State Sen. Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) hopes that those upset over his controversial Smith Lake resort development bill can move on now that he’s pre-filed legislation to repeal it.
Gudger issued a release on Friday announcing his decision, which he further explained at a Republican meeting in Cullman on Saturday.
“I thought it was the right thing to do for this community. And, honestly, if it had come to fruition, I think it would be the right thing,” he said. “But — there’s a big but there — the people in this community seem that they don’t want it, and so I’m listening.”
Gudger said that his Senate Bill 322, which he passed last session, was becoming a negative distraction, “overshadowing” more important issues, such as helping law enforcement and veterans, and boosting education. He recounted how his last three meetings all ended in conversations about SB 322, and how even his son asked him why he passed such a “divisive” bill.
“I think that the energy spent on the legislation, SB322, not only continues to overshadow the important, the unifying and the positive issues that we should be discussing in this community, because we have everything going for us in the right direction if we just continue to talk about the positive,” he said. “And I have never in my life been someone to talk about the negative, but I feel like, because of what I passed, people are talking about the negative, and they won’t get off of it. And it’s hurt my heart, just to be honest with you.”
He continued, “[We should focus on] building relationships for the betterment of all of us, not getting on Facebook behind a damn keyboard and just being a Facebook cowboy and just telling everybody exactly what you think without thinking through it. Guys, we’re better than that, and it hurts people. That’s not what we’re about here.”
Gudger reiterated his commitment to representing the wishes of his constituents and called for his community to come together.
“My decision could be summed up in four words — this whole issue, to me — and that is, ‘you spoke, and I listened… I hope today shows you that even when I think I’m right, but you think I’m wrong, I’m going to be listening to you as the way that it is supposed to be.”
“Hopefully, we can go forward as a team and unify ourselves instead of fighting and tearing this community apart because that truly hurts my soul.”
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