Sen. Bryan Taylor will not seek re-election, potential successors emerge

Alabama State Senator Bryan Tayor, R-Prattville, has decided to not seek re-election in 2014.

“Now is the time for me to focus on my family, my private sector career and my military service in the National Guard,” Taylor said during a press conference on Monday afternoon.

"God is leading us in a different direction" – Sen. Taylor pic.twitter.com/VYGhYD91qA

— Adam Thomas (@AdamYHN) October 28, 2013

“Jessica and I were overjoyed to learn several weeks ago that we would be blessed with another child. Of course, with two babies under the age of 3 already, we knew we needed to re-evaluate our priorities and started praying about this decision. We believe this decision reflects God’s will for our family right now,” Taylor said in a release after the press conference. “I got into public service to make a difference and then step aside, returning to my private sector career. Perhaps one day the Lord will lead me back into public service, but for now I’m certain he is calling me to fulfill my commitment to the voters by serving out this term and move along to focus more squarely on my military service and private career to support my family.”

Taylor was elected to his first term in the Senate in 2010 and has been known for the last several years as one of the most staunchly anti-gambling members of the state legislature. He also penned Alabama’s new ethics laws.

Last sessions, Taylor championed a campaign finance reform bill that made the campaign finance system more transparent, accountable and enforceable.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Taylor was a policy adviser for Gov. Bob Riley.

Suzelle Josey of Deatsville, a former spokesperson for Chief Justice Roy Moore, had already announced plans to challenge Taylor in the 2014 Republican primary. Millbrook’s Harris Garner has also expressed interest in the seat. Garner is the owner of Garner Electric Company, one of the area’s largest employers. He’s also a two-time president of the local chamber of commerce.

With Taylor no longer running, Josey and Garner will likely be joined by other contenders.

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