After representing the constituents of District 11 for more than a decade, Alabama Rep. Randall Shedd announced his plans to resign from his House seat early next week Wednesday, Feb. 12, to work alongside newly elected Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger.

During a phone call with The Times Wednesday, Shedd confirmed he has accepted an invitation to serve as Gudger’s director of constituent affairs. He said that serving as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives had fulfilled one of his earliest childhood dreams and that resigning from the position was “bittersweet.” However, Shedd said he was excited to continue ensuring the people of Cullman County are fully represented in his new role.

“I have an understanding of the process, particularly in terms of local issues, so I will certainly be as helpful as I can be with that. I think that understanding and knowing [Gudger’s] district will be helpful,” Shedd said. “Whether it be a constituent that needs help with something or a funding application somebody has, if some leg work needs to be done, he could ask me to handle it and keep him informed on what its status is. He wants to make sure that we don’t let anything local fall through the cracks.”

Shedd was elected to represent District 11 during a special election in 2013. He has also served stints as chairman of the Cullman County Commission, director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging and mayor of his hometown of Fairview. Shedd was elected to serve as House Majority Whip by the Republican Caucus in 2022 and chairs the House Urban and Rural Development Committee. Cullman County was selected as the first hub to connect to the Alabama Fiber Network in July 2024 as a nod to Shedd’s years-long advocacy for expanding the state’s high speed broadband access.

“Rep. Shedd has a reputation as one of the most responsive, hardest working, and tenacious members of the Alabama House, and I know he will bring that same dedication to his new position in the pro tem’s office,” Gudger said in a press release.

Two pieces of legislation sponsored by Shedd — HB114, which provides for the continuance of the Board of Dental Examiners and HB230, which streamlines processes for realtors in Alabama — received favorable reports from their respective House committees on Wednesday. Shedd said he was hopeful that he would be able to carry both bills through the House by the end of the week and that Monday, Feb. 17 would be his last day as Representative.

As soon as Shedd’s resignation is official, Gov. Kay Ivey will be responsible for calling a special election to elect his replacement in District 11. Shedd said the vote would likely take place sometime during the Summer.

While he wasn’t aware of any potential candidates likely to emerge — and did not have any individuals in mind — Shedd said he was hopeful that his resignation would present the newcomer with an opportunity to gain experience and make connections in Montgomery before the 2026 midterm elections.

“I just felt it was a good time to do this. Whoever takes my place will have a chance to get a little extra experience and seniority before the next round in 2026 when all the freshmen come in. It will be good for the district from that standpoint I think,” Shedd said. “I’ve worked closely together with Sen. Gudger in the local delegation since 2018 and I’m just excited to help him in any way he needs me to make our state better.”