Former Montgomery county public school board president Charlotte Meadows qualified today as a Republican candidate for the House District 74 special election.

“I am running because I believe in economic freedom, limited government, and conservative values. I believe
Alabama’s public education system should be better and it is my goal to help improve it.” Meadows said. “There is no better engine for economic development and recruiting jobs than a quality, local education system.”

Meadows was elected to the Montgomery Public School Board in 2006. She was named president of the school board in 2010 and served until 2012. She has also been working for school choice advocacy group Students First, so education is naturally a major part of her campaign platform.

Meadows said she vehemently opposes the Alabama Department of Education’s recent attempt to regulate the state’s private schools by requiring them to obtain a license.

“Common sense says that the Department of Education should be more focused on improving the 70+ failing schools in the state than on private schools or home school families.” Meadows said. “Allowing the state superintendent to tax private schools will raise cost for private school parents. This erosion of freedom cannot be tolerated.”

Meadows isn’t the only name that has been mentioned in the House District 74 race. Other candidates mentioned include business owner Dimitri Polizos, who is already campaigning for the seat, and Montgomery school board member Heather Sellers, who has not yet made an official announcement.

Former Rep. Jay Love resigned from the seat on August 1st. House District 74 covers part of Montgomery.