Q&A: Fayette County Commissioner Seeks GOP Nod For House District 16

Editor's Note: This is the latest installment of our question and answer series with the candidates who have qualified to appear on the ballot for the special election in House District 16, which covers parts of Fayette, Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties. The candidate profiles will be published in alphabetical order by last name.

FAYETTE, AL — Fayette County Commissioner Brad Cox is one of six Republicans who have qualified to appear on the primary election ballot on Sept. 26 to fill the open House District 16 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.

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The youngest candidate to qualify to appear on the primary election ballot, Cox was one of the first two candidates — along with Northport attorney Bryan Brinyark — to formally announce their intentions to run earlier this summer before the qualifying period officially opened.

Cox also led the way for campaign fundraising in July.

ALSO READ | House District 16 Special Election Candidates Report Raising $45K In July

As Patch previously reported, the winner of the special election will fill the seat vacated by former Republican state Rep. Kyle South, of Fayette. If necessary, a primary runoff will be held on Oct. 24.

South stepped down at the end of the last regular legislative session to become the next president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

The winner of the Jan. 9 General Election will serve out the remainder of South's unexpired term, which will be up for election again in November 2026.

Brad Cox

Biographical information

Age: 33

Professional experience: High School Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor at Fayette County High School; Area 2 Director for the Alabama Farmers Federation and currently serves as a Business Development Officer for Alabama One Credit Union.

Education: B.S. and M.A. in Agricultural Education from Auburn University

Q: Why did you decide to run for office?

"This decision was certainly one that was made after a lot of discussion, thought, and prayers on my part. As a sitting County Commissioner, I have seen the impact that solid, conservative leadership has brought to our county and I want to mimic this approach in Montgomery. House District 16 is a special place and I want to preserve our past, while at the same time bring meaningful change through economic development, educational initiatives, and common sense policy. I believe that I have the abilities and professional experience suited to succeed in this role and I have a genuine desire to go to Montgomery and work tirelessly for the citizens in House District 16!"

Q: What, in your view, makes you qualified to serve?

"The role of a legislator is to serve the constituents they represent. I have a strong record of community and civic service throughout the district. I have a proven record of working in the community as an educator and a County Commissioner. I believe that experience matters and that I have the hands-on, practical experience needed to be effective in Montgomery.

Q: What is the biggest individual issue facing House District 16?

"This district is primarily rural and rural issues are certainly at the top of my list of priorities. Most people in this District are like me, they want quality infrastructure, top-notch schools, and they desire someone to represent them with the same conservative values that they have. These are the areas that I plan to focus on when elected. I want to see equal funding for infrastructure projects in rural counties. Rural areas cannot attract business and industry without adequate infrastructure. I plan to focus on fully-funding teachers and school districts, especially in the expansion of career and technical education and workforce development. It is hard to narrow down the list to one single issue, but equal representation and funding for this rural district will absolutely be at the forefront of my decision-making process."

Q: What will be the first thing you will do once in office?

"Once in office I plan to work in collaboration with local, county, and state officials to accomplish my goals for this district. I plan to go to Montgomery and work hard. As a commissioner, I have prided myself in always responding to my constituents and being available. Once elected, I plan to be available and have an “open door” to all the constituents of House District 16. At the end of the day, elected officials work for the people and that’s my outlook going into this. I believe the single most important thing a freshman legislator can do is to create meaningful relationships with their colleagues that will bring funding back to their district."

Q: What is something about House District 16 that you are proud of?

"There are so many things that I am proud of in this District. We have excellent schools of which I had the pleasure of being a part of for several years. House District 16 has an abundance of tight-knit, unique communities and towns. The thing I am the most proud of about District 16 are the people. I have been all over this district and we have some of the hardest working, most resilient people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I am proud to live here and will work tirelessly to represent the hard-working folks in District 16. "

Q: What is the most common concern you’ve heard from constituents on the campaign trail?

"I have spoken with a lot people around the district over the past two months and the most common concern that I have heard is that people are sick and tired of 'business as usual.' Citizens in this district have a desire for someone to represent them that is a true conservative and stands on their principles. People in this district want low taxes, good infrastructure, and at the end of the day, they want their legislator to do their job. When elected, I plan to do just that."

Q: If elected, how will you approach working with the local legislative delegation?

"It is critical to have a close working relationship with all the members of your local delegation. The House member for this district sits on two key local legislative bodies: the Jefferson and Tuscaloosa County Delegations. I plan to be a legislator that collaborates well with his colleagues and fights for the unique needs of House District 16."

Q: How do you plan to work with the municipalities and different governmental bodies in House District 16?

"Your local governmental bodies are crucial to your success. Nobody knows the needs of their communities better than your local mayors, councilmen, and county commissioners. This is something that I have done as a County Commissioner. By utilizing both municipal and county funds, we have been able to accomplish a tremendous amount that would have otherwise not happened. It’s imperative that you not only solicit advice from these individuals, but that you listen when they call. As with any endeavor, collaboration is key. We can accomplish much more by working together than we can on our own."

Previous installments of candidate Q&A series

• Q&A: Democrat Secures Party Nomination For House District 16 Race
• Q&A: Attorney Brinyark Vying For House District 16 GOP Nomination

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