Phil Williams (Alabama state representative) explained

Phil Williams (Alabama state representative) should not be confused with Phil Williams (Alabama senator).

Phil Williams
State House:Alabama
District:6th
Term Start:2009
Term End:November 7, 2018
Predecessor:Sue Schmitz
Successor:Andy Whitt
Birth Place:Grassy, Alabama, U.S.
Profession:Businessman
Spouse:Lisa Williams
Children:1
Education:University of Alabama in Huntsville
Party:Republican

Phil Williams is an American politician and businessman from the state of Alabama. He served as a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing the 6th District, serving from 2009 to 2018.

Early life and education

Williams was born in Grassy, an unincorporated place in Marshall County, Alabama, where his family owned an 800square feet farmhouse. His father was a civil servant and his mother stayed at home, raising five children, of which Phil was the fourth. He graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a degree in international business.[1]

Career

In 1983, Williams was selected to work as a contract negotiator on the Strategic Defense Initiative under President Ronald Reagan after submitting a job application for the program. Williams later co-founded 3D Research Corporation in 1997 alongside his wife, Lisa Williams.[2] He also co-founded Synapse Wireless and Soldier 1 Corporation in 2006 and 2008 respectively, the latter of which also had the involvement of his wife Lisa. Williams sold two of his companies for a sizeable profit, and he and his wife became "multi-millionaires", according to the Alabama Political Reporter. Williams then entered real estate investment.[3]

Williams first ran for the Alabama House of Representatives in a 2009 special election for the sixth district, after incumbent Sue Schmitz was found guilty on corruption charges. He was re-elected in 2010 and 2014 without major party opposition.[4]

A self-described fiscal conservative,[5] Williams opposed a tax on the dispensing of prescriptions when it was first passed in 2015; it was later repealed in August 2016.[6] He also pushed for increased funding towards education, especially pre-kindergarten, and helped pass the Alabama Ahead Act to fund hands-on technology in classrooms.

In 2015, in the wake of Mike Hubbard's indictment on charges of corruption, Williams unsuccessfully ran for Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.[7] [8] In 2016, Williams was one of 23 state legislators to sign articles of impeachment against Governor Robert J. Bentley, who later resigned.[9] [10] Williams served in the Alabama State Legislature at the same time as Senator Phil Williams, both Republicans who coincidentally shared the same name.[11] The two disagreed on HB-317, a bill exempting "economic development professionals" from requiring registration as lobbyists; Representative Williams opposed it in the Alabama House of Representatives, while Senator Williams sponsored the bill in the Alabama Senate.[12]

Williams announced in August 2017 that he would seek the Republican nomination for the Alabama Senate's second district in the 2018 election, after being encouraged to run by incumbent state Senator Bill Holtzclaw.[13] However, Williams ultimately decided not to run by January 2018 and retired from public service, as he did not run for re-election to his House seat, either.[14] [15] Williams was succeeded by Andy Whitt.[16]

Personal life

Williams resides in Huntsville, Alabama, and is married to businesswoman Lisa Williams, who was named a "2020 Women of Impact" by the conservative website Yellowhammer News. The couple have one son.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who is Rep. Phil Williams?. Britt. Bill. Alabama Political Reporter. October 6, 2015. January 19, 2022.
  2. Web site: Lisa Williams is a 2020 Woman of Impact. Ross. Sean. Yellowhammer News. September 9, 2020. January 19, 2022.
  3. Web site: Speaker candidate Phil Williams says Alabama ethics 'a real mess'. Cason. Mike. AL.com. June 27, 2016. January 19, 2022.
  4. Web site: Phil Williams Announces Candidacy for State Senate. Yellowhammer News. August 23, 2017. August 27, 2017.
  5. Web site: Williams to run for Holtzclaw's Senate seat. Parker. Gregg. The Madison Record. September 1, 2017. January 19, 2022.,
  6. Web site: House Votes to Repeal Prescription Drug Tax. Moseley. Brandon. Alabama Political Reporter. August 18, 2016. January 19, 2022.
  7. Web site: Phil Williams is bidding to replace embattled Mike Hubbard as Alabama House Speaker. Lawson. Brian. WHNT. January 11, 2016. August 27, 2017.
  8. Web site: Rep. Phil Williams says he will challenge Speaker Mike Hubbard for top job. AL.com . October 1, 2015. August 27, 2017.
  9. Web site: 23 Alabama legislators sign Robert Bentley articles of impeachment. BeShears. Elizabeth. Alabama Today. April 29, 2016. January 19, 2022.
  10. Web site: After standing against Hubbard and Bentley, Huntsville's Phil Williams eyes state Senate. Gattis. Paul. AL.com. August 23, 2017. January 19, 2022.
  11. Web site: Alabama Governor Robert Bentley scandal: Who are the legislators seeking impeachment?. Gattis. Paul. AL.com. April 6, 2016. January 26, 2022.
  12. Web site: You don't have to break the law when you make the law. Whitmire. Kyle. AL.com. March 29, 2018. January 26, 2022.
  13. Web site: State rep to seek Senate seat representing Limestone, Madison | Limestone County. Sell. Mary. decaturdaily.com. August 24, 2017. August 27, 2017.
  14. Web site: Holtzclaw suspends congressional run, won't return to Senate. The News Courier. January 27, 2018. January 19, 2022.
  15. Web site: The top political races to watch in north Alabama. Gattis. Paul. AL.com. February 15, 2018. January 19, 2022.
  16. Web site: New Member Profile: Rep. Andy Whitt. Beck. Caroline. Alabama Daily News. January 29, 2019. January 19, 2022.