Rainbow City-Republican and State Rep. Mack Butler qualified Monday with the state GOP to run in the Republican Primary for Senate District 10.
“Our community has been blessed for the past seven years to have conservative leadership in the Alabama Senate,” said Butler. “Because I’ve been encouraged by so many people and there’s so much work to do in Montgomery, I have decided to enter this race to give the people of Etowah, Cherokee and DeKalb counties the small government, pro-liberty representation in Montgomery that they want.”
Butler’s campaign is off to a quick start with endorsements, including one from Rainbow City-Republican State Sen. Phil Williams who has decided not to seek re-election and whom Butler is hoping to succeed. He’s also been endorsed by Senate Pro-Tem Del Marsh, Alabama Citizens for Life, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industry John McMillan, Alabama Forestry Association, Home Builders Association of Alabama, SubAla (Subcontractors Association of Alabama),
“Mack Butler is a man of high character and a leader who puts people first. He will be a listener and one who gets things done in Montgomery,” Williams said, endorsing Butler.
Butler said he was encouraged by Williams’ endorsement.
“Phil Williams is my friend, my ally, and a conservative beacon in this state,” Butler said. “I am honored that he was one of the first to encourage me to take this next step.”
One of the many reasons Butler has amassed so many endorsements is the fact he has such a long resume of service to the state.
Prior to serving in the Alabama House of Representatives, Butler served on the Etowah County Board of Education. He believes his history as a school board member fits into his goals as a state Senator.
“We need to do what we can to make the most impact in our classrooms,” he said. “I’m interested in hearing from those on the front lines – in the classroom. There are amazing things happening in classrooms all over this district. But I can say this. We spend too much time and money on buildings and people far away from the classroom. We need to get back to what works best: equipping our teachers, not bureaucrats.”
He is widely recognized as one of the House of Representatives’ most conservative members having sponsored the Memorial Preservation Act, which became law this past session and protects our historical structures from removal. He also sponsored the recently enacted assisted suicide ban and carried pro-Second Amendment legislation to reaffirm citizens’ right to bear arms.
“I believe in the Constitution and I believe in the rights that we’ve been given by our Creator,” stated Butler. “I will continue to fight every day for the people to preserve those rights. We all want to hand over a better state and a better nation to our children than the one our parents’ handed over to us. For too long, government has been the problem. We need to return liberty to the people.“
A reserve deputy with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department since 2006, and APOSTC Certified, Butler also has a long history of supporting law enforcement. “One of the main duties of government is to keep our streets safe,” he said. “I am committed to working hand in hand with those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us.”
Mack has also been a small business owner for over 33 years. He owns an electrical contracting business in Etowah County, giving him unique insight on the difficulties of owning a small business and how burdensome government regulation and high taxes have hurt Alabama’s economy and small businesses. During his time in the Alabama House, Mack has consistently been on the front lines for lower taxes and less regulation on Alabama’s small businesses.
Butler is married to the former Connie Panell, also a native of Gadsden, Ala. They have four children and attend Whorton Bend Baptist Church.
