The Alabama Republican Party announced that it is now accepting applications for candidates seeking to be the Republican nominee in Alabama House District 47. The process is necessary after the death of State Rep. David Wheeler (R-Vestavia).
Wheeler, who passed on March 9, represented District 47 and was running unopposed in the upcoming GOP primary on May 24. He was only finishing his first term, but according to ALGOP Chairman John Wahl, Wheeler had been an active participant in party politics before being elected to the State House.
"He was a stalwart in our Party for many years – long before his election to the Alabama Legislature," Wahl said. "In addition to serving on our ALGOP Executive Committee and as our State Party Treasurer, Rep. Wheeler was a longtime member and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party Executive Committee and an active member of the Mid-Alabama Republican Club."
A subcommittee will be the first step in the process to select Wheeler's replacement on the final ballot in November.
"We have set up a subcommittee to interview candidates," said Wahl. "They will interview candidates and give three recommendations back to the Steering Committee. At that point, the State Candidate Committee will interview three people.
"…We are going to work hard to look for the right candidate, to listen to the constituents in the district, work with local Republicans and our committee members to find the right candidate to represent District 47."
According to ALGOP Communications Director Jennie Negrón Burniston, Jefferson County will be well represented in the selection process.
"The subcommittee that is interviewing the candidates is made up of the Congressional District 6 Chairman, who lives outside Jefferson County, and five other members of the committee who are Jefferson County Republicans from the state and/or county committees," said Negrón Burniston.
According to state law, the Committee must submit their candidate "no later than 76 days before the election."
This year's deadline is Wednesday, August 24, though it is unlikely the ALGOP will wait that long to make a decision.
"Interested parties should submit a Declaration of Intent form, which can be downloaded from algop.org, a cover letter, their resume and any references they wish to include," said Negrón Burniston.
All application packages must be emailed to ALGOP Executive Director Reed Phillips at rphillips@algop.org.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 29, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Two Democrat candidates, Christian Coleman and Jim Toomey, are on the May 24 primary ballot. The winner of that race will face the candidate picked by the ALGOP Executive Committee.
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