Liberty Park Resident Aims to Challenge Gary Palmer: A Vestavia Hills resident, Gerrick Wilkins, a veteran of the automotive industry with over 24 years of experience, declared his candidacy on Oct. 5 to challenge Gary Palmer in the Republican primary for Alabama Congressional District 6 in March 2024.
The recently approved Congressional District 6, spanning from Jefferson County to Autauga County, encompasses Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Trussville, Clay, Shelby County, most of north Jefferson County, and parts of Hoover and Homewood.
Wilkins, motivated by Palmer’s decision to seek a sixth term despite a pledge not to serve more than 10 years, emphasizes his belief in term limits and opposes career politicians. He criticizes Palmer for what he perceives as a lack of action and poor decisions that don’t align with Alabama values.
Specifically, Wilkins points to Palmer’s failure to support the Parents Bill of Rights, a legislation allowing parents greater control over their child’s education. Wilkins also questions Palmer’s priorities, highlighting his reluctance to vote on the bill and advocating for significant spending in Ukraine while neglecting issues at the southern border.
Wilkins underscores pressing moral issues, advocating for safeguarding the unborn, countering child exploitation, and combating human trafficking. He pledges to fight for fiscal responsibility, supporting a balanced budget amendment, and advocating for substantial cuts to the federal bureaucracy.
In terms of education, Wilkins proposes legislation to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, redirecting tax dollars to state and local governments.
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Hailing from New Mexico, Wilkins, a Pensacola Christian College graduate, holds an MBA from Samford University. With a background in the automotive industry, including brokering dealership sales valued at over $500 million, Wilkins believes his business experience prepares him for Congress.
While Wilkins hasn’t run for public office before, he supports the idea of an outsider like himself in office. Regarding the 2024 presidential election, he expresses a preference for Republican candidates, especially former President Trump, citing his business leadership and outsider status as qualities needed to address corruption and political challenges.
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