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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Dale Strong
| name = Dale Strong
|image = Dale_Strong_official_House_portrait.jpg
| image = Dale_Strong_official_House_portrait.jpg
|state = [[Alabama]]
| state = [[Alabama]]
|district = {{ushr|AL|5|5th}}
| district = {{ushr|AL|5|5th}}
|term_start = January 3, 2023
| term_start = January 3, 2023
|term_end =
| term_end =
|succeeding = [[Mo Brooks]]
| succeeding =
|successor =
| successor = [[Mo Brooks]]
|office2 = Chairman of the [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]] Commission
| office2 = Chairman of the [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]] Commission
|term_start2 = November 14, 2012
| term_start2 = November 14, 2012
|term_end2 = January 2, 2023
| term_end2 = January 2, 2023
|predecessor2 = Mike Gillespie
| predecessor2 = Mike Gillespie
|successor2 = ''Vacant''
| successor2 = ''Vacant''
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|5|8}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|5|8}}
|birth_place = [[Monrovia, Alabama]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Monrovia, Alabama]], U.S.
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse = Laura Toney
| spouse = Laura Toney
|children = 2
| children = 2
|education = [[Athens State University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| education = [[Athens State University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
}}
}}
'''Dale Whitney Strong''' (born May 8, 1970)<ref>{{cite web|title=Alabama New Members 2023|url=https://thehill.com/new_members_2023/3735532-alabama-new-members-2023/|website=The Hill|date=November 17, 2022|access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> is an American politician who is the Representative-elect for [[Alabama's 5th congressional district]], having won the [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama|2022 election]] as the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee. He previously served as chairman of the [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]] Commission from 2012 to 2023.<ref name="YHNwin">{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/dale-strong-defeats-casey-wardynski-secures-al-5-gop-nod-in-dominant-victory/|title=Dale Strong defeats Casey Wardynski, secures AL-5 GOP nod in dominant victory|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=June 21, 2022|accessdate=June 21, 2022}}</ref>
'''Dale Whitney Strong''' (born May 8, 1970)<ref>{{cite web|title=Alabama New Members 2023|url=https://thehill.com/new_members_2023/3735532-alabama-new-members-2023/|website=The Hill|date=November 17, 2022|access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> is an American politician who is the Representative-elect for [[Alabama's 5th congressional district]], having won the [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama|2022 election]] as the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee. He previously served as chairman of the [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]] Commission from 2012 to 2023.<ref name="YHNwin">{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/dale-strong-defeats-casey-wardynski-secures-al-5-gop-nod-in-dominant-victory/|title=Dale Strong defeats Casey Wardynski, secures AL-5 GOP nod in dominant victory|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=June 21, 2022|accessdate=June 21, 2022}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:01, 3 January 2023

Dale Strong
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Succeeded byMo Brooks
Chairman of the Madison County Commission
In office
November 14, 2012 – January 2, 2023
Preceded byMike Gillespie
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born (1970-05-08) May 8, 1970 (age 54)
Monrovia, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLaura Toney
Children2
EducationAthens State University (BS)

Dale Whitney Strong (born May 8, 1970)[1] is an American politician who is the Representative-elect for Alabama's 5th congressional district, having won the 2022 election as the Republican nominee. He previously served as chairman of the Madison County Commission from 2012 to 2023.[2]

Education and early career

Born in Monrovia, Alabama, Strong graduated from Sparkman High School in 1988. He is the son of Horace N. Strong, a founding member of the Monrovia Fire-Rescue Department who died in August 2015, and Judy Vaughn Strong.[3][4] He started service as a volunteer firefighter at the age of 13.[5] Strong earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Athens State University and an emergency medical technician license from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.[6][7] Prior to entering politics, Strong worked in public relations for First Alabama Bank and as a sales representative for Solvay S.A. He also served as a 911 dispatcher for HEMSI and Huntsville Med-Flight.[7] In 1989, he was awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for his service in responding to a tornado on Airport Road in Huntsville.[6][8]

Madison County Commission (1996–2023)

Strong was first elected to the county commission for Madison County in 1996; Strong was the youngest elected Republican official in Alabama at the time.[9] Strong represented the county's fourth district, including parts of Harvest and his hometown of Monrovia. While on this seat, Strong also served as a volunteer firefighter. In 2011, Strong worked on developing an early warning system for tornados and helped coordinate the county's response to the 2011 Super Outbreak of tornados, including charity food efforts.[10]

