FAIRHOPE — Several Republican lieutenant governor candidates joined the Eastern Shore Republican Women (ESRW) for a luncheon and political forum on Thursday.
In attendance were Pat Bishop, Keith den Hollander, Rick Pate, Nicole Wadsworth and John Wahl. Secretary of State Wes Allen was unable to attend the forum due to a scheduling conflict.
Candidates opened with statements about their qualifications.
While Bishop said he is a former Democrat, he is thankful for redemption. He said his focus is his faith, family and the U.S. flag. As a veteran, he said he believes in the Republican Party's principles.
“Send a military veteran to Montgomery to fix what’s wrong,” Bishop said. “Because we are a spirit. Those that are served know we're not bought; we're not sold; we're going to fight for what's right. All I've ever known to do was to fight for you.”
Pate said that, as the Agriculture Commissioner for seven years, he hopes constituents are aware of the positive differences his department has made, including the creation of Sweet Grown Alabama. He said the opportunity came at a great time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So we got there in 2019, started up a brand new program so that you'd know whether you were buying a tomato or watermelon or strawberry from the cartels of Mexico or you were buying it from growers here in Alabama,” said Pate. “It's been a tremendous success.
After traveling to all 67 counties in the state, Wadsworth said she has identified five key issues.
“I've devised a plan called ‘Build a Better Alabama,'” Wadsworth presented to the crowd. “I want to utilize the Office of Lieutenant Governor to improve the quality of life for Alabamians in the areas of industry recruitment and retention, workforce development, statewide infrastructure improvements, rural health care and public safety."
Wahl, who gave up his position as the chairman for the Alabama Republican Party after five years, said it’s important for voters to realize the country is in a spiritual battle. He said he wants to put God at the forefront and get the government out of the way.
“I want to take government, I want to shrink it,” Wahl said. “I want less regulations, lower taxes. I want a constitutional, limited government that fights for you, that fights for your values, that fights for your rights. Because at the end of the day, this race is not about me. This race is not about any one of us. It's about the people of Alabama.”
The candidates were asked about fiscal responsibility, population growth, development and the cost of living.
Wahl said the cost of living is a faith issue. He said, as a friend of Charlie Kirk, he believes the lowest form of government is the family unit, and that should be supported.
“As a society, we've been taking God out of our government institutions; we've been taking God out of society,” said Wahl. “And when you do that, you leave a hole. Because by nature, we are spiritual beings, whether we want to admit it or not. And when you leave that hole, it's going to be filled with something. A lot of times it's secular humanism. With our young people, what we see is it's filled a lot with hopelessness. It's why we see the drug addictions, the alcohol abuse, and suicide rates at an all-time high. And so I think the answer to so much of this is, once again, looking to God, believing in faith, and that he has the answers. And getting government out of the way so we can build stronger families.”
As a pastor, Bishop agreed.
“Put and keep God first,” he said. “This lack of common sense. When most of us grew up, we played in the school and said the Pledge of Allegiance. What happened? Where did it go? What used to be right is not wrong, what used to be wrong is now right. You take God out of schools, you get to prison, the first thing they give you is a Bible. Ladies and gentlemen, again, my campaign is based on common sense. I want to put common sense back in our lives. We don't need people dressed in wigs and dragged underneath our children. We don't need pornography in our libraries. We don't need DHR kidnapping our children. But again, I speak facts.”
In closing, Pate said all the candidates are great, but his background proves he is a strong option.
“I really feel like I've got the heart of a public servant,” said Pate. “I went into it, not for the money. I took a huge pay cut to take this ag job, and I'm not complaining. I think the lieutenant governor even pays worse. I want to make the investment.”
Wadsworth said she is also in business and has proved herself in the private sector and at home.
“I'm Nicole Jones Wadsworth, for lieutenant governor, and family and that value system is extremely important to me,” said Wadsworth. “I'm from Huntsville, Alabama. I sent both of my children to private school from K through 12, a tremendous sacrifice. It was pre-school choice, but I wanted to make sure that what was being taught in their school mirrored what was being taught at home.”
The candidates will be on the primary election ballot statewide on May 19.
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