Violet Edwards

Violet Edwards (born March 3, 1976) is an American politician and journalist who was elected to the Madison County Commission in the state of Alabama to represent the 6th district of Madison County in 2020.[1] Edwards represents Huntsville on the commission a majority-minority district. Upon her election, Edwards made history as the first woman to represent District 6 and the first African American women to ever serve on the Madison County Commission.[2] Before entering politics Edwards served as a news anchor for both KAIT[3] and WAAY-TV[4] for which she was recognized by various bodies for her outstanding work.[5]

Violet Edwards
Member of the
Madison County Commission
for the 6th District
Assumed office
November 11, 2020
Preceded byJesHenry Malone
Personal details
Born
Violet JaFae Ruffin

(1976-03-03) March 3, 1976
Jasper, Alabama, U.S
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Anthony Edwards
​
(m. 2008)​
EducationUniversity of Alabama (BA)
University of Alabama in Huntsville (MBA)
WebsiteCommission website

Early life and education

Edwards was born in Jasper, Alabama to Sandi Perry and Jeff Ruffin. As a child, she lived across the state of Alabama including Florence, Birmingham, and Cordova.[6] Edwards graduated from Cordova High School in 1994. During her time in high school, Edwards studied abroad in Germany. Edwards studied at the University of Alabama where she earned her BA in broadcast journalism. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She would later go on to earn her MBA from University of Alabama in Huntsville.[7]

Career

Edwards began her career as a broadcast journalism, after graduating from University of Alabama Edwards worked across the South for various local syndicated broadcast programs. In 1999 Edwards became an anchor for KAIT News in Jonesboro, Arkansas.[3] After two years with KAIT News Edwards accepted a position with WAAY-TV in 2002 moving to Huntsville, Alabama.[4] Edwards served as a News Anchor and Reporter for the next five years leaving in 2008. In 2008 Edwards accepted a position as a Non-Profit director with Christmas Charities Year-Round.[3] There her work was lauded as innovative for tackling poverty during the financial crisis of 2008, working to engage industry to meet community needs.[8] Edwards left Christmas Charities Year-Round in 2014 to pursue her MBA at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.[9] There Edwards served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Edwards would go on to become an Adjunct Professor of Communication in the College of Business while simultaneously serving as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator. In 2017 Edwards open her own small business in her hometown of Cordova.[3] She was promoted to a Development Officer in 2019 at the University of Alabama in Huntsville where she would become a professional fundraiser, working to create scholarship programs for students at the university.

Advocacy

Edwards has served in various advocacy roles. In 2003 she became the Vice President for the Girl's Scouts of North Alabama,[3] she would serve in that role for 4 years. Edwards founded the local chapter of Mocha Moms in 2012. The group is dedicated to creating a support structure for mothers of color. Edwards also served as the president of the North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (NACH).[10]

Political career

Edwards announced she would seek the District 6 seat of the Madison County Commission on July 29, 2019.[11] This marked Edwards's first run for elected office. Edwards was vying for a seat long held by Commissioner Bob Harris who had passed away in October 2017. In the interim, the Governor Kay Ivey appointed JesHenry Malone, a police captain to fill the vacancy and the remainder of the four-year term. Malone and Edwards were joined by Vernon McCants a perennial candidate. Edwards came in second on Super Tuesday's election receiving 40% of the vote. Due to COVID-19 pandemic Governor Ivey rescheduled the election to July 14. Receiving 55% of the vote Edwards became the Democratic Nominee for Madison County Commissioner to represent District 6. Following the General Election Edwards made history as the first woman to represent District 6 of Madison County and the first African American women that would serve on the Madison County Commission.[2]

Tenure

Within three months of taking office Edwards won $5.2 million dollars federal aid for emergency rental and utility assistance for county residence, which was managed by Madison County.[12] Her office took a prominent role in COVID-19 education to curb vaccine hesitancy, testing, and vaccination distribution within the county.[13] Edwards also secured $1.2 million dollars for the Bob Harrison Senior Wellness Center in order to upgrade the facility, winning funding from the Alabama Department of Transportation.[14] Edwards played an instrumental role in the redistricting of Madison County after the 2020 United States Census. Her map which, garnered bipartisan support, saw her district incorporate companies like Facebook and Toyota as well as all four higher educational institutions, including The University of Alabama in Huntsville, in Madison County.[15]

Personal life

Edwards married in 2008 to Anthony Edwards in Huntsville, Alabama. Together they have three children. Both Edwards's parents were ministers and Edwards herself is a Christian. Edwards has one sister, a local attorney in Huntsville.[6]

Election History
2020 Madison County Commission District 6 Primary Election [16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic JesHenry Malone 3,765 48.29%
Democratic Violet Edwards 3,157 40.49%
Democratic Vernon McCants 875 11.22%
Total votes 7,797 100%
Runoff election
Democratic Violet Edwards 1,784 54.72%
Democratic JesHenry Malone 1,476 45.28%
Total votes 3,260 100%
2020 Madison County Commission District 6 General Election [17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Violet Edwards 17,801 96.75%
Write-in 598 3.25%
Total votes 18,399 100%

References
  1. "RUNOFF ELECTION RESULTS FOR U.S. SENATE, NORTH ALABAMA RACES". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. "Violet Edwards elected Madison County's first Black woman commissioner". July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  3. "Violet Edwards LinkedIn". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  4. "WAAY Staff". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  5. "Commissioner Violet Edwards Biography".
  6. "Violet Edwards interview with The Grassroot". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  7. "UAH alumna Violet Edwards is elected to Madison County Commission". January 4, 2021.
  8. "Rag Tag Recycling". April 30, 2009.
  9. "Violet Edwards Profile in Rocket City Moms". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  10. "Max Luther Community Center open for shelter temporarily". December 2, 2020.
  11. "Violet Edwards Candidacy Announcement". YouTube. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  12. "Madison County commissioner lands $5 million grant for pandemic aid". January 23, 2021.
  13. "Hospitals, Community Leaders Work to Curb Vaccine Hesitancy". April 2021.
  14. "A Madison County senior center receives $1.2 million grants".
  15. "Madison County Commissioners approve redistricting map in 4-2 vote".
  16. "2020 Madison County Commission District 6 Primary Election". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  17. "2020 Madison County Commission District 6 General Election". Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  • County Commission website
  • Campaign Website
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  • Youtube
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