In August 2011, Strong criticized Madison County Commission chairman Mike Gillespie for signing a declaration that stated debris removal from the tornado outbreak had been completed; Strong argued that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had not yet removed all debris in the county and presented photographs of uncleaned debris to the commission.[11] A month later, Strong announced that he would challenge Gillespie, a member of the Democratic Party, for the county commission's chairmanship, by seeking the Republican nomination for the position.[10] In October 2011, Gillespie announced he would not seek re-election.[12] Strong defeated Wayne Parker, a former congressional candidate, in the Republican primary for the chairmanship,[13] leaving Strong unopposed in the general election with no Democratic candidate as a result of Gillespie's retirement.[14] In November 2012, Strong became the first Republican to be elected to the chairmanship of the Madison County Commission.[6]

During his tenure as chairman, Strong focused on improving financial development in the area.[9] In 2018, Yellowhammer News described Strong as one of the three most influential people in North Alabama, citing his work in "streamlining government" and infrastructure projects in the area.[15] As chairman, Strong was also involved in the recruitment of federal agencies to work at Redstone Arsenal in Madison County, including NASA and the FBI.[16] In 2013, Strong stated that he would prioritize road improvements, school construction and economic development in his role as chairman, saying "if you're not focusing on economic development, your community is not going to thrive".[17]

Strong also increased budgeting for the fire department of Monrovia, as he remained active as a volunteer firefighter during his tenure. In 2019, three fire chiefs in Madison County (including the chiefs of Keel Mountain, Killingsworth Cove and an anonymous third) accused Strong of giving preferential treatment to Monrovia due to his influence on the county commission; Strong responded by saying that any disparity in funding for fire stations in the county was a result of property tax levels, as Monrovia pays more in taxes and thus receives more funding.[18]

In October 2020, Strong approved the relocation of a Confederate monument from the grounds of the Madison County courthouse to a cemetery, a move which was unanimously approved by the county commission. Steve Marshall, the Attorney General of Alabama, filed a lawsuit against the commission, alleging it had violated the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017. The commission eventually paid a $25,000 fine to the state of Alabama. Strong defended the move as being necessary for the monument's structural integrity; the move was later cited in an unsuccessful Republican ballot challenge against Strong during his run for the U.S. House of Representatives.[19]

In a January 2019 "State of the County" luncheon, Strong emphasized the commission's $174 million balanced budget, as well as the county's job growth and improvements in college education.[8] Strong highlighted the growth of Madison County's population and the work of the county sheriff's office in his 2022 address, as well as redevelopment plans for the county courthouse.[20] His last meeting as county commission chairman was on December 21, 2022, following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He resigned on January 2, 2023, and no successor has yet been appointed by the governor's office.[21]

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

2022 election

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama § District 5

In March 2021, Strong announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination to Alabama's 5th congressional district in the 2022 election cycle. The incumbent, Mo Brooks, retired to run for U.S. Senate. Strong was the first candidate to announce his candidacy in the fifth congressional district, which includes Madison County. Strong stated that he wanted to "carry on the fight that Donald Trump started". According to AL.com, his candidacy was expected by North Alabama political experts who long saw Strong as a potential candidate for higher office.[5] His main opponent in the Republican primary was Casey Wardynski, the former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Strong held a significant fundraising lead over Wardynski and four other candidates, passing the $1 million mark with a loan to his campaign in April 2022.[22]

In the May 24 primary, Strong received the most amount of votes but did not reach the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff against the second-place finisher, Wardynski.[23] Strong and Wardynski participated in a televised debate hosted by WHNT-TV prior to the June 21 runoff. Strong discussed his plans to reduce inflation and defended his actions regarding the Confederate monument controversy from 2020. The debate turned bitter as Strong made a comment accusing Wardynski of "getting personal sexual gratification" from a contract with Pinnacle Schools (Wardynski later married Pinnacle School's CEO); Wardynski responded by calling Strong a "scumbag".[24] Strong won the runoff with around 63% of the vote.[25] Strong was endorsed by former President Donald Trump ahead of the November general election;[26] Strong defeated Democratic nominee Kathy Warner-Stanton in a landslide with around 67% of the vote.[27]

Tenure

Before his inauguration, Strong stated that he would focus on border security, as well as building relationships and connections. He also expressed openness to bipartisan solutions to issues such as energy independence.[28] Strong was also an early endorsee of Donald Trump in his campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election, and invited Trump to hold a rally in North Alabama.[29]

Personal life

Strong is married to his wife Laura Toney, whom he met at the Huntsville Hospital while she was employed there as a nurse.[30] The couple have two children.[31]

