Congressman Gary Palmer, R-Alabama, announced that he is endorsing Republican congressional candidate Jerry Carl in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
“Jerry Carl is a man of integrity who will represent First District Alabamians well in Washington,” Palmer said. “Jerry is a businessman focused on strengthening Alabama’s economy.”
Palmer is the Republican Policy Committee chairman. He serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as the Committee on Oversight and Reform and on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
Palmer is a member of the House Freedom Caucus. Palmer ran for the U.S. House of Representatives when Congressman Spencer Bachus, R-Alabama, decided to retire in 2014. Palmer co-founded the conservative Alabama Policy Institute with current Chief Justice Tom Parker. Palmer was the president of API, the premier conservative think tank in the state of Alabama, before leaving to run for Congress.
“Throughout his time in office, Congressman Palmer has been a stalwart supporter of conservative values and fiscal responsibility,” Carl said. “He has consistently fought for family values, lower taxes, and sound government. I am honored to have the support of Congressman Palmer, and I look forward to representing south Alabama in Congress and fighting for our conservative values.”
Carl is currently head of the Mobile County Commission and was a small businessman who said that he was inspired to run for the Mobile County Commission when he became frustrated with the local government. Carl started his first company when he was 25 and has started more than 10 different companies ranging from real estate to healthcare and timber, to even the manufacturing of church furniture.
He and his wife, Tina, have been married for 39 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. Carl is a Mobile native. He graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1977, and then attended Lake City Community College, in Lake City, Florida for a year.
Carl started Stat Medical which he expanded into seven different locations, before selling out to Rotech Medical. He then continued in his role as a businessman and manager, overseeing more than 30 locations as a regional manager for Rotech Medical.
Carl then formed Westside Development, a business establishment located in West Mobile, in 1997. In 1998, Carl established Advance LLC, which builds and leases commercial properties, as well as River Oaks Landing LLC, which later became home to the River Oaks Landing Bed and Breakfast.
In 2002, Carl began Carl and Associates, a management group and in 2003, he opened ECM Home Health Services, a pharmacy specializing in the care of patients with bleeding disorders. In 2009, he established Cricket and Butterfly LLC, a company dedicated to buying and selling timber and timberland.
Carl defeated former State Sen. Bill Hightower in the Republican primary runoff back in July for the open seat in the House of Representatives.
Carl faces Democratic nominee James Averhart in the Nov. 3 general election. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Alabama, who currently represents the 1st Congressional District, did not run for another term and has also endorsed Carl.
