Manna Beverage to bring over 170 jobs to Montgomery
Gov. Kay Ivey announced today that Manna Beverages & Ventures was going to site a new multi-million dollar facility in the City of Montgomery. Manna is owned by Manna Capital Partners, which was started by NBA legend Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman. “It is an exciting day for both the State of Alabama and the City of Montgomery,” said Gov. Ivey. “If you are willing to work hard, we are here to help you all the way.” “Announcements like this are a solid sign that in the state of Alabama, we are doing things right,” Ivey continued. “Manna Beverages & Ventures represents a $600 million investment and more than 280 jobs for the state of Alabama and the City of Montgomery. It takes a lot of teamwork to achieve an announcement like this today. In my time as Governor, I have been fortunate to have an all-star team to work with Chambers of Commerce like this and the team at the Alabama Department of Commerce.” “My goal in the next four years is to lean more on public-private partnerships to bring more announcements like this,” Ivey said. “Junior, thank you for bringing your business to the state of Alabama. You will not regret it.” Bridgeman said the $600 million investment will “start with 170 jobs” and “hopefully will get up to 280 jobs.” He said that the company would emphasize working with minority and women-owned businesses. “Thank you to the great State of Alabama and the City of Montgomery,” stated Junior Bridgeman. “Thank you to welcoming me and my team to the beautiful and historic City of Montgomery. We are very excited to be here.” Bridgeman announced that Manna Beverages & Ventures “Will build our first facility in Montgomery to produce beverages for world-class brand owners.” Bridgeman said that the 1.7 million square foot facility would be located at a 180-acre site off of I-65. Bridgeman noted that the facility should open in early 2025. “It is special for me to be here in this special and historic place – the City of Montgomery,” Bridgeman said. “The truth is that the people here in Montgomery are genuine.” “I want to thank Governor Ivey for her leadership and support for jobs and economic development not just for Montgomery and this region; but for the entire state,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. “Manna Capital Partners launching their $600 million Manna Beverages investment does not just happen overnight. It takes a lot of work. This is another great performance by the city, the county, and the state.” Reed praised Bridgeman and Manna Beverages & Ventures for their commitment to working with Black and women-owned businesses. “That means a lot,” said Reed. “They have already asked about opportunities to partner with our schools and grow the economic ecosystems that are here.” Bridgeman is a retired NBA and college basketball star who invested in dining franchises and later became a Coca-Cola bottler after his retirement. Reed praised Bridgeman for his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. “He has shown the ability to manage the toughest areas of business – the restaurant and hospitality business. He is one of the top ten wealthiest retired athletes in the world. He was number four in 2016. Let’s help him to get to number one,” said Reed. “It is a great day today to be here and celebrate with them coming to Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton. “When you are out there recruiting, most of the time, the prospect wants to know what you are going to do for them, but meeting with Manna, they were all about what they would do for our community.” “We are honored this morning to welcome a new business to our community,” said Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Director Cedric Campbell. “ Since first being elevated to Governor in 2017, Ivey has focused on economic development issues to raise employment rates and Alabama household incomes. Ivey is seeking a second term as governor. She faces Democratic party nominee Yolanda Flowers and Libertarian nominee Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey hosts the second annual Made in Alabama showcase
Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Commerce hosted the second annual Made in Alabama Showcase on Friday at the Old State Supreme Court Chambers in the historic Alabama Capitol Building to recognize some of Alabama’s top companies. “It is great to be surrounded by some of Alabama’s most wonderful businesses who continue showing the world what it means to be Made in Alabama,” Gov. Ivey stated. “As I like to say, the work that our businesses are doing, Made in Alabama, is bringing back Made in America. I would like to begin by offering big congratulations to this year’s 14 honorees. I am truly honored to recognize y’all today here in our State Capitol. We have got companies from all across Alabama run by a group of diverse group of Alabamians. Truly we are seeing Alabama. In booths around the room, we are honoring great Alabama companies producing things from honey balls to pop sickles, to game clocks, to Red Land Cotton bed sheets. I firmly believe that Alabama has the best businesses in the country. What you have accomplished has made that Made in Alabama brand even more exceptional. As Governor, please know that you always have my full and total support. When you are successful, the