Elect John H Merrill

John H. Merrill Announces Candidacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2009
John Merrill announces intention to run for State House District 62 seat

TUSCALOOSA, AL--- John H. Merrill, a 27-year resident of Tuscaloosa County, formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Alabama State House of Representatives - District 62 seat on Monday, July 13 at the regular meeting of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education.

Merrill has served as the Director of Community Relations and Community Education for the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education since 1994. He is the spokesperson for the school system and coordinates the system’s extended day program, an operation that generated more than $1 million dollars in 2008-09. In 2005, he was selected as the Outstanding School Communicator of the Year for the State of Alabama.

Merrill feels that he is qualified for House District 62 seat not only because of his involvement with the Republican Party, but because of his dedication to the community. He presently serves on the State Republican Executive Committee and is Chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Republican Executive Committee. He has helped to plan and execute fundraisers for Governor Bob Riley and U. S. Senator Jeff Sessions. He has also coordinated visits to Tuscaloosa County by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, and Fox News Anchor Brit Hume. As a student at The University of Alabama, John Merrill was elected to serve as President of the Student Government Association. He is the seventh and last independent (non Greek) to serve in that capacity. He has also served as the Assistant Director of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority and the Director of Business Development for The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

He is extremely involved in organizations in Tuscaloosa County and all around the state. Whether he is serving as a Deacon or Sunday School teacher at Calvary Baptist Church or volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, Red Cross, the United Way, PARA, Alabama Community Education Association, the Alabama School Communicator’s Association, National School Public Relations Association, or as a member of the Children’s Trust Fund Board of Directors, Merrill knows that dedication is the key to success.

He made the decision to seek election for House District 62 seat which represents southern and eastern Tuscaloosa County when State Representative Gerald Allen recently decided to seek higher office. After years of serving the community, Merrill is excited about offering himself as a candidate for election for the State House of Representatives. Merrill will work to improve educational opportunities for all our citizens, improve economic development for new and existing industry, work to improve the state of the economy, work to improve ethics reform and governmental accountability and transparency.

Tuscaloosa County Board of Education policy allows all employees to campaign for public office and to serve if elected. However, Merrill has indicated that if successful in his bid for the State House, he will leave the Board of Education as soon as possible upon gaining meaningful employment.

John has been married to Cindy Merrill, the Principal at Westwood Elementary School, for 24 years. The couple has two children, Brooks, a sophomore at The University of Alabama and Allie Grace, a junior at Hillcrest High School. For more information on John Merrill please contact him at john@electjohnmerrill.com or (205) 887-2787 or at Post Office Box 2117, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403.