Walker County Commissioner Keith Davis has announced his candidacy to represent House District 13 in the Alabama Legislature’s lower chamber.

Davis announced his campaign at a meeting of the local Republican Party, during which he touched on what he calls his “unwavering commitment” to the GOP and his years of “proven leadership.”

Davis served as chairman of the Walker County Republican Party for two years and vice chairman for eight years. He is a 15-year-member of the Walker County Republican Party and formerly served on the ALGOP state executive committee.

In announcing his candidacy for the Alabama House of Representatives, Davis explains why he decided to become involved in the affairs of local government.

“It was a complete mess,” Davis recalls, referring to the state of Walker County’s finances. “Being a businessman, it was clear to me that the county was headed for financial ruin.”

Davis says as commissioner he played a major role in cutting what he calls “wasteful spending,” which led to the county saving millions of dollars worth of taxpayer money. Davis’ fiscal management protected the county’s credit rating, the release states.

“Most people think of a county commissioner solely as the guy who helps take care of the roads, and that is a very important role I’ve filled,” says Davis. “But I have also made sound financial management and economic development my focus these last nine years.”

The release also states that Davis actively partakes in matters relating to road maintenance, proving his dedication to infrastructure improvement. His efforts to protect the county budget from overwhelming debt has resulted in hundreds of thousands of unexpected dollars for road maintenance, according to the announcement.

Davis is running for the legislature to bring his 30 years of business experience to Montgomery.

He says that he will “fight hard every day in Montgomery” like he has during his tenure on the county commission.

The seat for which Davis is seeking is currently held by State Rep. Connie Rowe (R-Jasper), who will vacate the office as she has accepted a position to serve as senior advisor to the lieutenant governor.

House District 13 consists of Walker County and portions of Blount County. The primary election will take place on May 24, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL