By Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News
Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman has launched his campaign for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd District with a new video highlighting his roots in the trucking industry and his similarities to President Donald Trump as a “mover and shaker.”
“We’ve seen what happens when you send a strong businessman like President Trump to Washington,” Coleman says in the video, newly released Monday. “The White House has a businessman, now Congress needs one. I’m ready to stand behind President Trump as he fights to secure America’s broken borders and continues bringing high paying jobs back to our country.”
Watch the full video:
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Coleman also offered respectful words for outgoing Congressman Martha Roby, who announced in July she would not seek a sixth term in the House of Representatives.
“Our country, state and district are all in good hands. One of those good hands is leaving – Congressman Martha Roby. If you’ll have me, I’d like to try and take her place,” Coleman says. “I’m no politician, but I think that’s plus.
“I like moving and shaking, kind of like President Trump.”
Coleman is the owner and operator of Coleman Worldwide, a global moving and storage company based in Dothan that is one of the state’s largest businesses. He has kept a significant presence in Alabama’s business and political community, having recently served as chairman of the Business Council of Alabama. Coleman is also well-tied in with the local Fort Rucker military community as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.
After first confirming his “all-in” candidacy to Alabama Daily News on August 1, Coleman has been quietly building a campaign war chest. The latest campaign finance reports showed he has almost $1 million cash on hand – half from funds that he raised and the other half self-contributed. That kind of cash will buy a lot of radio and television ads in AL-2’s relatively inexpensive media markets, to say nothing of direct mail and digital.
The other candidates include former Attorney General Troy King, former Enterprise State Rep. Barry Moore, and Prattville businesswoman Jessica Taylor. Prattville State Rep. Will Dismukes dropped out of the race last week.