Merika Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merika Coleman
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| Member of the Alabama Senate from the 19th district |
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| Assumed office November 10, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Priscilla Dunn |
| Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 57th district |
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| In office November 6, 2002 – November 10, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Tommie Houston |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Sellers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 6, 1973 RAF Lakenheath, England |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Alabama, Birmingham (BA, MPA) |
Merika Coleman, born on September 6, 1973, is a politician from both Britain and America. She is currently a member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 19th district since 2022. Before this, she was a part of the Alabama House of Representatives for the 57th district, serving from 2002 to 2022.
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Early Life and Education
Merika Coleman was born in 1973 at RAF Lakenheath, a place near Suffolk, England. She later moved to the United States.
She studied at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 1995, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in mass communication. Then, in 1997, she received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
Career Before Politics
Before becoming a politician, Merika Coleman worked in different roles. She was a public policy analyst, helping to study and shape rules for the public. She also worked as a strategist for non-profit groups.
Later, she became the Director of Community and Economic Development for Lawson State Community College. This job involved helping the community grow and create new opportunities. After that, she held a similar role for the City of Bessemer, Alabama.
Political Journey
In 2002, Merika Coleman was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. This was her first big step in politics. In 2004, she was chosen as a Fleming Fellow with the Center for Policy Alternatives, which helps leaders learn more about public policy.
In 2009, she tried to win a seat in the State Senate during a special election. She came in second place in the first round of voting, which allowed her to move on to a second round. However, she did not win that election, losing to Priscilla Dunn. She successfully won her House re-election campaign in 2010 with a large number of votes.
By 2017, she was the Chair of the Boards and Commissions Committee. She also served on other important committees, including Judiciary, Ways and Means General Fund, and Banking. In February 2017, she became the Assistant Minority Leader for the House of Representatives. This meant she helped lead the political party that was not in control. Merika Coleman also teaches political science as an Assistant Professor at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.
In 2022, Merika Coleman decided to run for the State Senate again. The seat was open because Senator Priscilla Dunn was retiring. Coleman won the primary election against another state representative, Louise Alexander. She then ran unopposed in the general election, meaning no one ran against her, and she won the Senate seat.
What She Cares About
Merika Coleman has worked on laws to change how people are released from prison early. She has also supported adding more rules to Alabama's Stand Your Ground law, which deals with self-defense.
Running for Congress
In November 2023, Merika Coleman announced she would run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She wanted to represent Alabama's 2nd congressional district. During her campaign, she said she would focus on making voting rights stronger and improving health care if she was elected. She did not win the primary election, finishing in fourth place.
