seeking the state’s highest office as a Democrat. Since his announcement, 319 individuals have invested in his exploratory campaign, which is more than any declared candidate for governor during the same time period.
Maddox is running in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on June 5, 2018.
On May 22, 2017, Walt Maddox was sworn in for his first term as the city of Tuscaloosa’s 36th mayor in 2005.
Mayor Maddox is a Tuscaloosa native and graduated from Central High School in 1991. Maddox has a Bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master’s degree in public administration, both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He played football for four years at UAB.
In 1996, Maddox worked as a field director with the Alabama Education Association. In 2001, he was appointed executive director of personnel for the Tuscaloosa City Schools. In that same year, he was elected as city councilman for the Sixth District.
Walt is married to Stephanie and has two children. He is currently serving as a fellow with the Program on Crisis Leadership at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Maddox is probably best known for his effort leading the recovery after a tornado hit Tuscaloosa.
Don Siegelman, in 1998, was the only Democrat elected Governor by the people of Alabama since George Wallace retired in 1986.
Former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Sue Bell Cobb and gay rights activist Chris Countryman are also running in the Democratic primary.
Evangelist Scott Dawson, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Gov. Kay Ivey, former Morgan County Commissioner Stacy George, Birmingham businessman Josh Jones and state Sen. Bill Hightower are all running for the Republican nomination for Governor.
The major party primaries are on June 5, 2018.
