Hartselle man announces congress candidacy
By John Few
For the Enquirer
A Hartselle native has thrown his hat in the ring to run for Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District seat.
Running as a Republican, John Roberts announced his candidacy Aug. 3.
According to a press release issued by his campaign, Roberts has helped recruit more than $3 billion of investment and grow more than 4,000 jobs in the Huntsville area as business retention and expansion director for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
“I built my career in Huntsville as a job creator. I worked to bring opportunity directly to the district,” Roberts said. “The 5th District is pro-business and supports jobs that keep our country safe. I plan on keeping it that way.”
Robert said as an economic developer, he has “seen firsthand how bad policies out of Washington hurt our economy. As your congressman, I will fight to strengthen our border and end illegal immigration so we can establish good paying jobs right here in the district.
“I’ll cut burdensome regulations that restrict us from growing,” he added. “From small business to rockets, manufacturing to farming, we have the chance to bring new opportunities home, but we need the right people.”
Roberts joins a Republican primary field that, as of Aug. 3, had four other candidates: Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, Huntsville City Schools teacher Andy Blalock, former Huntsville City Schools superintendent Casey Wardynski and Harrison Wright.
Current Congressman Mo Brooks has said he is not running for re-election but instead is running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Richard Shelby.
Roberts is a lifelong resident of north Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama. He grew up in Hartselle, graduating from Hartselle High School in 2010, and lives with his wife, Madison, in Huntsville. They are members of Asbury Methodist in Madison.
According to the press release, Roberts co-founded the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy, a free education workforce program offered to individuals to equip them with the skills to begin a successful career in the homebuilding industry.
In addition, Roberts serves on the executive team for Free 2 Teach, which provides free resources to teachers in Madison County’s three public school systems; the North Alabama American Red Cross Board; and the Huntsville Housing Authority Advisory Committee, and he remains involved with the University of Alabama’s Blackburn Institute and the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy.
“In Congress, I’ll put Alabama’s values first: the right to life, the defense of the second amendment and the right to practice your religion or operate your business without government interference,” Roberts added. “I will help the Republicans take back the House and fire Nancy Pelosi. I will go to Washington to fight day in and day out to stop the Left’s radical and dangerous agenda.”
A formal campaign kick-off event will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Burleson Fine Arts Center in Hartselle, located at 307 College St. NE.
