For the first time in the history of Alabama's largest county by area and fourth-largest by population, women will speak for Baldwin County in the state House of Representatives.

And not just one woman — three.

When the legislature's session begins in the new year, Republicans Donna Givens of Loxley, Frances Holk-Jones of Orange Beach and Jennifer Fidler of Silverhill will replace men who served nearly 80 years in the chamber combined.Holk-Jones filled the South Baldwin seat held by long-serving Rep. Steve McMillan, who died from cancer in April.

Fidler bested Rep. Joe Faust in the state primary race in May and beat her opponent, Libertarian Margaret "Maggie" Helveston, in November to represent House District 95, which serves the Fairhope area.

House District 64, which includes much of Central Baldwin County, elected Givens after Rep. Harry Shiver, who held the seat since 2006, announced he would not run again.

The three help to bring the number of women in the Alabama House of Representatives to 20 out of 105 members, one of the lowest proportions of women to men serving in that role in the nation.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2021, Alabama was ranked 49th in the nation for its percent of women serving in the state legislature. West Virginia was 50th.

For the Baldwin women, top priorities, they say, are affordable housing, growth and quality of life issues.

Gulf Coast Media sat down with each new representative to help readers get to know them.

JENNIFER FIDLER

State representative, District 94
Current city of residence: Silverhill
Age: 52
Married: Yes
Children: No

What issue do you think is most important to Baldwin County voters currently?

"The biggest local issue is the fast pace of growth and how we are going to plan to stay ahead of it and have the infrastructure to support it. People also care about national issues that have an impact on our daily lives like rising costs and the rampant inflation we've seen the last few years."

Do you have any goals you would like to achieve during your time in the legislature?

"I want to be sure to create and support legislation in several key areas that I think are important to our area: protecting our prime agriculture and farm lands that help provide food and jobs for our economy, keeping our elections secure, protecting our rights and liberties as both Americans and Alabamians, strengthening the powers of our rural communities to help guide their own futures, working to protect and promote small businesses remaining vital parts of our communities, promoting cultural and historical aspects of our communities, enhancing our state's mental health support system and, of course, making sure our schools remain some of the best in our state."

How do you think you will represent Baldwin County in state government?

"I want to be sure that I reflect the type of openness and transparency in government that I believe people need from their government. Even if we all don't agree on every single issue, I think it is important to have conversations with one another face-to-face and really listen to each other. I plan on having town hall meetings before and after each legislative session so that I can provide information to the people of my district and so that they can have a direct pipeline to me to talk about their concerns and issues. I think this type of engagement will also help address the apathy that we're seeing all over this country with regards to the political process and government."

What question did the voters ask you most often on the campaign trail?

"I think the most common one was 'Why did you decide to run?' And I talked about all the issues I've mentioned in the previous questions and said that I thought I was the right person to go up to Montgomery and represent our area because I am engaged, and I will be tenacious in my pursuit to make sure we get what we need to maintain and improve our great quality of life here."
Alabama or Auburn? "War Eagle! Auburn, of course, though I actually grew up an Alabama fan until I actually attended Auburn."

What is your favorite Christmas dish and why?

"Fried oysters. They're tied to my mother's memories of her grandfather. He used to wake up on Christmas morning and would harvest and deliver oysters to folks all over the area that morning so they could have fresh oysters for Christmas. It's something our family has done for generations, and it is just a wonderful tradition we get to celebrate every year."

DONNA GIVENS

State Representative, District 64
City of residence: Loxley
Age: "I recently celebrated yet another anniversary of my 40th birthday."

What issue do you think is the most important to Baldwin County voters currently?

"I think the biggest issue that I have heard from people in Baldwin County is wanting to make sure that we maintain our great quality of life here and make sure that our children and grandchildren have the education and training to be able to get good, high-paying jobs right here in Baldwin County."

Do you have any goals you would like to achieve during your time in the legislature?

"My main goal will be to make certain that I always do my best to represent the ideals and values of the people of my district. As their representative in Montgomery, I want my folks back here to know that what they believe and what they want will always be first and foremost in my mind. I also want to be sure to take a page out of my predecessor Coach Harry Shiver's book and my late dear friend Steve McMillan's book and make certain that I am always available to the constituents and able to help them get what they need help with from our government. So, I guess in short, my goal is to be what we're supposed to be – a representative of and for the people who elected by, in whatever way I can."

