February 17 was a busy day in Pelham as the Alabama Republican Assembly (ALRA) met at their State Candidate Convention for the upcoming primary.
A state chapter of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), the ALRA is a grassroots organization committed to helping our state Republican Assemblies reform the Republican Party to achieve their goal of constitutional government. Known as the conservative conscience of the Republican Party, Ronald Reagan credited them for his election to the presidency, once applauding their grassroots efforts and noting, “[NFRA's] thousands of dedicated men and women are the ones who turn all those modernistic campaign devices into real votes.”
The NFRA is a grassroots organization committed to helping our state Republican Assemblies reform the Republican Party to achieve their goal of a constitutional government and is the home of the Frederick Douglass Republicans. If you believe in small government, lower taxes, free market capitalism, a strong defense, the right to life, and constitutional values, then the NFRA may be for you – Ronald Reagan even credited the NFRA for his election to the presidency.
After a meet-and-greet session, the floor was opened to candidates to let attendees know who they were, what their views were, what they wished to accomplish if elected, and why they wanted to run for office. Eighteen candidates, several of whom are running for the same office, took to the floor to explain how their campaign visions best garner the support of the ALRA.
The Assembly then took up the business of voting on which candidate best met the planks of the Republican Party and those of the Republican Assembly. The following candidates received ALRA endorsement:
Barry Moore - Congressional District 1
Barron Rae Bevels - Congressional District 3
Justin Holcomb - Congressional District 4
Gary Palmer - Congressional District 6
Robin Litaker - Congressional District 7
Bryan Taylor - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Chad Hanson - Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2
Rich Anderson - Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh – Alabama Public Service Commission President
William Smith, the Alabama Republican Assembly President, said the ALRA believes these candidates will best uphold conservatism and are committed to fighting for constitutional principles and the preservation of the Republic.
The ALRA also passed two unanimous resolutions, one against current legislation supporting gambling, and the other in support of legislation making the State Health Officer a position appointed by the governor.
With the March 5th primaries fast approaching we must remind all Alabamians that voting is both a right and a responsibility. Elections give citizens the right to select, through a democratic voting process, those who will be their voice in all matters at government levels. Four of our 27 constitutional amendments directly address this right to vote, including:
15th Amendment – “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” (1870)
19th Amendment – “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” (1920)
24th Amendment – “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of people pay poll tax or other tax.” (1964)
26th Amendment – “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” (1971)
Many believe and argue that the First and Second Amendments are the most important Constitutional rights, but without exercising these four amendments, you may well see the first two erode before your eyes. See you at the polls!
Charles ‘Kip’ Kiplinger is the Vice President of the North Central Alabama Republican Assembly serving Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties (https://ncalabamarepublicanassembly.org/).
