Jeff Boyd announces run for state senate

STAFF REPORT
Posted 6/27/17

Stormy weather didn’t put a damper on the kickoff for Orange Beach Councilman Jeff Boyd’s campaign for the District 32 Alabama Senate Seat on Sunday, as hundreds of supporters showed up to …

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Jeff Boyd announces run for state senate

Posted

Stormy weather didn’t put a damper on the kickoff for Orange Beach Councilman Jeff Boyd’s campaign for the District 32 Alabama Senate Seat on Sunday, as hundreds of supporters showed up to support his candidacy.

Orange Beach Councilwoman Annette Mitchell introduced Boyd at the event, saying he would be a definite asset for the area.

“I know Jeff as a loving husband and father, a faith-filled and fun loving loyal friend, a passionate, dedicated knowledgable city council member,” Mitchell said. “As our state senator, Jeff will bring his considerable talents, his work ethic and his passion for coastal Alabama all the way to Montgomery.”

During his speech, Boyd mentioned the recent battle with the federal government over the recreational red snapper season as an example of his resolve and his use of relationships to try to affect change for local residents.

“I’ve learned in my life to build relationships, and I’ve spent the last years traveling to Montgomery and to Washington,” Boyd said. “My love and my passion is building those relationships.”

Boyd said he was shocked by the federal decision to shorten the recreational season to only three days this year, and felt he had to do something about it. He said he woke up at 3:30 a.m. one morning and wrote a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, a letter that eventually became a resolution approved unanimously by the Orange Beach City Council.

Boyd's maneuver bypassed NOAA and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and led directly to President Trump's US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, setting the stage for many to join in and win the battle with a great team effort.

With support of Congressman Bradley Byrne and Senators Luther Strange and Richard Shelby, along with letters from Governor Kay Ivey and great leadership by Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship, as well as many others, Alabama stepped up to the plate with a great win for recreational fishermen.

“Every one of those letters was based off of what happened and started right here in Orange Beach,” Boyd said. “As a result, we got 39 extra fishing days for federal red snapper season.”

Boyd also touted his support for a new I-10 bridge and increasing the depth of the state port in Mobile as ways to help further bolster Baldwin County’s economy.

Now in his second term as an Orange Beach City Councilman, Jeff Boyd won his first seat on the Council with a challenge against a longtime incumbent and won with over 70 percent of the vote. He won a second term with no opposition.

In 2016, Jeff Boyd led the fight to clean up the beaches, joining forces with condo owners, realtors, law enforcement and the Alabama Gulf State Park.

The "Leave Only Footprints” campaign has been a huge success, protecting the great asset of Baldwin County's beautiful beaches and precious sea life. Boyd has led the way with many other great improvements including the new seawall and fishing park at the Pass in Orange Beach.

Boyd has been married to his wife Kay for 23 years and has three children - Camden, Cade and Carson.

Boyd works with STERIS Corporation in their Healthcare Group as a Specialist in Infection PreventionTechnologies. He has won several awards with his work at STERIS, including Sales Professional of the Year, numerous Region of the Year awards and ”Setting the Standard" awards.

He was chosen from over 8,000 employees to be the Chairman of the prestigious Field Advisory Committee. Boyd is also chairman of the Orange Beach Healthcare Authority.

Jeff Boyd serves as an advisor to Frontline Ministries, serves on the Founder’s Circle of “Youth Reach” Gulf Coast and he and his family attend Flora- Bama Church and cherish the role model of their long time Sunday School teacher Dr. Will Baker.