Merika Coleman

Merika Coleman (born September 6, 1973) is an American politician who is a member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 19th district since 2022. She previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing its 57th district from 2002 to 2022.

Merika Coleman
Member of the Alabama Senate
from the 19th district
Assumed office
November 10, 2022
Preceded byPriscilla Dunn
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 57th district
In office
November 6, 2002 – November 10, 2022
Preceded byTommie Houston
Succeeded byPatrick Sellers
Personal details
Born (1973-09-06) September 6, 1973

RAF Lakenheath, England, UK
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Alabama, Birmingham (BA, MPA)

Education and early career

Coleman received a B.A. in mass communication in 1995 and a Master of Public Administration in 1997, both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.[1]

Earlier in her career, Coleman worked as a public policy analyst and strategist in nonprofits. She became the Director of Community and Economic Development for Lawson State Community College, and later became Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Bessemer, Alabama.[2]

Political career

In 2002, Coleman was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. In 2004 she was a Fleming Fellow with the Center for Policy Alternatives.[2]

In 2009, Coleman ran for a State Senate seat in a special election. She placed second among the eight candidates in the primary, and advanced to the runoff election. She lost the runoff to Priscilla Dunn.[3] She won her 2010 House reelection campaign with 68% of the vote.[4]

Coleman cosponsored a bill criminalizing human trafficking in Alabama, which became law in 2010. At the time, Alabama was one of six states to not have a human trafficking law.[5] Coleman has also sponsored bills on parole reform[6] and adding restrictions to Alabama's Stand Your Ground law.[7]

As of 2017, she was Chair of the Boards and Commissions Committee, and served on the Judiciary, Ways and Means General Fund, and Banking Committees. In February 2017, she became Assistant Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.[8] Coleman is also an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.[2]

References
  1. "Merika Coleman-Evans". Vote Smart. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  2. "Merika Coleman District/Biography". Alabama State Legislator. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  3. Brooks, Staci B. (June 30, 2009). "Priscilla Dunn wins Democratic runoff for state Senate". AL.com. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  4. Singleton III, William C. (June 1, 2010). "Merika Coleman wins House District 57 over Fred Plump, Carole Dobbs Marks". AL.com. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  5. "Alabama Lawmakers Make History with State Law on Human Trafficking Sending a Message to Criminals: "Not in Our State"". U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama. April 23, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  6. Crews, Stephen (May 16, 2017). "Rep. Merika Coleman: Alabama Needs Real Reform, Not More Prisons". Dothan First. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  7. Edgemon, Erin (April 13, 2015). "Lawmaker seeks to restrict Alabama's Stand Your Ground law with Trayvon Martin Act". AL.com. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  8. Brownlee, Chip (February 24, 2017). "Democrats Rep. Merika Coleman is House Assistant Minority Leader". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
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