A 31-year-old Republican newcomer is filing a challenge for longtime Alabama State Rep. Marcel Black.
Justin Andrew Sorrell is seeking the House District 3 seat held by Black, a Tuscumbia Democrat, since 1990.
Sorrell is a well-known anti-tax activist and entrepreneur who received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of North Alabama in 2006.
“I decided to run for this office to give the voters of House District 3 a clear choice this election cycle: a choice between a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican. I believe my positions on issues and my conservative upbringing reflect the positions and upbringing of the majority of my district,” Sorrell said in a statement to the Alabama Political Reporter Friday.
“With the amount of job loss in Colbert and Lawrence counties, District 3 needs a conservative, a Christian small-business man who knows how to create jobs and fight higher taxes,” he added.
With his brother Mathew, Andrew Sorrell launched Infinity College Textbooks – selling more than 400,000 college textbooks online, employing 27 people.
In April 2015, Sorrell also founded the pawnshop Gold, Guns and Guitars, Inc., sold 3,000 guns since opening. Andrew also began buying rental real estate at age 19 and owns multiple rental properties, both commercial and residential.
Sorrell lives in Muscle Shoals with his fiancée, Hannah and plans to be married June 30.
Black has not yet decided on hit a re-election bid.
“I will make an announcement of future election plans at a time of my choosing,” Black told the Reporter. “I feel my record shows that I am experienced, have been effective and reasonable during my tenure. Of course, the ultimate decider is the electorate and they will have an opportunity at the ballot box to decide if they agree. That is what elections are for.”
HD 3 covers Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Town Creek, Hillsboro, North Courtland and parts of Florence.
Alabama holds primary elections June 5, 2018; the general election is Nov. 5, 2018.
