HUNTSVILLE, AL  - Taze Shepard, a Huntsville attorney, announced Wednesday he is seeking the Democratic nomination for Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District.

This comes after Congressman Griffith swapped from Democrat to Republican at the end of December.

Shepard made the announcement at his campaign headquarters in Huntsville.

“As our nation fought its way out of the Great Depression and faced down the threats of the Second World War, my grandfather, John Sparkman, joined the United States House of Representatives representing North Alabama. Over the next 40 years, he served as Representative and U. S. Senator, helping improve the lives of middle class families while keeping us safe at home and abroad. My values of public service come from him and today, as families face economic challenges at home and threats from abroad, I’m proud to be stand up to serve my community.”

“Here in North Alabama, our local industries and our national security are inseparable. And here in North Alabama, we need strong independent-minded leaders who will balance our budgets and continue creating these vital jobs in North Alabama. As your Congressman, I will not rest until we bring more jobs to the Fifth District. I will not back down from the fight to keep NASA and Redstone Arsenal fully funded. That is why I want to represent this community in Washington. Those are the values we need in Washington now, more than ever. North Alabamians need stronger and more effective leadership in Washington. They need leaders who they can trust will keep their word. Washington doesn’t need more politicians, they need public servants who are grounded in Alabama values and are ready to step to the plate, work across the aisle, and continue to protect this community.”

Taze Shepard is 56 and a partner in the Huntsville law firm of Sparkman, Shepard and Morris and is a former member of the Alabama State Board of Education.

He is the grandson of the late Senator John Sparkman of Alabama. Taze is married to Pamela Lang Shepard, a Huntsville Realtor who was born in Lawrence County. They are parents of five children.