Montgomery City Councilman Richard Bollinger announced that he will seek the Republican nomination for the District 74 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, the office left vacant by the death of Representative Dimitri Polizos.
“Dimitri was a wonderful man and a dear friend. I greatly respected him as a person, a business owner and a public servant,” Bollinger said. “I would be honored to be chosen by the voters to serve the district and to continue the work that he began.”
Bollinger is a Montgomery native and is the owner of Bollinger, Inc., an engineering and surveying firm. He has served as a member of the Montgomery City Council for the last 7 years. He also spent 24 years serving in the Alabama National Guard before retiring with the rank of Major.
“Education, economic development, jobs and crime are all issues that are important to the residents of this district and I am looking forward to discussing those topics and a variety of others with constituents throughout the campaign,” Bollinger explained.
Bollinger describes himself as a conservative Republican and says that he is pro-life, pro-Constitution and pro-term limits.
He attended Troy and Auburn Universities. He joined the Air National Guard directly from college as an enlisted egress technician on the Phantom 4. After four years of service, he transferred to the Army National Guard and completed Officer Candidate School.
Richard is a graduate of “Leadership Montgomery.” He has been deeply involved with Rotary International, as a Rotary Club president at the local level and later as the District Governor for Alabama. He is currently involved at the national level as Presidents Program Chairman for Mid-South PETS, charged with the responsibility for training all new club presidents in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. He is Past Chairman of Camp ASCCA Easter Seals and now serves as an acting advisor to the Board of Directors. He is the past Vice Chairman of the Montgomery Housing Authority Board; Past President of the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club; Past Vice Chairman of the Montgomery Sunrise Foundation Board, now serves as an acting advisor to the Board. He is the past Chairman of the Central Alabama Professional Land Surveyors Society; assisted in the formation of the East Montgomery Neighborhood Alliance; is a past President of Lake Forest/Mitylene Forest Neighborhood Association; and Past Chairman of the Robert E. Lee Athletic Club, both football and cheer.
Richard is married to the former Cheryl Lynn Folcomer of Virginia Beach, Virginia. They have four children and are members of Taylor Road Baptist Church.
Gov. Kay Ivey issued a proclamation on Monday outlining the dates for a special election to fill the District 74 seat. Candidates must qualify with their political party no later than April 9. The primary election will be held on June 11.