How do you think you will represent Baldwin County in state government?

"I will be a strong advocate for my district and for Baldwin County, letting people from across our state know what all we do here and how we contribute to the rest of the state. Baldwin County is a big economic engine for this state and I think we need to make sure that the state recognizes that fact and keeps investing money and resources and infrastructure down here so that we can continue to be that economic powerhouse. We have great people here and we need to make sure that we continue to have world-class educational opportunities and good high-paying jobs to encourage the next generation to stay here. And because of my background in public utilities in my prior career, I think it is vitally important that we make sure our infrastructure and utilities are able to keep up with the tremendous growth we're blessed with here in Baldwin County – especially making sure that we do everything we can to get funding and support for expanding broadband and high-speed internet access to every single part of Baldwin County."

What question did the voters ask you most often on the campaign trail?

"When I walked neighborhoods during the election in my district, there was a lot of questions and concerns about the economy and inflation, which should be a huge concern. People's paychecks aren't going as far as they used to because everything is now costing more and more. And while that is largely a federal issue, I know I will be a voice in Montgomery to make sure that we are continuing to be a state that encourages businesses and industries to come here and open up shop so that our folks can have a reliable work with good wages and economic opportunities right here at home."

Alabama or Auburn?

"Alabama. Roll Tide!"

What is your favorite Christmas dish and why?

"I think that it would have to be my grandmother's cornbread dressing, which has been passed down in our family for four generations now. We've been in Baldwin County throughout those generations and while Baldwin County and the world continues to grow and change, this little annual part of our special Christmas meal together as a family reminds us of who we are and where we came from. It's a wonderful tradition that binds our little family together and it's always been something that's so special to me."

FRANCES HOLK-JONES

State representative District 95
City of residence: Orange Beach
Age: "I am a bit of an open book so...drumroll please....66 but feel 36."
Married: "I am married to Carl Jones."
Children: "We have four children - Grayson Moore (wife, Allison Moore), Carl Jones II, Lee Jones and the late Jennifer Moore; and two grandchildren, Max and William."

What issue do you think is the most important to Baldwin County voters currently?

"I think there are a number of issues important across Baldwin County, but in my district, it's certainly making sure that we have the support for the workforce that keeps this county running. In South Baldwin, we've got a shortage of both workers and affordable workforce housing, so that's definitely first and foremost on the minds of the citizens in this district."

Do you have any goals you would like to achieve during your time in the legislature?

"I would love to see some progress made with our South Baldwin Workforce Development Authority to make sure we're finding ways to have a great workforce and housing and transport for our people to be able to keep this great South Baldwin economic engine running. We generate revenue for the entire state down in my district through our businesses and the tourism we see, so I think it is certainly vital for me to let Montgomery and folks across our state know about who we are here and the abundance of resources that we bring to the table. I also believe anything we can do to put more energy and resources into mental healthcare in this state is certainly a good thing."

How do you think you will represent Baldwin County in state government?

"Obviously, my role as a state representative is to do just that – represent my district at the state level and I certainly intend to do that. But, as I said before, I think it is vital to be an advocate and spokeswoman for my district and for Baldwin County at large. I want to make sure everybody in the Alabama House of Representatives knows who we are and what all we do down here that benefits everybody across the state so that we don't get ourselves into another situation like we did with the BP Oil Spill money and see money and resources that should be coming to us be spent elsewhere. I think being that advocate and helping people learn about us will be beneficial in the long run for Baldwin."

What question did the voters ask you most often on the campaign trail?

"Not to sound like a broken record, but the workforce shortage issue was certainly a big one. Inflation and the rising costs of gas and food and services were some other major ones, which is more of a federal issue, but I certainly want to make sure our state is doing everything we can do to keep costs down for people here and find ways to continue to grow our economy."

Alabama or Auburn?

"Die Hard Auburn. War Eagle, always and forever!"

What is your favorite Christmas dish and why?

"Anything as long as I don't have to cook it! Seriously, though, I would have to say I make a pretty good breakfast casserole on Christmas morning for our family and friends that may not be able to spend the holidays with their loved ones. To me, the more the merrier. That's the real blessing - just being able to be together and spend time with one another as we celebrate the birth of Jesus."