Political newcomer Jamie Kiel formally announced this week his candidacy for State House District 18, hoping to represent the voters of Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale counties.

“I am a businessman. I have balanced my budget, met payroll and made ends meet,” Kiel said. “What Montgomery needs is a common-sense, conservative businesslike approach. That is what I intend to do as your next representative.”

A graduate of Russellville High School, Kiel 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, selling and leasing mowers, tractors and other heavy duty equipment.

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 PA announcer for Tharptown High School football games.

Kiel and his wife Melissa have three daughters: Sarah Kate, Audrey Claire and Lydia Grace. The 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 Jamie has served as the music director for 20 years.

No other Republicans have announced their intentions to run in the primary.

Jamie is seeking the seat held by longtime Democrat Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow. Morrow has announced he will not be seeking re-election but, instead, will be running for the Alabama Senate.

In addition to Russellville, State House District 18 includes portions of Florence and Tuscumbia, as well as the cities of Cherokee, Red Bay and Waterloo.