By By Lisa Tindell
Alan Baker's father was a teacher. He taught Alan, and his siblings, the importance of family. He taught his family to be supportive of each other.
Since Ollie Baxter Baker had passed away nearly 20 years before the ceremony, he was not physically in attendance at the swearing in of his son as State Representative for District 66 on Wednesday. His presence was.
Baker chose to have his wife, Kaki, hold his father's Bible as he took the oath of office during a ceremony at the Escambia County Courthouse.
"I didn't realize Alan was going to use the Bible until I saw it just before the ceremony," said Baxter Baker, brother of the new representative. "I'm sure it was a no-brainer for Alan."
The oath of office was administered to Baker by Circuit Judge Brad Byrne.
Kaki, Baker's wife, held the Bible as the oath was given and repeated.
Jack Fitts, pastor of First Baptist Church of Brewton, read from the Baker Bible reciting scripture from the book of Micah.
"What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly," Fitts read. "And to love mercy."
Baker commented in a brief statement that he planned to do just that. "I am humbled by this opportunity," Baker said. "I will do my best to serve the people of this district in any way possible."
As Baker approached the front of the courtroom to be officially sworn in to his new position, family members were invited to stand with him for the ceremony.
"Family is important to us," Baxter said. "Our family bond is very tight.
Our father insured that we did things together. We even grew up with several family gatherings each year."
No other members of Baker's immediate family have been participants in the political arena.
"We have some uncles on my mother's side of the family that are or have been judges in North Alabama," Baxter said. "Alan is the first one of our family that has ventured into politics."
Baker won his bid for the District 66 State Representative in the Nov. 7 election defeating incumbent F.P. "Skippy" White. White had held the position for 24 years before being defeated in the most recent election.
Baker took office on Nov. 8 and has taken the oath of office in Baldwin County and made his position for Escambia County official with the Wednesday ceremony.