I have spent my life serving the people of Alabama, from joining the US Marine Corps at 18 years old, to serving the last 27 years in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff, with the last 11 years as Sheriff of Cullman County. The one thing I know for certain is this: the backbone of our state is our people. Hardworking men and women who keep the lights on, the trains running, and the wheels of industry turning.
As I run for the Alabama Public Service Commission, I want to be clear about why I am in this race. I am running to protect good-paying Alabama jobs.
Across our state, linemen brave storms to restore power so families do not go without electricity. Men and women work in power plants, gas companies, rail yards, and coal mines, doing the work that keeps Alabama moving. These are skilled workers who ask for very little, just fairness and the chance to earn an honest living.
But those jobs are under threat.
Leftover energy policies from the Biden regime, pushed by radical environmental groups, do not reflect reality here in Alabama. These policies threaten not just utility workers, but entire communities that depend on those jobs. Coal miners, electricians, truckers, manufacturers, welders, and countless others all feel the impact.
This is not just about shutting down a plant. When Alabama businesses are forced to move to “green mandates” without realistic planning, everyone suffers. After four years of Biden’s policies of heavy-handed government intervention, costly mandates, and favoritism toward the “green” energy sector, President Donald Trump has brought back common sense and is treating our domestic energy resources as the strategic assets they are.
That same common sense guided me as Sheriff of Cullman County. When “liberal” policies tied the hands of law enforcement and made it easier for violent and repeat offenders to return to our streets, I fought back against these liberal national groups like the SPLC and others. Our county was tied up in a federal lawsuit that restricted how bail could be set, allowing repeat offenders to be released quickly. After years of legal battles, the injunction was lifted, and law enforcement once again had the tools needed to protect our communities. Standing up for workers and standing up for public safety go hand in hand. Families cannot thrive when jobs disappear, and they cannot thrive when communities are unsafe.
As Public Service Commissioner, I will fight for the men and women who built Alabama’s energy infrastructure and who maintain it every single day. I will make sure decisions are based on reality, not ideology, and that Alabama families come before bureaucrats in Washington.
The future of Alabama depends on strong infrastructure, strong families, and strong jobs. I have spent my career standing up for citizens and for those who may not have a voice. Let us protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and make sure Alabama is never left behind in the name of so-called progress.
I will be your voice. The Citizens’ Voice.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry
Candidate for Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1
