Patricia Salter Jamieson is running for the Democratic Party nomination for Governor of Alabama.
She is a 67-year-old mother of three daughters, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. A native Alabamian who was born and raised in Atmore, Salter Jamieson has lived in Jefferson County for the last 43 years. She attended Escambia County High School, Jefferson Davis Junior College, UAB, and Birmingham Theological Seminary.
Salter Jamieson is a Licensed Practical Nurse in Alabama and Florida and a licensed minister of the Gospel. She is a servant leader at Blessed Assembly Fresh Fire Worship Center with a bachelor’s degree in biopsychology health and development and is also certified as a cancer registrar and a clinical health coach.
On Thursday, 1819 News spoke with her about her plans if elected governor.
Since Democrats did not run a candidate in over half of the legislative seats this year, both houses of the Alabama Legislature will be Republican-controlled. When asked about working with a Republican Legislature to pass her legislative agenda, Salter Jamieson said, “We can come together and work together. I believe that Republicans and Democrats can come together for the betterment of the state.”
Salter Jamieson feels her career experience has prepared her to be governor of Alabama.
“I am both a licensed nurse and a licensed pastor,” Salter Jamieson said. “To be a good leader you must first be a servant. I have been a servant leader for years, though I am not a politician.”
Salter Jamieson shared her views on the lottery and gambling.
“Number one, I support the lottery for education,” Salter Jamieson said. “Alabama dollars are going over the line to other states.
“I am not an advocate for gambling, but I cannot force my religion on others,” Salter Jamieson added. “I would allow the people to make that choice.”
As far as casinos, “again I would allow the people to make that decision,” Salter Jamieson stated.
In regard to the death penalty, Salter Jamieson said, “I am in favor of the death penalty based on the severity of the crime; but I am not a proponent of capital punishment. Sometimes it is justified based on the severity of the crime.”
The nurse and minister expressed her support for school prayer, saying, “We had school prayer when I was growing up, and it is part of what is missing.”
Salter Jamieson expounded on her plan to improve Alabama's education system and rankings.
“Our children deserve better than what they are getting now,” Salter Jamieson said. “First, I would retain qualified educators in the classroom. Too many teachers are leaving education. We need to pay them more so that they will stay. I would have an education lottery and use that money to fund education.
“Second, I want the people to know that I favor all the schools being on an equal playing field; whether that is in rural Alabama, the suburbs, or in the inner city. By hiring and retaining qualified educators and paying them enough money that they want to enter and stay in that field, and I am for giving them (teachers) all of the resources that they need in the classroom."
Salter Jamieson also addressed workforce development.
“I want to be able to provide college scholarships for students with a GPA of a B or better,” Salter Jamieson said.
In campaign finance reports, much more money appears to have been contributed to the Republicans than to Democrats in the governor's race. Salter Jamieson said that would not stop her from connecting with voters.
“I would make sure that my feet touch the ground near every voter in the state,” Salter Jamieson said. “If I am the nominee, I want all Alabamians to know about me and my campaign. I plan to visit each county in the state. You can’t meet every voter in the state, but you can make sure that you visit their community.”
Salter Jamieson was asked about supporting rural Alabama. For the last several decades, rural Alabama has been losing population. The state is still growing, but most of that growth is concentrated in Baldwin, Madison, Limestone, Tuscaloosa, Shelby, Lee, St. Clair and Elmore Counties. Most of the rest of the state has declined in population, in both majority Black counties and majority White counties.
“Having a livable income is the number one problem, also healthcare,” Salter Jamieson said. “I am from Atmore. I went to UAB, and I knew that I would not make the amount of money in rural Alabama that I could make here [in Jefferson County]. The salaries are not the same.
"I would bring industry into rural Alabama. I hear officials talking about training at the two-year college level. I want to start earlier than that and reintroduce vocational training in the high schools; that way they can finish high school with the skills to make enough money to be able to support themselves so they can fill those jobs.”
In addition to Salter Jamieson, Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, Arthur Kennedy, Chad “Chig” Martin, Malika Sanders Fortier and Doug “New Blue” Smith are all running for the nomination in the Democratic primary.
Lindy Blanchard, Lew Burdette, Stacy George, Kay Ivey, Tim James, Donald Trent Jones, Dean Odle, Dave Thomas, and Dean Young are all running for the Republican nomination for governor.
Both primaries are on May 24.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary 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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