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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kennethpaschal.com/|title=Kenneth Paschal|website=KennethPaschal.com|access-date=August 28, 2022}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|9}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = | children = | education = | occupation = | profession = | website = | footnotes = | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{flag|United States Army}} | service_years = 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Kenneth_Paschal|title=Kenneth Paschal|website=Ballotpedia|accessdate=July 13, 2021}}</ref> He is the first black Republican elected to the Alabama Legislature in almost 140 years,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>Bailey, Richard, "Neither Carpetbaggers not Scalawags", published 1991.</ref>

==Career== Paschal served 21 years in the United States Army, retiring in 2006 as a first sergeant.<ref name="WVTM-TV7/14/21">{{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}}</ref><ref name="APR7/14/21">{{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}}</ref><ref name="AP2021">{{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}}</ref>

Paschal worked with the Alabama Family Rights Association.<ref name="AP2021"/> He also served on the Shelby County Republican Executive Committee and was a commander of the American Legion.<ref name="WVTM-TV7/14/21"/><ref name="APR7/14/21"/>

Paschal ran for state representative following Matt Fridy's resignation in order to join the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.<ref name="APR7/14/21"/><ref name="AP2021"/> Among his other positions, Paschal campaigned against critical race theory.<ref name="APR7/14/21"/> He won the special election on July 13, 2021, becoming the first black Republican elected to the Alabama Legislature since the Reconstruction era.<ref name="APR7/14/21"/><ref name="AP2021"/> Paschal was sworn in the following day.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life== Paschal lives in Pelham, Alabama.<ref name="WVTM-TV7/14/21"/> He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Pelham.<ref name="AP2021"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.kennethpaschal.com/ Campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paschal, Kenneth}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people 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