Jacksonville resident Katie Exum has announced her candidacy to seek the Republican nomination for the Alabama House of Representatives in District 40.
Exum is the owner of a women-owned small business. She owns an outdoor recreational magazine for the state of Alabama called “Alabama Trails Magazine.” The magazine has been featured all around Alabama, guiding families to outdoor adventures and fun. The magazine was featured on “Absolutely Alabama” with Fred Hunter and has received numerous other recognitions.
Exum serves in a variety of capacities for numerous service-oriented organizations such as American Agriculture Law Association, Rotary International, Christian Legal Society, Federalist Society, The Exchange Club of Jacksonville, Veteran’s Help Desk, YMCA, Junior League of Anniston, Girl Scouts of America, Calhoun and Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce.
Exum’s campaign platform will seek to grow small businesses, build a state-of-the-art Workforce Development Center, increase economic development by bringing in manufacturing and industrial development businesses, establish a free Veteran’s Legal Help Desk at the new VA Clinic, obtain grant and funding for Enterprise and Opportunity Zones, create more farm-to-school programs for local school systems by growing women-owned farms, expand broadband in rural areas of the district, engage school and community leaders to attain Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, and fully fund all levels of law enforcement.
In a statement, Exum said:
“As a wife, mother, and woman business owner, I am very excited about Alabama’s future and the future of District 40. As your Representative, I will work very hard to develop our district into a district that is ready for the technological advances that our workforce will demand. By building a Workforce Development Center, we can ensure that all of District 40 citizens will have the skills and training for immediate employment in the fast-paced, technological trades of the next generation. Combining new advances from all trades with science and engineering will help build a successful workforce with industry partners, manufacturing and industrial development, and substantially increase our district’s appeal for large employers.
Education is very important to me. As a former public school teacher in Alabama, I understand how to make schools successful. Helping our schools set and reach benchmark goals for students in order to receive Blue Ribbon Excellence in Schools will raise our children’s opportunities for continued advancement in pursuing their dreams. Reading, Math, and Science are critical to the future opportunities for our students. I will work very close with local schools, trade schools, community colleges, and universities to make sure our students are ready for their futures and their dreams. Our schools are amazing and our educators are working hard to help our students learn and grow into leaders for our community and state. I am proud of the hard work our teachers do every day.
As a law enforcement family, protecting our police officers, first responders, and firefighters is personal to me. My father was a Sheriff’s Deputy and I am proud of our brothers and sisters that take up their shields every day to keep us all safe. I will always support fully funding all levels of law enforcement. My father was an Air Force Veteran, my husband’s father and two of his uncles are all Marines, so I understand the needs of our Veterans and will work to create a free legal help clinic for our Veterans in District 40. Supporting our military is such an honor for me and my family.”
Katie and her husband, Scott, live in Jacksonville, where they are raising their 10-year-old daughter. Katie holds a B.A. degree in English, an Elementary Education Certification from Troy State University-Dothan, a paralegal certificate from Jacksonville State University, and a law degree (graduating May 2022) from Birmingham School of Law.
The primary election will take place on May 24, 2022.
