House District 45

Jenn Gray

Party: Democratic

Residence: Irondale

Political experience: None.

Professional experience: Self-employed; previously worked in pharmaceutical formulations at Southern Research Center.

Education: Graduated from Shades Valley Resource Learning Center; bachelor’s in chemical engineering, UAH; Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of California, San Francisco, 2005.

Civic experience: Board of trustees, Alabama Waldorf School, 2014-present; Girl Scouts Troop Leader, 2014-present.

Main issues: “My top priority is to fully fund Alabama’s First-Class Pre-K program. Alabama has the No. 1 voluntary pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds in the country, but it is only available to about 30 percent of eligible children because of inadequate funding. Quality pre-K programs produce a quality workforce and result in better job opportunities and a more robust economy for the entire state. Our First-Class Pre-K program gives Alabama a 7-to-1 return on our investment.

“I support the education lottery, which will provide $300 million a year to Alabama education without raising taxes.

“I’m in favor of reducing or eliminating the grocery sales tax, which is currently 10 percent in much of House District 45.”