State Representative Corey Harbison (District 12) will vacate his seat in the Alabama House of Representatives within the next several weeks. A decision that he said would allow him more time to spend with his wife and three young children.

Harbison, now in his third term, told The Times Monday, March 17, that he had discussed his upcoming resignation with House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter last week, but that he was still unsure when his final day in legislature would be. Harbison said he intends to spend his remaining time in Montgomery, securing funding promised to several local organizations.

“I think it will be no later than April 15. The only reason I’m waiting is because I’ve made some promises to some local groups and that I’d get some money for them. I don’t want to leave those folks high and dry when they are counting on that funding. I’m gonna get that paperwork submitted so that I can fulfill everything I promised to folks,” Harbison said.

Harbison did not have children prior to his first term beginning in 2014. Now, with three kids — ages seven, two and one — he said it has become increasingly difficult to strike a balance between his roles as a legislator, husband and father and would like to prioritize his family.

“I just want to be a dad. I want to be here and be able to go to their stuff and support them,” Harbison said. “I’m just ready to be a dad and a husband and be at home for them.”

Harbison’s announcement comes several weeks after former Rep. Randall Shedd (District 11) resigned his position in the House to join Senate Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger’s staff.

Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election for the District 11 seat August 26. Ivey will need to declare a second election to replace Harbison once his resignation is made official.

Ensuring that his resignation fell well within the appropriate timeframe to elect a replacement was another reason Harbison said he believed this was the best time for his decision.

“Another thing that’s important is that there is a timeline where after a certain date, there wouldn’t even be a runoff, the position would stay vacant, and we are getting closer to that cutoff. I definitely didn’t want to put this off and risk us not having a representative in Montgomery for the next year and a half,” Harbison said.

Patrick Camp may be reached by email at patrick.camp@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 238.