Young Boozer, Rosilyn Houston face off in Alabama State Treasurer race

Alabama voters next week will choose whether to retain one of the state’s longest-serving state treasurers or elect a retired banker in his place. 

Republican incumbent Young Boozer will face Democratic nominee Rosilyn Houston in next Tuesday’s election to the position, which manages and protects the state’s finances.

Boozer served as Alabama state treasurer from 2011 to 2019. Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Boozer to the office in 2021 to finish the term of State Treasurer John McMillan, who became executive director of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.

Multiple messages seeking comment were left with Boozer. His campaign website touts his accomplishments in office, including rebuilding the Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program fund, being fiscally conservative and returning unclaimed property funds back to taxpayers.

Houston said in a recent interview her priorities include protecting taxpayer dollars and more transparency from the office.

“I envision under that transparency model a citizen to come to the treasurer’s website and to be able to click on a dashboard and see all the buckets of money that the treasurer is responsible for, and then drill down in that, and to see how those dollars are performing and how those dollars are coming back into the communities across or the counties, even across Alabama,” Houston said.

Houston also wants to help teach financial literacy across the state through engaging with the community.

“Helping to foster connectivity, alignment, and partnerships with, say, our schools. I really believe that we need to teach (financial literacy) in school,” Houston said. “Financial education (needs) to be a regular part of our curriculum, and churches, community centers, organizations can come together and work on these strategies as well. And I think the state could be a major partner in ensuring that we help to connect these organizations to our citizens, so that we have a more competent state as it relates to managing money.”

According to campaign finance reports, Boozer has raised $144,100 and spent $270,000 as of Wednesday morning. Houston has raised $76,400 and spent $64,800 as of Wednesday morning.

The general election is on Nov. 3.