Seeking political office is not a new consideration for Jamie Kiel. But he wanted to wait until the right time.
That right time has arrived with Kiel's announcement that he will be a candidate for State House District 18, hoping to represent the voters of Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties.
“For the first time, my business has grown to the point where I can do it. My family is at the point where I can do it and I've established myself in the community. My wife and I discussed public service and decided it was the right time,” Kiel said.
Kiel, 42, is a graduate of Russellville High School. He started his company, Kiel Equipment, while working toward his Management and Marketing degree at the University of North Alabama. What began as a local business 22 years ago now serves customers across Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Kiel sells and leases mowers, tractors and other heavy duty equipment.
Kiel will run in the Republican primary. He explained that the Republican ideology lines up more with his personal beliefs.
“The Republican Party most closely mirrors my values from a personal and business perspective, so it made sense to run on the Republican ticket,” Kiel said.
“I am a businessman. I have balanced my budget, met payroll and made ends meet. What Montgomery needs is a common-sense, conservative businesslike approach. That is what I intend to to as your next representative,” Kiel added.
Kiel is a founding member of the Franklin County Broadband Taskforce, and has served on the SACS Accreditation and the Federal Monitoring Committees for the Franklin County School system. He is known for being a community activist, and for his financial generosity to the sports teams, school events, dance squads and charities in the Franklin County area. Kiel has also served as a youth league basketball coach and public address announcer for Tharptown High School football games.
Kiel and his wife Melissa have three daughters: Sarah Kate, Audrey Claire and Lydia Grace. Their children attend Tharptown School. Melissa, a teacher at Tharptown, was named Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year for 2016. The family is actively involved at Tharptown Baptist Church, where Kiel has served as the music director for 20 years.
No other Republicans have announced their intentions to run in the primary.
Kiel is seeking the seat held by longtime Democrat Johnny Mack Morrow. Morrow announced recently he would not be seeking reelection, but, instead, will be running for Alabama Senate.
In addition to Russellville, State House District 18 includes portions of Florence, Tuscumbia, as well as the cities of Cherokee, Red Bay and Waterloo.