In October 2016, Strong appeared on an episode of The Price Is Right that had been taped in July. He was called to the contestants' row but never made it onto the main stage.[32]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Dale Strong
Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Ref.
Total % P. Runoff % P. Total % P.
2022 U.S. Representative Republican 45,319 44.7% 1st 48,138 63.4% 1st 142,435 67.1% 1st Won Hold [33]

References

  1. ^ "Alabama New Members 2023". The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Smith, Dylan (June 21, 2022). "Dale Strong defeats Casey Wardynski, secures AL-5 GOP nod in dominant victory". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Vaught, Lindsay (August 22, 2015). "Horace Strong of Monrovia has passed away". The Madison Record. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "R.E. Vaughn Obituary (2009)". The Huntsville Times. AL.com. March 19, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Gattis, Paul (March 28, 2021). "Why Madison Co. Commission Chair Dale Strong wants to replace Mo Brooks in Congress". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Moseley, Brandon (April 21, 2022). "Dale Strong takes Fifth Congressional District fundraising lead". 1819 News. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Anderson-Maples, Joyce (April 23, 2019). "Two North Alabama leaders, Tommy Battle and Dale Strong to speak at UAH spring commencement". University of Alabama in Huntsville. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Hollingsworth, Kendyl (January 23, 2019). "Dale Strong talks regional growth and development at State of the County address". The Madison Record. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Smith, Dylan (November 8, 2022). "Strong elected to Congress for state's Fifth District". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Haskins, Shelly (September 27, 2011). "Republican Dale Strong to run for Madison County Commission chairmanship". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  11. ^ Gattis, Paul (August 26, 2011). "Removal of tornado debris left incomplete by contractor, Madison County District 4 Commissioner Dale Strong says". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Clines, Keith (October 27, 2011). "Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie won't seek re-election". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Clines, Keith (March 14, 2012). "Dale Strong defeats Wayne Parker in Madison County Commission chairman race". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Gillespie Presides Over Last Commission Meeting". WHNT-19. October 19, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "2018 POWER & INFLUENCE: 14 powerful and influential leaders in their regions". Yellowhammer News. October 12, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Garner, Ray (April 5, 2021). "Brainpower: Advanced workforce will play key role in FBI's success in North Alabama". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Part 2: Chairman Strong on Economy & Education, 'Telling Our Story'". WHNT-19. August 8, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Joseph, Chris (November 14, 2019). "48 Investigates: Madison County volunteer fire chiefs call out chairman on funding". WAFF-48. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  19. ^ Smith, Dylan (January 27, 2022). "AL-5 hopeful Dale Strong: Relocating Confederate statue was done to 'preserve and protect it' — Critics are 'misrepresenting the facts'". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  20. ^ King, Matthew (August 2, 2022). "Chairman Dale Strong presents annual state of the county address". WAFF-48. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Turner, Scott (December 22, 2022). "A Strong farewell: Madison Co. chairman presides over final meeting before heading to DC". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  22. ^ Gattis, Paul (May 18, 2022). "Loan lifts Dale Strong past $1 million in north Alabama congressional bid". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  23. ^ Smith, Dylan (May 25, 2022). "Dale Strong sweeps across AL-5, will face Casey Wardynski in GOP runoff election". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  24. ^ Gattis, Paul (June 14, 2022). "Dale Strong, Casey Wardynski trade insults, discuss inflation in Alabama 5th Congressional District debate". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  25. ^ Hester, Zach (June 21, 2022). "Strong wins Republican nomination for Alabama's 5th congressional election". WHNT-TV. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  26. ^ Gattis, Paul (October 27, 2022). "Trump endorses Dale Strong for Congress in north Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  27. ^ Gattis, Paul (November 8, 2022). "Dale Strong elected to Congress from north Alabama, replaces Mo Brooks". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  28. ^ Gattis, Paul (January 2, 2023). "'The first thing is listening': Dale Strong replaces Mo Brooks in Congress". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  29. ^ Smith, Dylan (November 29, 2022). "Strong endorses Trump for 2024, welcomes 'huge rally' in North Alabama". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  30. ^ Moseley, Brandon (February 5, 2019). "Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong rescues man from car wreck". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  31. ^ Haskins, Shelly (September 27, 2011). "Republican Dale Strong to run for Madison County Commission chairmanship". AL.com. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  32. ^ Gattis, Paul (October 5, 2016). "Alabama politician appears on 'The Price Is Right'". AL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  33. ^ Primary election: Primary runoff: General election:
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