Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa announces bid for fourth state Senate term

State Sen. Gerald Allen has announced his bid for at least one more round in the Alabama Legislature.

Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, is seeking a fourth term in the Alabama Senate representing District 21, which includes parts of Lamar, Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties.

“Tuscaloosa and western Alabama are growing. I’m proud of what our area has accomplished,” Allen said in a news release announcing his re-election bid. “I’m committed to ensuring that our pro-business, pro-growth economic atmosphere remains.”

Allen said the effects of the global coronavirus pandemic have tested Alabama’s social and economic resilience, but he believes his approach to governing can help the state recover.

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“Financially, our state budgets are recovering far better than most other states because of our conservative approach to the state budgets,” he said. “I’ve long championed that conservative approach, and I’ll continue to work hard to keep taxes low and fight wasteful spending.”

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Allen last defeated political newcomer Rick Burnham in 2018 to win a third term to the Alabama Senate.

The popular legislator has served in elected office since 1994 – starting with four terms in the state House of Representatives – before defeating Democrat Phil Poole of Moundville, a four-term incumbent, for the District 21 Senate seat in 2010.

Allen pointed to his record as reason for another term in office. Specifically, he highlighted his sponsorship of the state’s photo identification voter law, which he believes has helped ensure safe and fair elections in Alabama.

He also sponsored the 2017 Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, which prohibits the relocation, removal, alteration, renaming or disturbance of architecturally significant buildings, memorial buildings and streets or monuments on public property that have been in place for 40 or more years.

It does allow for changes to monuments, buildings or streets that have been in place for at least 20 years but less than 40 years through a waiver process overseen by an 11-person committee appointed by the governor and leaders of the Alabama House and Senate.

Public entities that make changes to buildings, streets or monuments in violation of the law can be fined $25,000 for each violation.

While the law had its detractors, proponents of the bill argued that it was needed to protect the history of Alabama, both as a state and before, from reactionary changes.

“This puts in place a safeguard for administrators and policymakers to take a closer look at what they are doing that might disturb historical buildings and the meaning of those structures and the historic meaning behind those structures,” Allen said following the enactment of the law. “Let’s take some steps backward and review this before we take action.”

Allen said he would maintain a similar course if re-elected.

“There is so much coming down from Washington right now,” Allen continued. “Whether it is a federal takeover of our elections, critical race theory, or the cancel culture, I’m going to push back against the liberal left and make sure that Alabama sets an example for the rest of the nation to follow.”

A lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa, Allen graduated from Holt High School and then earned a degree from the University of Alabama.

Allen and his wife, Sheila Bailey Allen of Taylorville, have been married for 47 years and have three adult children and six grandchildren.

Allen and his wife are active members of Gilgal Baptist Church in Duncanville where Allen also serves as a deacon.

The Alabama statewide primary election is May 24, 2022.

The Alabama statewide general election set for Nov. 8, 2022.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.