Lydia Haynes, a registered physical therapist and farmer’s wife from Fairview in Cullman County, qualified with the Alabama Republican Party on Tuesday as a District 11 candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives.

Her candidacy is subject to a special election, which will be conducted on Feb. 12 to fill the position vacated by Jeremy Oden (R-Eva). Oden was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley last week to serve as an associate commissioner on the Alabama Public Service Commis-sion.

Haynes, a newcomer to politics, is a self-employed, registered physical therapist with 35 years of experience. In addition, she and her husband Darrel and their two adult sons own and operate a cattle and row crop farm in Fairview.

“The reason I’m running is that we need more individuals in our state government that will not be afraid to stand up for what is right,” said Haynes. “We need public officials who will not be preoccupied with being reelected. I feel that the state must be on a heightened awareness of what pressure our state may face now that President Obama has been reelected. We as Alabamians must dare to

defend our rights: The sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman

and protection and provision for our elderly who are truly in need. We must also revere our veterans and help them anyway we can and continue to fairly and justly address illegal immigration.

“The main thing I would like people to know about me is this: I am one of you. I am a pro-life Christian and I stand for Christian family values. I am against gambling because it takes advantage of the poor. I am a wife and farming partner, mother and grandmother and co-owner of a small business, Integrity Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. I served for eight years on the State Health Coordinating Council and two years on the first Blue Cross–Blue Shield Alabama State Physical Therapy Advisory Committee.

“My focus will be creating jobs in this house district while at the same time protecting these same citizens. I look forward to working with all municipalities in District 11 to help them achieve their goals and visions, as well as legislators from adjacent areas of Blount, Morgan and Marshall counties. My focus, however, will always be working for the constituents of this district.”