J. Robin Mears, the Executive Director of Alabama Christian Education Association, announced on Friday that he is endorsing Tim James for governor.
“Dear Friends, I want you to know that I enthusiastically endorse Tim James for Governor,” Mears said in a statement. “Tim is a talented Christian man who loves Alabama. He is the ‘people's candidate.’ He is not a career politician ‘owned’ by special interest groups.”
Mears said James opposes the expansion of gambling, wants to repeal the tax on food, opposes the legalization of marijuana, wants to reduce taxes, wants to return power to the people, and wants to make government work more efficiently for the citizens it serves.
“I have spent considerable time with Tim, and I am persuaded that he will improve education in Alabama," said Mears. "For the last 12 years, Republican career politicians have held the governor's office and have had a supermajority in both houses of the legislature. Combine this with record number of education dollars coming into the treasury, [and] one would think that education would be exponentially improving. Unfortunately, the opposite has been true. Test scores are LOWER than they were when the Democrats were in charge, despite all the campaign rhetoric! Career politicians and special interest groups 'rule the roost!'
“Tim has a novel idea. Let's listen to and empower parents to have their choice regarding their children. He strongly supports the Parent's Choice Act and will put the weight of his office behind getting it passed. More choice and competition will have the same positive results that it is having in other states. We need a change! The political class and the 'good old boys' need an outsider to shake things up. Tim is the man that can change the trajectory of politics to get things done for the people. I urge you to support him!”
James thanked Mears for the endorsement.
“It is a great honor to receive an endorsement from a man like Robin Mears,” James said. “He is a warrior for our children, providing them with a genuine Christian education vitally needed in our society today.”
The Alabama Christian Education Association (ACEA) is one of the largest state Christian school organizations in the country. ACEA protects Christian school interests in the Alabama State Legislature and works with member churches and Christian schools in legal areas. The Executive Director represents and speaks for scores of churches and Christian schools and thousands of parents and students. Legislation protecting church schools from offensive state regulations is now law because of ACEA efforts.
Even though Alabama is ranked lowest in the nation in regards to their public schools, legislation to expand school choice and give parents options for their child’s education was rejected by the state legislature in the regular legislative session which just ended.
James is a Greenville businessman and the son of former Gov. Fob James. James ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2002 and 2010.
Lindy Blanchard, Lew Burdette, Stacy George, Kay Ivey, James, Donald Trent Jones, Dean Odle, Dave Thomas, and Dean Young are all running in the Republican primary on May 24.
Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, Patricia Salter Jamieson, Arthur Kennedy, Chad "Chig" Martin, Malika Sanders Fortier, and Doug "New Blue" Smith are all running for the Democratic nomination.
The two major-party nominees will face off in the general election on Nov. 8
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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