A Baldwin County resident who had qualified to run for a county commission seat has withdrawn after realizing a state law that would prevent his candidacy while working in his county position.

Drew Arredondo, the Democratic nominee in the November general election for the Baldwin County Commission District seat, has worked as a BRATS, Baldwin County's public transportation bus system, driver for nearly four years. According to Alabama's election law, which falls under Title 17 of the Alabama Code, any county or city employee who seeks political office with the governmental entity with which he or she is employed must take an unpaid leave of absence, use overtime leave or use vacation time "from the date he or she qualifies to run for office until the date on which the election results are certified or the employee is no longer a candidate or there are no other candidates on the ballot."

Violating this rule would render Arredondo jobless.

"Like many Americans, I live paycheck to paycheck," Arredondo said. "While the law technically allows me to keep my position with the county, I cannot remain an active employee during my candidacy. In practical terms, that would prevent me from continuing to provide for my family."

Arredondo was the only Democrat to file for the District 4 seat, meaning he automatically became the party's nominee and was not going to appear on the primary ballot in May. He would have faced the Republican nominee, which Brett Gaar, Tracey Gambill and John "Tater" Harris are vying for on May 19. Regardless, the next District 4 commissioner will be a new face, as current Commissioner Charles "Skip" Gruber is not seeking reelection.

Arredondo was running on responsible development, environmental protection, infrastructure improvements, and support for working families.

"Every citizen in Baldwin County deserves a local government that listens and works for them. Not one that sells out to out-of-state developers and corporate interests pursuing low-quality, high-quantity reckless growth," Arredondo said.

He also called for stronger environmental stewardship and responsible infrastructure for Baldwin County.

"It is essential that we evaluate the ecological and structural impact of the rapid development of recent years and honestly assess the vulnerabilities it has created for the people who already live here," he said. "Better roads, adequate medical facilities, sidewalks and responsible planning (including community input) must come before unchecked and unvetted expansion."

Arredondo also advocated for expanded public transportation, stronger programs supporting seniors and children and policies that support working families during a time of rising costs.

"The people of Baldwin County deserve coordination among all levels of government to ensure our children are safe," he said. "Every school in Baldwin County should have an annually updated comprehensive safety plan, along with access to mental health resources and proper nutrition so every student can have the support he/she needs to learn and thrive."

Arredondo encouraged residents to stay engaged in local civic efforts and environmental protection initiatives, including organizations such as Mobile Baykeeper, which works to protect the region's waterways and ecosystems.

Arredondo said he hopes his experience will spark a broader conversation in Alabama about whether laws like Alabama Code §17-1-4 unintentionally discourage working-class citizens from running for public office.

"Unfortunately, this places many working-class public servants in an impossible position — choosing between serving their community or supporting their families," he said. "In my view, laws like this create barriers that discourage everyday working people from stepping forward to improve the places they live."

The end of the statue excludes people who are already in public office from running for another county office, which means, for example though unrelated to Arredondo's race, that Matt McKenzie can run for Baldwin County sheriff while serving as District 2's county commissioner.

"In no event shall this subsection apply to elected officials," the law ends.

"Public service should not be reserved only for those who can afford to step away from their livelihoods," he said. "I hope this experience sparks an important conversation about making local government more accessible to working-class citizens who want to serve their communities."

Arredondo said his commitment to Baldwin County remains unchanged.

"Baldwin County is one of the most important economic and cultural regions in Alabama," Arredondo added. "The people who live here deserve leadership that prioritizes them and protects the natural beauty that makes our home truly unique."