Franklin County Times

Gerry Wallace

In front of family and supporters, Littleville resident Gerry Wallace officially announced his candidacy for Alabama State House at Twin Pines Country Club on Thursday evening.

Colbert County commissioner David Black led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and gave a few introductory thoughts, which was followed by Scott Underwood who performed a special song.

Wallace, who has been married for 52 years and has three children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, has appropriately chosen as his campaign theme, “Your Grandchildrenʼs Candidate.”

It is because of his grandchildren that Gerry has chosen to pursue elected office. He explained to those assembled at the event that while he grew up in a wonderful country, “It is not at all written that they will have this pleasure . . . [s]omebody [has] to stand. Iʼm willing to do that.”

Gerry pointed to several signs to show America is going down a destructive road and may look very different in 20 years. For example, the negative effects of Obamacare, an overwhelming debt, and a disregard for traditional marriage and the sanctity of life.

“I have the fear that in ten or fifteen years, those same great-grandchildren are going to look at me and say, ʻPoppy, what happened? Was there nothing that could be done?ʼ I cannot stand the thought of facing them as their world crumbles around them and say, ʻWant to go fishing?ʼ”

This is not the first time Wallace has gotten involved in local children’s futures.

Wallace is the founder and 17-year executive director of Shoals Sav-A-Life. It is because of this work, as he noted during his remarks, that he is able to say he has 1,200 ʻgrandchildren.ʼ To Gerry, that’s 1,200 more futures that need to be protected.

His comments at the campaign event reflected his strong conservative values, his Christian faith, and his belief in limited, constitutional government. If elected, Wallace said he will work to defend life, the traditional family, and traditional marriage.

Noting that job creation was a large concern for many Alabamians, Gerry shared his belief that government should “get rid of some taxes and regulations and get out of the way,” thereby freeing businesses to grow and enabling the economy to naturally flourish.