Cooperative Connection

Lieutenant governor candidate Wes Allen sees electric co-ops aspart of community foundations

Wes Allen feels connected to electric cooperatives.

Not only does he value the principles behind cooperatives, but he’s also a member of South Alabama Electric Cooperative.

“I know that South Alabama Electric is always looking to improve people’s lives and make our area more prosperous,”Allen says. “They’re looking for ways for economic growth. They’re looking for ways to serve the public and looking for ways to make sure that we have electricity and power that we can depend on.”

Allen is among the Republican candidates seeking his party’s endorsement in the May 19 primary to run for lieu-tenant governor. Alabama’s lieutenant governor — who is limited to two, four year terms — serves as the presiding officer for the state Senate as well as the success or to the governor. Governor and lieutenant governer candidates do not run on a single ticket. Rather, they are elected separately.

Allen became Alabama’s 54th secretary of state in January 2023, overseeing the state’s elections. He also served District 89 in the Alabama House of Representatives and as Pike County’s probate judge.

“The lieutenant governor’s role is very important, and it’s an important leadership position in our state,” Allen says. “We’ve got to continue with strong conservative leadership in that role, and there’s nobody better prepared with a more conservative record of accomplishments than me. My days in public service as a probate judge, as a state legislator and now serving as secretary of state have prepared me, through all of that experience, to use that experience in a very positive way and to use the relationships that I’ve been able to garner and to build through the state of Alabama to be a positive influence in the direction of our great state.

”Born and raised in Tuscaloosa County, Allen earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and played football for the Crimson Tide.While attending the University of Alabama, he met his wife, Cae, who was captain for the Million Dollar Band’s Crimsonette line. Allen received his master’s degree from Troy University. He and Cae have two children, Davis, a graduate of Troy University, and Dee, a student at theUniversity of Alabama.

Allen and his family are members ofFirst Baptist Church of Troy, where he is an ordained deacon and Sunday School leader.Allen says his faith is important him.

“We’re actively involved in our church, and we love our local fellowship there, so that’s an important part of my life,” he says. Earlier this year, Allen was endorsed for lieutenant governor by the Electric Cooperatives of Alabama Political ActionCommittee (PAC), the political arm of the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. The PAC supports candidates who champion rural communities as well as sound energy policy and the mission of Alabama’s electric cooperatives.

Allen says he was honored to receive the endorsement. Electric cooperatives around the state, he says, are part of the foundations of the communities they serve, working to not only deliver electricity but improve communities in other ways, such as economic development projects.

“They’re plugged in in so many different ways,” Allen says. “All the members and the people that run these cooperatives are people we see at church, they’re people we see at Rotary and other civic groups.They’re individuals that are highly invested in their local community, and they’re one reason that our communities through out the state of Alabama are strong.”

Allen says he’s blessed to be in the position he is in to serve in state office and wants to continue serving Alabama to ensure the state is the best it can be for future generations.

“I want to be a part of the leadership team that continues to push Alabama forward,” he says. “Alabama is a great state.It is my home state where I was born and reared, and I want it to be the best it can possibly be for my kids and my grandchildren. We want to make sure Alabama is still a special place to raise a family.

”Allen says his legislative experience will give him good insight to preside over the Alabama Senate as lieutenant governor and help the legislative process move smoothly and efficiently. His focus on cutting red tape and wasteful spending as secretary of state, he says, will carry over well if he’s elected lieutenant governor.

No matter where he travels on his campaign, Allen says he meets people who are proud of their state, communities, churches and families, and he wants to help give them reasons to continue to be proud of Alabama.

“I want to make sure that I represent them in a way that will never embarrass them, and that we will just work hard each and every day to keep Alabama a great place to call home.” Allen says