Carolyn Wallace, a nearly 24-year member of the Morgan County Board of Education, has announced that she is running for the office of Morgan County License Commissioner.

Carolyn Wallace

Wallace said she made the decision to run for this office after speaking with current License Commissioner Sue Baker Roan.

“I called Ms. Roan personally and discussed it with her. She told me that she was planning not to run again,” Wallace said. “It was a hard decision for me to make, one that I made with a lot of prayer. After talking with her and praying about it, I feel like this is the right time to seek a new opportunity.”

She is planning to qualify for the Republican primary next year.

Wallace is completing her fourth, six-year term on the Morgan County School Board. She was first appointed to the board in 1991, replacing an elected board member who resigned less than a year into his term.

It was then that she met Roan and have since maintained a good working relationship ever since.

“In the past, Ms. Roan has told me that I would be a good fit for the job once I was a little older and had more experience,” Wallace said.

One of the reasons why Wallace wants to run for license commissioner is due to her commitment to service.

“I feel led to be a public servant,” Wallace said. “I believe that I will bring the energy, dedication, good customer service and service training that is needed for dealing with the public in this position. I also have plenty of budget experience, including my experience of working with the school system’s $75 million budget.

“I also have the experience working with other county departments such as the county commission, license commissioner, revenue commissioner, sheriff’s department – just about any county department.”

After her appointment in 1991, she was elected in 1996, 2002 and 2008.

In addition to her service on the MCBOE, Wallace has been the director of Hartselle Beautification Association since 2004, along with working part time at McCauley and Associates. She has also done part time work with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood.

Wallace’s community service activities includes Hartselle Rotary Club, hospital board of trustees member, NARCOG advisory committee, Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce director and a former HACC vice president. She is a member of Neel United Methodist Church.

She has also been an active participant in the Alabama Association of School Boards, serving as a delegate and on numerous boards. She was also named to the Master Honor Roll, the highest certification awarded by AASB, and has maintained it for 15 years through continuing educational classes.

“I believe my public service for nearly 24 years, leadership training in AASB, having experience with public government entities and budgeting has prepared me for this position,” Wallace said.

One other issue is that she would also like to have a job that has benefits such as retirement plan.

“There are no benefits or retirement for school board members,” Wallace said. “It is a state office that has a state retirement.”

If elected, Wallace said she will make sure that she knows everything about her new office.

“I would like to learn every job and every function of the office and what each position requires,” Wallace said. “Only then will I be qualified to assess any needed changes within the office. I want to look at our technology and use any new technological advances that will help make the job easier for workers.”

Wallace is a native of Morgan County, born at the former Hartselle Hospital and a graduate of Danville High School. She also attended Calhoun Community College and Cleveland State in Cleveland, Tenn.

She is married to her husband of 37 years, Joel. They have three children, Heath Wallace, Brooke Reed and husband Josh and Jessica Hart and husband Stephen.

They have seven grandchildren, Tori, Madison, Aubrey, Colby, Trenton, Dalton and Ashlyn.

Wallace said she wants to continue serving the people of Morgan County.

“I am willing to do public service,” Wallace said. “I’m no stranger to hard work.”

Wallace will have a campaign kickoff event Nov. 18 from 4-7 p.m. at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center. No donations are required to attend and it is open to the public.