The race for Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin’s Alabama House District 43 seat is starting to get crowded, with 4 Republicans already having announced their intent to run. McClurkin, who has represented the district for the last 15 years, announced in August that she will not be seeking another term in 2014. She has been one of the most conservative legislators in the Alabama House and has especially led out on pro-life issues.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the four Republicans looking to succeed McClurkin in House District 43.
Cheryl Ciamarra
As the head of Alabama Citizens for Life, Ciamarra is known as one of Alabama’s foremost pro-life advocates. Rep. McClurkin told Yellowhammer in an interview earlier this year that some of her proudest moments in the Alabama House were when pro-life bills she sponsored were passed into law. Ciamarra would look to take up McClurkin’s mantle as the go-to legislator for pro-life bills in the House.
Doug Clark
Doug Clark has run Pelham Eye Care for the past three decades. He’s grown his practice to the point that he has multiple locations and about 30 employees. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, R-Tuscaloosa, appointed him to the Alabama Board of Optometry. He’s also heavily involved in the community through Riverchase Baptist Church and several non-profit boards that he serves on.
Clark was a key player in all of Rep. McClurkin’s past campaigns. Early messages coming out of the campaign have focused on ensuring Alabama’s economic competitiveness and fiscal responsibility.
Arnold Mooney
Mooney is a former Vice President of Colonial Properties Trust and is now with Southeast Commercial. His business experience will be one of his campaign’s biggest assets as he looks to go from a major behind-the-scenes player in local politics to the candidate out in front. He was Rep. McClurkin’s campaign chairman during the past several election cycles.
Mooney’s community involvement is so extensive that it’s impossible to touch on everything. Suffice it to say that he’s has been involved with just about everything from chairing the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame prayer breakfast to serving on the board of countless non-profits and civic groups, from church groups to professional organizations.
Amie Beth Shaver
Shaver became Miss Alabama in 1994 and has since then focused much of her efforts on pro-life issues, including adoption advocacy. She is also the author of Who Moved the Line? America’s Character Crisis, which led to a national speaking tour about abortion, adoption, teen pregnancy, motherhood, and faith and politics. Shaver is adopted, so the issue hits home for her.
The repeal of Common Core is quickly becoming the central issue of her campaign, which will appeal to Tea Partiers and other grassroots conservatives.
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