By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

Mark Lester and Gary Palmer are both running to represent Alabama’s 6th Congressional District in the United States Congress.

Lester and Palmer are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus who currently fills the seat and is not seeking re-election.

Polls will be open to voters on Nov. 4 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The following is information about each congressional district candidate who is running in the Nov. 4 election:

Mark Lester

Party:

Democratic

 

Mailing address:

PO Box 59426, Homewood, Alabama 35259

 

Phone number:

205-377-5169

 

Email:

campaign@lesterforcongress.com

 

Website:

www.lesterforcongress.com

 

Family:

Wife: Jeanne Jackson

 

Education:

–He attended Rhodes College, received a masters degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.

–Earned a law degree from the University of Virginia.

–Earned a Ph.D. in Modern British Economic History from the University of Oxford

 

Personal message:

Hello, my name is Mark Lester, and I’m running to represent Alabama’s 6th congressional district in the United States Congress. I’m a Democrat and a believer in the power of “smart” government and political pragmatism. I believe it is the duty of our government to represent the people, not lobbyists and special interest groups. Give me your vote and I’ll put Congress back to work for the people of the 6th District.

 

Gary Palmer

Party:

Republican

 

Mailing address:

1919 Oxmoor Road #235 Homewood, AL 35209

 

Phone number:

205-914-3242

 

Email:

Gary@palmerforalabama.com

 

Website:

www.PalmerForAlabama.com

 

Family:

Wife: Anne

Children:

Rob, Kathleen, and Claire

 

Education:

B.S., Operations Management, The University of Alabama.

 

Personal message:

Like many of you, I believe that America is on the wrong track. I believe the American dream is vanishing before our eyes. The over expansive role of government and its resulting debt are threatening much of what we hold dear. We still have time to turn our country around, but the window of opportunity is closing. I decided to run for Congress because there has never been a time in the history of our country where good people with the right ideas are needed more.

We need leaders in Washington who understand our nation’s fundamental values, who understand that more government is not the answer. More government is less freedom – at the doctor’s office, at the gas pump, and in so many other ways. Like you, I want to change the way Washington does business. Send me to Congress, and I’ll spend every day fighting for our shared values.