MOBILE — The Mobile County Republican Party hosted a candidate forum with 10 candidates for multiple offices, including attorney general (AG) and sheriff.
They are both conservative, have both been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, and are both named Paul. However, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch and his challenger, former Mobile Police chief Paul Prine, made their differences clear Monday night, while poking small jabs at one another.
"Relationships matter," said Burch. "This is not a job that you can do alone, and it's not a job you can do if you can't work well with others."
"If you really want integrity and accountability back in office, nothing affects you more than local government in every capacity," said Prine.
Since being elected in 2022, Burch said he has built relationships with other agencies and pointed to programs he created, such as the School Resource Deputy program and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit.
Prine pointed to his time as a police chief as proof that he is strong enough to stand for the truth, even when faced with powerful people and unethical choices. He was fired after he said he was asked to commit a crime. In fact, he has filed a lawsuit against the city.
Also pointing out their difference at the forum were AG candidates Katherine Robertson and Pamela Casey.
Robertson explained her position as behind-the-scenes chief counsel in the AG's office for the past 10 years. She said that experience and her willingness to fight for conservative causes make her perfect for the job.
"When you get your ballot in May, you're going to see a whole host of new people running, and that's a great thing. It's great to have fresh meat in Montgomery, trust me," Robertson said. "But the one thing they're all going to have in common is they're going to be calling the AG's office looking for guidance, looking for somebody who's been around and knows how to work through the system, knows how to navigate it and can point them in the right direction. And that's me. I've been doing it very quietly for a decade now. And so, I'm ready. I'm ready to take on the job. I am very passionate."
Casey, who has served as the Blount County District Attorney since 2010, took to the mic next, stepping off the stage to address the crowd. She passionately explained how her hands-on work in law enforcement qualifies her for the top position.
“For almost two decades, I have been prosecuting across the state of Alabama,” said Casey. “We talk about make Alabama safe. I didn't decide a few months ago I was going to run for office and want to be the attorney general. I have been fighting for almost 20 years in courtrooms across the state of Alabama. I've prosecuted violent criminals, killers, pedophiles, human traffickers. I have been in the courtroom, not behind a desk in Montgomery, not on the bench somewhere. I have been in the streets fighting and protecting our children and our families.”
Other candidates making remarks were U.S. Senate candidates Rodney Walker and Morgan Murphy; U.S. House of Representatives Congressional District 1 candidates Austin Sidwell and Joshua McKee; Alabama State Auditor candidate Derek Chen; and Public Service Commission candidate Jeremy Oden.
The primary election will be held on May 19, 2026, and the general election will be held on November 3, 2026.
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