Kenneth Paschal
{{short description|American politician}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kenneth Paschal
| image =
| state_house = Alabama
| district = 73rd
| term_start = July 14, 2021
| term_end =
| predecessor = Matt Fridy
| successor =
| birth_name = Kenneth Lavoyd Paschal{{cite web|url=https://www.kennethpaschal.com/|title=Kenneth Paschal|website=KennethPaschal.com|access-date=August 28, 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|9}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = Pelham, Alabama, U.S.
| education =
| occupation =
| profession =
| website =
| footnotes =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Army}}
| serviceyears = 1985–2006
| rank = First Sergeant
| unit =
| battles =
}}
Kenneth Paschal (born December 9, 1966) is an American politician from the state of Alabama. A member of the Republican Party, Paschal was elected to represent District 73 in the Alabama House of Representatives in a July 2021 special election.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Kenneth_Paschal|title=Kenneth Paschal|website=Ballotpedia|accessdate=July 13, 2021}} He is the first black Republican elected to the Alabama Legislature in almost 140 years,{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2021/07/kenneth-paschal-wins-alabama-house-seat-becomes-legislatures-only-black-republican.html|title=Kenneth Paschal wins Alabama House seat; becomes Legislature's only Black Republican|publisher=Alabama Live|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|date=July 13, 2021|accessdate=July 13, 2021}} and the first to serve in the state legislature since W. P. Williams of Madison County served a two-year term from 1882 to 1884.Bailey, Richard, "Neither Carpetbaggers not Scalawags", published 1991.
Career
Paschal served 21 years in the United States Army, retiring in 2006 as a first sergeant.{{cite web | title=Republican Kenneth Paschal wins Alabama House District 73 in historic campaign | url=https://www.wvtm13.com/article/republican-kenneth-paschal-wins-alabama-house-district-73-in-historic-campaign/37017120# | date=July 14, 2021 | work=WVTM-TV | access-date=July 14, 2021}}{{cite web | last1=Moseley | first1=Brandon | title=Kenneth Paschal wins House District 73 special election | url=https://www.alreporter.com/2021/07/14/kenneth-paschal-wins-house-district-73-special-election/ | date=July 14, 2021 | work=Alabama Political Reporter | access-date=July 14, 2021}}{{cite web | last1=Chandler | first1=Kim | title=Alabama elects first Black Republican to House in 140 years | url=https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-alabama-election-2020-house-elections-df2ff75265ffc67482290149f2f1a272 | date=July 14, 2021 | work=Associated Press | access-date=July 14, 2021}}
Paschal worked with the Alabama Family Rights Association. He also served on the Shelby County Republican Executive Committee and was a commander of the American Legion.
Paschal ran for state representative following Matt Fridy's resignation in order to join the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Among his other positions, Paschal campaigned against critical race theory. He won the special election on July 13, 2021, becoming the first black Republican elected to the Alabama Legislature since the Reconstruction era. Paschal was sworn in the following day.{{cite web | last1=Reeves | first1=Jay | last2=Chandler | first2=Kim | title=1st elected Alabama Black Republican: GOP 'open to everyone' | url=https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-alabama-election-2020-house-elections-135cd839be515635f31a2aab38371a30 | date=July 14, 2021 | work=Associated Press | access-date=July 14, 2021}}
Personal life
Paschal lives in Pelham, Alabama. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Pelham.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.kennethpaschal.com/ Campaign website]
{{Alabama House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paschal, Kenneth}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Alabama House of Representatives
Category:African-American state legislators in Alabama
Category:United States Army non-commissioned officers
Category:African-American United States Army personnel
Category:African-American Christians
Category:Black conservatism in the United States
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Alabama Legislature
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