A candidate has entered the race for Alabama House District 26. The seat is up for grabs as incumbent Rep. Kerry Rich, R-Albertville, has announced he will not run for a sixth term in the seat.
Republican Todd Mitchem announced his candidacy for the seat Wednesday. A native of Marshall County, Mitchem owns and manages several properties for his family and himself in Albertville and Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. He is also a former high school and college instructor.
For the past 10 years, Mitchem has been involved in the community working with CASA of Marshall County, where he has served on the Board of Directors for almost five years. This organization provides care to the elderly and homebound. He is also chairman of the largest fundraising committee of CASA, directing their annual golf tournament that provides a substantial portion of the operating budget. Mitchem is also an active member of the board of directors of the Shepherd’s Cove Hospice Foundation.
“I work to do as much as I can to help the people of Marshall County,” Mitchem said. “I have been able to provide a lot of service through my work with CASA and Hospice. The opportunity to serve more people in an even greater capacity is the reason I decided to enter this race for State Representative.”
Mitchem is a graduate of Albertville High School and Snead State Community College where he received an associate degree in pre-law. He has a BA in Political Science with minors in history and business, from Auburn University. Mitchem also has two master’s degrees, a master of science in secondary education from the University of South Alabama and a master of the arts in liberal arts with concentrations in political science, history and geography from Jacksonville State University.
“As a lifelong resident of Marshall County, I know our people’s values and what our community needs to grow and prosper,” Mitchem said. “I believe I can make a difference to benefit people’s lives, given the opportunity to serve.”
While in college, he served as an intern with Sen. Richard Shelby in the U.S. Senate and with Congressman Tom Bevill in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Albertville.
