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Dale Strong
Dale Whitney Strong (born May 8, 1970) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 5th congressional district since 2023. His district includes much of North Alabama, including the city of Huntsville. A member of the Republican Party, Strong served on the Madison County Commission starting in 1996, and was its chairman from 2012 to 2023.
Born in Monrovia, Alabama, Strong graduated from Sparkman High School in 1988. He is the son of Horace N. Strong, a founding member of the Monrovia Fire-Rescue Department, and Judy Vaughn Strong. He started service as a volunteer firefighter at age 13. Strong earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Athens State University and an emergency medical technician license from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Before entering politics, he worked in public relations for First Alabama Bank and as a sales representative for Solvay S.A. He also served as a first responder and 911 dispatcher for HEMSI and Huntsville Med-Flight. In 1989, he was awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for his service in responding to a tornado on Airport Road in Huntsville.
Strong was first elected to the county commission for Madison County in 1996; he was the youngest elected Republican official in Alabama at the time. Strong represented the county's fourth district, including parts of Harvest and his hometown of Monrovia. While on the commission, Strong also served as a volunteer firefighter. In 2011, he worked on developing an early warning system for tornadoes and helped coordinate the county's response to the 2011 Super Outbreak of tornadoes, including charity food efforts.
In August 2011, Strong criticized Madison County Commission chairman Mike Gillespie for signing a declaration that stated debris removal from the tornado outbreak had been completed; Strong argued that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had not yet removed all debris in the county and presented photographs of uncleaned debris to the commission. A month later, he announced that he would challenge Gillespie, a member of the Democratic Party, for the county commission's chairmanship, by seeking the Republican nomination for the position. In October 2011, Gillespie announced he would not seek reelection. Strong defeated Wayne Parker, a former congressional candidate, in the Republican primary for the chairmanship, leaving Strong unopposed in the general election as a result of Gillespie's retirement. In November 2012, Strong became the first Republican elected chair of the Madison County Commission.
During his tenure as chairman, Strong focused on improving financial development in the area. In 2018, Yellowhammer News called him one of the three most influential people in North Alabama, citing his work in "streamlining government" and infrastructure projects in the area. As chairman, Strong was also involved in the recruitment of federal agencies to work at Redstone Arsenal in Madison County, including NASA and the FBI. In 2013, he said he would prioritize road improvements, school construction and economic development as chairman, saying, "if you're not focusing on economic development, your community is not going to thrive".
Strong also increased budgeting for Monrovia's fire department, as he remained active as a volunteer firefighter during his tenure. In 2019, three Madison County fire chiefs (including the chiefs of Keel Mountain, Killingsworth Cove and an anonymous third) accused Strong of giving preferential treatment to Monrovia due to his influence on the county commission; Strong responded by saying that any disparity in funding for fire stations in the county was a result of property tax levels, as Monrovia pays more in taxes and thus receives more funding.
In October 2020, Strong approved the relocation of a Confederate monument from the grounds of the Madison County courthouse to a cemetery, a move unanimously approved by the county commission. Attorney General of Alabama Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit against the commission, alleging it had violated the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017. The commission eventually paid a $25,000 fine to the state. Strong defended the move as necessary for the monument's structural integrity; the move was later cited in an unsuccessful Republican ballot challenge against him during his run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
At a January 2019 "State of the County" luncheon, Strong emphasized the commission's $174 million balanced budget and the county's job growth and improvements in college education. He highlighted Madison County's population growth and the work of the county sheriff's office in his 2022 address, as well as redevelopment plans for the county courthouse. His last meeting as county commission chairman was on December 21, 2022, following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He resigned on January 2, 2023, and was succeeded by former Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon.
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Dale Strong
Dale Whitney Strong (born May 8, 1970) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 5th congressional district since 2023. His district includes much of North Alabama, including the city of Huntsville. A member of the Republican Party, Strong served on the Madison County Commission starting in 1996, and was its chairman from 2012 to 2023.
Born in Monrovia, Alabama, Strong graduated from Sparkman High School in 1988. He is the son of Horace N. Strong, a founding member of the Monrovia Fire-Rescue Department, and Judy Vaughn Strong. He started service as a volunteer firefighter at age 13. Strong earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Athens State University and an emergency medical technician license from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Before entering politics, he worked in public relations for First Alabama Bank and as a sales representative for Solvay S.A. He also served as a first responder and 911 dispatcher for HEMSI and Huntsville Med-Flight. In 1989, he was awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for his service in responding to a tornado on Airport Road in Huntsville.
Strong was first elected to the county commission for Madison County in 1996; he was the youngest elected Republican official in Alabama at the time. Strong represented the county's fourth district, including parts of Harvest and his hometown of Monrovia. While on the commission, Strong also served as a volunteer firefighter. In 2011, he worked on developing an early warning system for tornadoes and helped coordinate the county's response to the 2011 Super Outbreak of tornadoes, including charity food efforts.
In August 2011, Strong criticized Madison County Commission chairman Mike Gillespie for signing a declaration that stated debris removal from the tornado outbreak had been completed; Strong argued that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had not yet removed all debris in the county and presented photographs of uncleaned debris to the commission. A month later, he announced that he would challenge Gillespie, a member of the Democratic Party, for the county commission's chairmanship, by seeking the Republican nomination for the position. In October 2011, Gillespie announced he would not seek reelection. Strong defeated Wayne Parker, a former congressional candidate, in the Republican primary for the chairmanship, leaving Strong unopposed in the general election as a result of Gillespie's retirement. In November 2012, Strong became the first Republican elected chair of the Madison County Commission.
During his tenure as chairman, Strong focused on improving financial development in the area. In 2018, Yellowhammer News called him one of the three most influential people in North Alabama, citing his work in "streamlining government" and infrastructure projects in the area. As chairman, Strong was also involved in the recruitment of federal agencies to work at Redstone Arsenal in Madison County, including NASA and the FBI. In 2013, he said he would prioritize road improvements, school construction and economic development as chairman, saying, "if you're not focusing on economic development, your community is not going to thrive".
Strong also increased budgeting for Monrovia's fire department, as he remained active as a volunteer firefighter during his tenure. In 2019, three Madison County fire chiefs (including the chiefs of Keel Mountain, Killingsworth Cove and an anonymous third) accused Strong of giving preferential treatment to Monrovia due to his influence on the county commission; Strong responded by saying that any disparity in funding for fire stations in the county was a result of property tax levels, as Monrovia pays more in taxes and thus receives more funding.
In October 2020, Strong approved the relocation of a Confederate monument from the grounds of the Madison County courthouse to a cemetery, a move unanimously approved by the county commission. Attorney General of Alabama Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit against the commission, alleging it had violated the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017. The commission eventually paid a $25,000 fine to the state. Strong defended the move as necessary for the monument's structural integrity; the move was later cited in an unsuccessful Republican ballot challenge against him during his run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
At a January 2019 "State of the County" luncheon, Strong emphasized the commission's $174 million balanced budget and the county's job growth and improvements in college education. He highlighted Madison County's population growth and the work of the county sheriff's office in his 2022 address, as well as redevelopment plans for the county courthouse. His last meeting as county commission chairman was on December 21, 2022, following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He resigned on January 2, 2023, and was succeeded by former Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon.