Small business owner Matt Woods has announced his intentions to seek election to the Alabama House of Representatives, serving District 13.
The seat for which Woods is seeking is currently occupied by State Rep. Connie Rowe (R-Jasper), who has announced that she will not seek reelection due to her recent appointment to serve as senior advisor to Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth (R-AL).
Woods praised Rowe for her work during her tenure in the state legislature.
“Connie Rowe has done a fantastic job for Jasper and Walker County,” said Woods. “She has been a strong conservative and a great representative for our area.”
In announcing his candidacy, the Jasper businessman touched on his family’s humble beginnings.
“Growing up, my dad was a coal miner,” said Woods. “After being laid off, he started a small business to make ends meet for our family. I saw how starting a business can be a blessing for a family. I’m just grateful that we live in a country where a coal miner has the freedom to take a risk and grow a successful business.”
If given the opportunity to serve, Woods said he would be an advocate for economic growth and job creation.
“At the same time, I remember what it was like to be hit by hard times and the strain that it puts on a family,” he added. “That is why I’m running for the state house. I want to help bring more economic development and well-paying jobs to our area.”
Woods touted his conservative credentials and vows to stand for what he calls “conservative Alabama values.”
“I’m a conservative Republican. I’m strongly pro-life. I fully support the 2nd Amendment and I will make sure that liberals in Washington can’t erode our rights by trying to nationalize our election system or using federal grant dollars to take control of what we teach our students in school. I will protect our conservative Alabama values,” concluded Woods.
Woods and his father Jim are owners of Jasper Auto Sales. He is also a member of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees and actively serves numerous boards and civic groups.
Additionally, he is the past chairman and an executive committee member of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as a member of the grant review team for the Walker Area Community Foundation.
Matt and his wife Brandi have been married 16 years and reside in Jasper with their 11-year-old daughter, Camden. Following the loss of their first child, Brandi started a local non-profit organization named Hope After Loss Organization (HALO). The organization provides memory boxes and grief support to families who have experienced the loss of a child.
Woods has served as the non-profit’s president since its inception and credits the many families that HALO has served with helping his family to cope with their own loss.
House District 13 consists of Walker County and portions of Blount County. The primary election is slated to occur on May 24, 2022.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.