Former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt on Tuesday announced that her candidacy for the U.S. Senate had been endorsed by the Alabama Retail Association.
The Alabama Retail Association, formed in 1943, holds 4,200 members with around 6,000 locations statewide. The association’s representation ranges from small, family-owned retailers to large national chains. It utilizes RetailPAC, the association’s political arm, in making endorsements of candidates seeking election to public office.
According to the announcement, the retail industry is Alabama’s largest private employer as it supports nearly 400,000 workers statewide.
Alabama Retail Association president Rick Brown praised Britt as a leader who understands issues facing retailers and indicated that, if elected, she would be an advocate for small business.
“Katie Britt has the temperament and smarts to be an effective U.S. senator for all Alabamians,” asserted Brown. “She is the perfect mix of toughness and compassion. I personally have worked side by side with her on issues affecting small businesses. No one will out work her. She understands what it takes to create a prosperous environment for all the citizens of our state.”
Britt, whose parents were small business owners, touched on her personal experience growing up and working around the Wiregrass region’s retail industry.
“Local retailers are the cornerstones of communities across Alabama, including my hometown of Enterprise,” stated Britt. “I grew up counting nuts and bolts in my dad’s hardware store, scrubbing bathrooms in my mom’s dance studio and keeping the showroom clean at Strickland’s Jewelers.”
She concluded, “I learned from an early age that good employers cut their check last and that the best thing government can do is to get out of the way. I will fight tirelessly in the Senate to grow good-paying jobs and increased opportunity for all hardworking Alabamians, ensuring small businesses and Alabama families can thrive, no matter their zip code.”
In addition to the Alabama Retail Association, Britt holds the endorsements from the Home Builders Association as well as the support of the Alabama Farmers Federation.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
