Hoover City Councilman Mike Shaw will be the Republican nominee for the House District 47(HD 47) vacancy in the Alabama House of Representatives on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, the Alabama Republican Party announced on Monday in a press release. The Alabama Republican Party Steering Committee met on Sunday to decide who would fill the vacancy created by the death of State Rep. David Wheeler (R-Vestavia Hills).
"This was a very difficult decision because there were many outstanding candidates who applied for the position," said Chairman John Wahl. "Each and every one would have represented the district with distinction. However, there can only be one nominee. I would like to congratulate Mike Shaw on his selection and thank all of those who expressed their interest in serving. Their commitment to the people of House District 47 and our Party is to be commended.
"We are excited by the experience and energy Councilman Shaw brings to the table. He will be an excellent representative for the people of House District 47. The Republican Party is looking forward to working with him to bring common sense back to politics,” he continued."
Mike Shaw is a member of the Hoover City Council where he has lived for over 20 years. He graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 1990 and received a bachelor's degree in public administration from Auburn University in 1995. He and his wife, Shelley, have two children.
“Growing up in Vestavia Hills and raising our family in Hoover, my home is in House District 47 and has been for most of my life," Shaw said. "It would be such an honor to represent this community in the Alabama Legislature! As a Republican, I know our party is one of small government, economic growth and opportunity for all. I think the voters in District 47 share these values, and I'm looking forward to a vigorous campaign to ensure the people are well-represented in Montgomery.”
Since Wheeler was the only Republican to qualify to represent HD47 and died after the candidate qualifying ended, this office is not on the May 24 Republican primary ballot. After Wheeler's death, the Alabama Republican Steering Committee was then tasked with finding a replacement candidate.
Eleven candidates applied for the vacant position. A subcommittee was appointed to vet the applicants. That subcommittee narrowed it down to just three candidates: businessman Ken McFeeters, Shaw, and former Hoover School Board Member Earl Cooper.
McFeeters told 1819 News that he was the most conservative of the three candidates and Shaw the least conservative.
“There are three factions in the Alabama Republican Party: conservatives, liberals and the establishment," McFeeters said. "It is the establishment who controls Montgomery. The conservatives voted for me and the establishment voted for Shaw.
“The establishment can control Shaw."
McFeeters has been a very vocal critic of special insurance industry tax credits that benefit State Farm and ALFA at the expense of independent insurance agencies that effectively pay more in insurance taxes due to the tax credit.
Christian Coleman and Jim Toomey are running for HD47 in the Democratic primary on May 24.
The eventual Democratic Party nominee will face Shaw in the Nov. 8 general election.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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