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Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl first to announce candidacy for U.S. House seat to be vacated by Rep. Bradley Byrne

Wednesday on Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl announced his candidacy to seek the Republican nomination for the 2020 election for Alabama’s first congressional district.

Last week, the seat’s current occupant, Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope), announced his candidacy for the GOP’s nod for the 2020 U.S. Senate election for the seat currently occupied by Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook).

Currently, Carl represents Mobile County’s third county commission district, which consists of the southwestern third of the county.

“[T]oday, I want to formally announce my candidacy for the Alabama-1 congressional district, which of course is presently being held by Congressman Byrne,” Carl said to host Sean Sullivan on FM Talk 106.5’s “Midday Mobile.” “Historically, this office has been held by some great, great men. You can go back with Congressman [Jack] Edwards, Congressman [Sonny] Callahan, Congressman [Jo] Bonner, Congressman Byrne — just some great men that we owe a huge amount of thanks to and a huge pair of shoes to fill. I would like the opportunity to do that for District 1.”

Carl touted his ability to work with the surrounding counties on projects and attention to government expenditures as the qualities that made him a viable 2020 congressional hopeful. He also acknowledged the federal government’s spending deficit, which he said required attention.

“It’ll certainly take more than Jerry Carl to fix the deficit in Washington,” he added. “You know the first thing we got to do is get some control of our spending and our spending pattern. But you know, there are three big issues that I want to push and promote going into Washington. One is we’ve got to support President Trump. President Trump has got an agenda. We need to support that agenda. Using football language that we all understand — he’s the quarterback. We’re the linemen. Our job is to block and tackle.”

Carl went on to name infrastructure, which he cited the Interstate 10 Bayway bridge project and the Baldwin County’s Foley Beach Expressway as specific components, and veterans’ health care as his other two “big issues.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University, the editor of Breitbart TV and host of “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN in Huntsville.

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