Dr. Joan Friedlander Launches Campaign for Alabama House District 101

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) — Dr. Joan Friedlander, DMD, a longtime healthcare advocate and practicing dentist in Mobile, has officially announced her candidacy for the Alabama State House of Representatives in District 101, calling for new leadership to address what she describes as the state’s most pressing challenges.

Friedlander said Alabama is facing critical issues in healthcare, education, and public finances, and argued that current leadership has failed to take meaningful action. “Alabama is facing significant health, education, and financial challenges in the coming years,” Friedlander said. “Our leaders have continually kicked the can down the road on the most critical issues, essentially ignoring the pressing needs of our citizens with their allotted legislative time in Montgomery.”

She also criticized the political system and lack of competition in the district. “The system keeps sending back the same ineffective people who aren’t interested in transparency and making Alabama better,” Friedlander said. “They’re only interested in staying in power and drawing district lines where they get to pick their own voters. The current holder of the HD-101 seat has run unopposed every November election since taking office in 2014. That stops this year.”

Friedlander highlighted looming financial concerns, including the phaseout of federal pandemic-era funding and a reported $800 million reduction in Medicaid funding. She also pointed to inflation outpacing planned pay increases for public employees. “At the same time, inflation is nearly twice as high as the budgeted pay increases in 2027 for teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public employees,” she said. “Thousands of people in my district struggle to pay their bills despite working long hours.”

A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Friedlander has provided dental care to the Mobile-area community since 1994. She said her professional background gives her practical experience to bring to state government.

“As a practicing dentist and small business owner, I know how to balance the books and take care of our community’s health,” Friedlander said. “As the elected representative for District 101, I’ll use that real-world experience in Montgomery and work with representatives of both parties, without regard to politics, to enact financially responsible solutions that improve the quality of life for every Alabamian.”

The race for House District 101 is expected to draw increased attention as the election approaches, marking the first contested general election in the district in more than a decade.