state of Alabama is successful.” “It is amazing all the good things that Alabamians are making,” Ivey told reporters. The governor praised “all the good work that the people of Alabama are doing.” Gov. Ivey selected 14 top-rated businesses for their work and invited them to exhibit their products at the Alabama State Capitol. The 11 honorees that were able to attend showcased their products, discussed their company’s history and gave away promotional items to the public. “Our state is blessed to have numerous companies producing outstanding Alabama-American-made products every single day. During Manufacturing Month, I am proud to recognize 14 of the best our state has to offer,” said Governor Ivey. “Alabama made products speak to who we are as a state, and we could not be more excited to showcase these exceptional companies’ products and service to all our visitors today.” Ivey has prioritized economic development since her elevation to governor in 2017. The state has attracted over $32 billion in capital investment and 65,000 new jobs over that time period. “The ‘Made in Alabama’ badge is synonymous with quality, and it’s crystal clear that the companies being honored in today’s showcase have mastered the art of turning out an amazing variety of world-class products,” said Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield in a statement. The honorees were nominated by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Manufacture Alabama, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, and the Business Council of Alabama. The 14 honorees are as follows: Frios Gourmet Pops, based in Mobile, produces gourmet popsicles for its franchisees across the country. The company has grown from a brick-and-mortar shop to pivoting in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to be mobile by attending parties and corporate events in their tie-dye food trucks. Shaw Industries Group, Inc. offers a diverse portfolio of carpet, resilient, hardwood, tile and stone, laminate, synthetic turf, and other specialty items for residential and commercial markets worldwide via its brands Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Floorigami, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, Shaw Floors, Shaw Sports Turf, Southwest Greens and more. Shaw’s fiber manufacturing plant in Andalusia, Alabama, is Covington County’s largest employer. To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company is a national pioneer in producing organic sprouted grains. In their 17 years of business, they have grown to become the largest U.S. producer of sprouted grains, flours, legumes, seeds, and nuts, producing close to one million pounds per year. They are located in Fitzpatrick, Alabama, in Bullock County. Victory Game Clocks is a female, veteran-owned and operated team sport timing supplier based in Roanoke, Alabama. Victory Game Clocks designs, manufactures, and sells high-quality practice timers, play clocks, scoreboards, electronic down markers, and timeout countdown clocks for football and other sports. Their products first hit the market in 2011, and today are used by professional, college, and high school teams across the country. WoodHaven Custom Calls designs top-of-the-line turkey and deer calls in Heflin, Alabama. The calls can be customized as a mouth, wood, or friction call. The idea for the company was built in the late 1980s from the owner’s desire to be the best turkey hunter he could be. Red Land Cotton is a family-owned, direct-to-consumer e-commerce company crafting luxury bedding, towels, and loungewear exclusively from cotton grown on their family farm in north Alabama. Red Land Cotton utilizes a supply chain that starts and ends in north Alabama. All of the cotton is grown, harvested, and ginned on Red Land Farms in Lawrence and Colbert counties. It is manufactured in different communities across the United States before it returns as finished cloth to be cut and sewn and then distributed from Moulton, Alabama. Golden Eagle Syrup founders, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Patterson Sr., produced their first can in Fayette, Alabama on October 28, 1928. The original manufacturing building still remains the home of Golden Eagle Syrup today. In efforts to keep the historic company viable, additional products, which incorporate the syrup, are being added. Caramel Corn was the first of these brought to market and is carrying on the tradition of quality products at fair prices. Golden Eagle Syrup remains a family-owned, family-run business; the present owners have a strong commitment to preserving the tradition and quality established by the founders. Jack Daniel Cooperage manufactures white oak barrels for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The Jack Daniel Cooperage is located in Trinity, Alabama, and is home to approximately 175 employees. “JDC” was established in 2014 and currently produces approximately 1,200 barrels per day. Specification Rubber Products began in 1968 as a manufacturer of molded rubber components for the waterworks industry, specializing in rubber gaskets. Today, their company is a primary supplier of ductile iron pipe, valve, and hydrant producers. Not only do they help to make drinking water safe, but they also received the “Best Place to Work” award in 2021 from Rubber News, a national industry publication.
