The Alabama Farmers Federation, the state’s largest farm organization with 365,000 member families, today endorsed State Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, in his bid for United States Congress.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell said he believes DeMarco is a fiscal conservative who has worked to make government more efficient and transparent.

“Rep. DeMarco has a proven record of defending taxpayers and holding government accountable for spending,” Parnell said. “In the Alabama Legislature, he supported stronger ethics laws, the taxpayer bill of rights and the article-by-article approach to constitutional revision.

DeMarco thanked Federation members for their endorsement and said they share the same goals.

“I am honored to receive the support of Alabama farmers,” DeMarco said. “They share my goal to fix what is wrong in Washington. With their support and the help of the many people throughout the counties of the Sixth District, I will go to Washington to fight for our rights and values.”

Since 2005, DeMarco represented portions of the Birmingham suburbs of Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills in District 46 of the Alabama House of Representatives. He serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Joint Oversight Committee for the Alabama Homeland Security Agency and Co-Chair of the Jefferson County Delegation.

DeMarco is currently running in a crowded Republican primary against four other candidates. If elected to Congress, he would succeed longtime Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, who announced last year that he would not seek a twelfth term.

“Rep. DeMarco shares the Federation’s core values of faith, family, integrity, stewardship and citizenship,” ALFA President Jimmy Parnell said in conclusion. “We are proud to support his candidacy and look forward to working with him in Congress.”

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims