Alfred Reynolds

Alfred Reynolds served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1994 to 2010. He earned a high school diploma from Jean Price-Mars University, a bachelor's degree from Western Connecticut State University in 2000, a graduate degree from Laval University in 2007, and a graduate degree from Liberty University in 2013. Reynolds' career experience includes working as an adjunct professor.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Alfred Reynolds is a law study professor in Polk County School District in Florida. In May 1993, he left his hometown under serious threats, and he took refuge in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Two years later, he joined the United Stated Army Reserve while pursuing his associate’s degree of science in criminal justice from Norwalk Community Technical College where he graduated in May 1997; and, in May 2000, from Western Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree of science in Justice and Law Administration. After eight years as a military reservist, Alfred decided to join the Georgia State Army National Guard while starting a career in law enforcement: first, with the Georgia Department of Justice as a Juvenile Correctional Officer; second, as a National Crime Information Center Technician with the Gwinnett County Police Department while volunteering some of his time with the Gwinnett County Sheriff Department by helping them to enter hundreds of warrants in the FBI national database against serious criminal offenders. He later transferred to the Gwinnett County Magistrate Court as an Intensive Juvenile Probation Officer. Alfred graduated with a master’s degree in international and transnational laws at University Laval School of Law in Quebec, Canada;. He later decided to pursue another master’s degree in religious studies at Liberty University where he graduated in May 2013. He also has an Ed.S. in Education Leadership and Policy from the University of Georgia in 2019

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The primary purpose of K-12 education is to prepare American citizens to maximize their full human potential, participate effectively in a democratic society, and build essential skills for the modern workforce. No one will become successful without a basic education. You must learn how to read and write to survive in our society.As a representative of the American government, I have great responsibility to care about people particularly those who are seriously suffering with mental health issues. My responsibility for mental health includes funding public care, enforcing insurance parity, regulating providers, and protecting patient rights. As an authority, I have to find the best way to build crisis infrastructure, set rules how to train first responders, and integrate mental health into public health and criminal justice systems to improve population well-being. We need a sane society where students, from K12 to college, will be supported with proactive measures.My core key message on senior and retiree affordability is that millions face economic insecurity because fixed incomes and Social Security COLAs are failing to keep pace with soaring inflation, healthcare expenses, and housing costs. Economic disparity is deeply widening, with racial minorities, women, and older renters suffering the highest poverty and severe cost-burden rates. In fact, poverty rates are notably higher among those 80 and older, as well as Black and Hispanic older adults, largely driven by lifelong wage gaps and caregiving responsibilities. We need to close those gaps. It is not socialism. It is based on American capitalism in a country where successes and a good standard of living should be our priority.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1- Education

2- Mental Health

3- Affordability/Economic Disparity

4- Community Policing

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up at Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, and Nelson Mandela. They are globally recognized symbols of moral authority, grace under pressure, and steadfast dedication to human rights. While their backgrounds differ, they share a profound legacy of using empathy, diplomacy, and visionary leadership to challenge oppressive systems and foster peace.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe that an elected official should have the following key characteristics and principles: encompass integrity and ethics, empathy and responsiveness, vision and leadership, and competence.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A Florida State Senator's core responsibilities are to draft and vote on state legislation, approve the annual state budget, oversee state agencies, and serve as the direct advocate for their district's constituents in the state legislature.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a Florida State Senator, my primary goal is to leave a legacy of long-term affordability, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship for all Floridians. I want to be remembered for successfully tackling the state's soaring cost of living, protecting our natural resources, and fostering accessible, high-quality public education.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Being a radio reporter was my first job. I got that job after I graduated from a journalism school following my internship at that same radio station in 1991.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Not able to keep a woman in my life for a longtime

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The ideal relationship between the Florida Governor and the state legislature is a system of robust checks and balances, where a powerful legislature actively sets policy and provides oversight, and the governor serves as chief executive, administrator, and final veto authority.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Florida's greatest challenges over the next decade center on the interconnected crises of housing affordability, escalating property insurance rates, climate-driven environmental risks, and strained infrastructure.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, compromise is both necessary and highly desirable for effective policymaking. Because societies feature diverse viewpoints and competing interests, policy creation without compromise often leads to gridlock or the tyranny of the majority.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None so far

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City on February 26, 1993.