Laura Hall (politician)

Representative Laura Hall (born January 25, 1943) is an elected official in the Alabama Legislature^[1] representing House District 19 as a Democrat.

Profile

Laura Hall was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives by special election in August 1993. She was re-elected in 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2006. State Representative Hall is a retired educator whose tenure in the education field extended for over forty (40) years.

Early life

Representative Hall is a native of Pendleton, South Carolina. She received her elementary and secondary education in Pendleton Public Schools System. After graduating from Anderson County Training High School in 1960, she enrolled in Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina and earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with Chemistry as a minor. Further studies earned her the Master of Science degree in Science Education from Ohio State University and the K-12 Administration Certification from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Legislative career

During her years of serving in the State of Alabama Legislature, she is the first African American woman elected to represent House District 19, capturing eighty-six (86) percent of the votes. Results from the 1994 election indicated that she captured eighty-eight (88) percent of the votes. During the 1998 election she ran unopposed. The 2002 election was victorious and she began serving a fifth term. Representative Hall is the Vice-Chair of the Madison County Legislative Delegation and Ranking Minority Member of both the General Fund Finance and Appropriations and Internal Affairs committees.

Her significant legislation includes:

• HB 427 which created a system of “Silver Alerts” for which all missing persons with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are eligible, regardless of age, as well as requiring law enforcement personnel to undergo specialized training regarding such cases.
• HB 474 which designated December 1st as Rosa Parks Day in honor of the “First Lady of Civil Rights.”
• HB 115 which created a policy by which newborns can be brought to hospitals within 72 hours of birth instead of being abandoned.

Affiliations

For many years, she has served and continues to serve as a community volunteer for many organizations. In 2001, she served as Chairwoman of the Governor’s Commission on AIDS. Other community and civic involvements include Member, National Education Association, Alabama Education Association, Calhoun Community College Education Association, State Democratic Executive Committee, Madison County Democratic Executive Committee, Alabama Democratic Conference, Alabama New South Coalition, Huntsville Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Social Action Commission, Greater Huntsville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Governor’s Commission on AIDS, for Adults and Youth, Chair, Black AIDS Institute Board of Directors, Community Faith Gathering Committee, Chair, and she is also a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Personal life

Hall is married to the late Dr. John W. Hall. She has two children.

2009 Special Election

Republican Paul Sanford defeated Representative Hall in the special election to fill the District 7 State Senate Seat vacated earlier this year when the incumbent Parker Griffith was elected to the United States House of Representative representing Alabama’s 5th Congressional District. Democrat Laura Hall continues to represent District 19 after re-elections in 2010 and 2014.

2018 General Election

Incumbent Laura Hall defeated Samuel Greene in the Alabama House of Representatives District 19 Democratic primary election with 86.04% of the vote.

References

External links

• Official website