by Kirsten J. Barnes
Mobile, Ala. – – Proven leadership, an ability to unite people, and the tenacity to rebuild Alabama’s Democratic Party are some of the reasons Senator Vivian Davis Figures announced her plans on Thursday to seek the chair of the party after much encouragement from a number of Alabamians.
“It’s going to take a team effort to unify the party. My leadership skills, experience in politics and, more importantly, my ability to bring people together around issues with my approach to fairness, are needed to rebuild the party,” said the Mobile Democrat. “The Alabama Democratic Party is the people’s party and it is time to elect leadership to address the values and issues of the people.”
“I am humbled to have received support from other public officials and private citizens interested in the rebuilding of the Alabama Democratic Party,” Figures said. A State Senator since 1997, she is a 26 year veteran public official, former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, former Delegate to the Democratic National Convention ranging back to 1984, served as an At-Large member of the Democratic National Committee for eight years, and has been a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee for decades.
Figures said electing Democrats would certainly advance quality education for all children and affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens. “We need to attract strong Democratic candidates to pull the state’s disenfranchised population back into the Democratic Party. It is imperative that we honor traditional democratic values and increase the involvement of our youth and minorities in every aspect, including leadership positions in the Alabama Democratic Party. The system is broken, and we must unify Democrats to prepare the Party for the future.”
In 2013, she made history when she was elected as Senate Minority Leader. She was the first woman ever elected to a leadership position in the Alabama Legislature. She is now the longest serving woman in the Alabama State Senate.
She is the widow of the late Senator Michael A. Figures who served as President Pro Tem of the Alabama State Senate and was also a leader in State Democratic Party politics.
“It’s going to take a tremendous effort to heal the Democratic Party,” Figures said. “People know my commitment and what I stand for, and I plan to give my all and work together with everyone to achieve our goals.”