Originally published on 1819news.com.
By Craig Monger
Vestavia Hills resident and Alabama businessman Gerrick Wilkins will formally announce his candidacy for Alabama’s sixth congressional district on Thursday.
Wilkins will challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) in the 2024 election cycle.
Boasting a 24-year tenure as a business leader in the private sector in the automotive industry, Wilkins believes his experience managing large-scale dealerships and helping other community-based dealers grow has given him insight into the effect “overregulation and excessive tax policies” have on small businesses.
In a trend for challenging candidates in the upcoming election, Wilkins is self-imposing a term limit on himself should he win.
“After witnessing the failed policies of career politicians, the overreach of government regulations, the increased tax burden on small businesses, and the attacks on the family by the left, Gerrick Wilkins decided to take up the banner and run for Congress to represent Alabama as a servant leader,” a release form Wilkins’ campaign read. “Gerrick is committed to serving a maximum of three terms in office to help restore our founding father’s vision of a citizen legislature.”
Describing himself as a “principled man of faith” and “a Christian who loves the Lord,” Wilkins says his faith compelled him to pursue Congress as a matter of civil service. He also sits on the advisory board of Mission Increase and Samford University’s Brock School of Business.
Wilkins holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Liberty University and a master’s in business administration from Samford University.
“Gerrick will work hard to combat the leftist, woke agenda attacking our religious freedoms and trying to break down our family,” The release continued. “Because of his success in the business world, Gerrick and his wife, Carol, are privileged to give hundreds of thousands [of] dollars to churches, various charities, mission organizations, and educational programs through private donations.”