Yolanda Flowers addresses prison protesters
On Friday, Democratic nominee for Governor Yolanda Flowers addressed the “Break These Chains” protest rally on the Capitol steps in Montgomery. The rally aimed to draw attention to conditions within the Alabama Department of Corrections. Alabama is one of seven states that do not pay its prisoners for their labor. There is reportedly still an ongoing work stoppage in some state prisons. “Criminal justice is in my heart,” Flowers told the crowd, saying that she shares their concerns. Flowers said that some prisoners have endured being stripped “naked and beating them to a bloody pulp” in the prisons. “I am a recent widow, for just about a year,” Flowers said. “My husband is free, but I want my people to be free.” “They have been incarcerated since they were 12 years old,” Flowers charged. “They when they turned 17 or 18, they found some way to convict them and keep them locked up.” Flowers said that “God is the only way” to resolve this problem. “God is the government. He is the ruling authority because he made the universe. We are going to have to get down on our knees and humble ourselves before the Lord.” Flowers then sang a Gospel song, “You are all important to me. I will pray for you. You pray for me. I love you. I need you to survive. You are all important to me. I need you to survive.” One of Flowers’ supporters said, “The singing governor, a praying governor; that is what we need.” Flowers acknowledged that she is being out-fundraised by the incumbent, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. “Money does not move me,” Flowers said. Diyawn Caldwell, who emceed the event, urged voters, “Don’t divide the vote. That only benefits Kay Ivey.” Glenn Ray with the NAACP also addressed the crowd. “When you have somebody who does not listen to you, you got to vote them out of office,” Ray said. “We have human beings that are being mistreated,” Ray claimed. He argued that the Governor and Republicans have ignored the situation. “We are going to have to vote these people out.” Ray said that the Ivey administration is using money that was supposed to be distributed to the people for COVID relief to build new prisons. “Those prisons are for your children and grandchildren,” Ray said. Addressing the problems with Alabama prisons will be a challenge for the next governor as the state faces a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit and suit that is already in federal court. The court has tasked the state with hiring more guards and providing appropriate mental health and healthcare services to the prisoners. The DOJ charges that the violence in Alabama prisons is so bad that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Flowers is retired from a career as a teacher and rehabilitation services specialist in Tennessee. She has several degrees from the University of Tennessee. She is a native of Birmingham, where she lives in the Woodlawn community of the city. She is a mother and grandmother. Flowers, Ivey, and the Libertarian nominee, Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, will be on the November 8 general election ballot. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey outpaces other gubernatorial candidates in September fundraising
The September campaign finance reports are in, and incumbent Governor Kay Ivey, the Republican nominee, is lapping her opponents in fundraising. According to the campaign finance reports filed by the Secretary of State’s office, the governor entered the month of September with $75,583.16 in her re-election account. During September, the governor raised another $316,011 in contributions. Ivey outspent everyone else in the race: combined with expenditures of $189,915.81 in September alone. Ivey enters the month with $201,678.35 in cash on hand. Ivey is only the second woman to be elected as Governor of Alabama. She is the longest serving woman governor in state history as Gov. Lurleen Wallace died of breast cancer in office during her one and only term. Ivey was twice elected as State Treasurer and twice elected as Lieutenant Governor; before being elevated to governor in 2017 when then Gov. Robert Bentley resigned. Ivey was elected to her own term of office in 2018. Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake is the Libertarian candidate for governor. Blake, as a challenger, enters the race with less name recognition than the incumbent governor. The way a campaign builds name recognition is through commercials: radio, TV, internet, print, direct mail, signs, and billboards, and all of that costs money in a state with over five million people and multiple media markets. The Libertarians did not even get ballot access until late May, so building a fundraising apparatus to challenge an incumbent Governor has been challenging. The Blake campaign began in September with just $834. Over the course of the month, Blake raised $9,325, spent $5,389.90, and entered October with $4,769.10 in cash on hand. The situation is even bleaker for the Democratic nominee for Governor. Yolanda Rochelle Flowers reported contributions for the month of just $2,150. The Democratic nominee only had $673.32 in funds coming into September. After spending just $2777.09, the Flowers campaign was left with only $46.23 entering October. The last three Democratic nominees for governor Walt Maddox, Parker Griffith, and Ron Sparks, were running campaigns that were at distinct disadvantages to their Republican counterparts. Still, ideological liberals, Democratic Party loyalists, and allied special interests did at least fund their campaigns. Flowers can’t raise money, and Democrats appear to have thrown in the towel on this and every other statewide race. Democrats aren’t giving to Flowers, who already has a mountain to climb to establish name recognition, much less win votes on election day. Flowers is the first Black woman to be nominated for Governor of Alabama by one of the two major political parties. Ivey, Blake, and Flowers are the only three candidates that will appear on the ballot on November 8, but there are also at least two write-in candidates who do not have the advantages of a statewide political party working for their cause. Write-in candidate Jared Budlong began the month of September with just $105.23 in his campaign account. Over the course of the month, he raised $918.40 in contributions for his campaign and borrowed another $370.07. Budlong spent $659.72 on the campaign and entered October with $733.98 in cash on hand. Lee county pastor and former Republican primary candidate Dean Odle is running as a write-in candidate. Odle entered the month of September with $12,081.61 in cash on hand. Odle reported cash contributions of $5,735.02, in-kind contributions of $666.40, expenditures of $11,550.16, and an ending cash balance of $6,266.47. To vote for Budlong or Odle, voters must check the write-in candidate as their choice for governor and then write in their name on the paper ballot. Republican candidates have dominated fundraising in this election cycle. Republican candidates have raised $46,753,741.68. Political Action Committees have raised $19,798,304.29 in contributions. The Democratic candidates have contributions of $7,282,846.27 combined. All other candidates, including the 65 Libertarian candidates on the ballot, have only raised $178,572.12 combined in this cycle. By comparison, Ivey by herself raised $316,011 just in the month of September. Ivey has raised $9,898,554.35 in this election – more than every Democrat, Libertarian, and independent candidate combined. The election will be on November 8. If, for some reason you are unable to vote on November 8, you can apply for and obtain an absentee ballot. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jimmy Blake criticizes Kay Ivey’s tax rebate plan
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on Monday that she may soon introduce a plan to provide rebates to Alabama taxpayers, but citing the possibility of future economic uncertainty Ivey said that it would be reckless to introduce structural changes to the state’s tax structure. Libertarian nominee for Governor Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake has been urging for permanent tax cuts, not one time tax rebates. Blake spoke on the phone with Alabama Today on Monday night following the Governor’s announcement. “She hasn’t considered cutting the size of government,” Blake said. “She won’t do anything that will help anybody in the long run.” “How is the state going to compete with a five percent income tax rate, when the states around us have a lower rate or no state income tax at all?” Blake said. “Why not commit to decreasing the size of state government and get it out of the people’s pockets.” Blake dismissed the Ivey promise of some tax rebates. “You won’t be able to compete with that,” Blake said. “It is election time, so she talks about some tax relief. She is going to do what she has done before, which is increase the burden on Alabama taxpayers.” Blake has called for reducing the state income tax rate, with a goal of eventually eliminating the tax altogether. “There are clearly plenty of Republicans who agree with what we are saying,” Blake said. The state’s 2022 fiscal year ended on Friday, with the state of Alabama ending the year with an extra $2 billion in surplus to carry over to 2023. Ivey said that making structural changes to the tax code would be a mistake. “Many predict – and I agree – a potential downswing in the economy is right around the corner,” Ivey said. “We must ensure both Alabama and her citizens are in the best possible position to weather any future economic circumstances. We all know the bills have got to be paid one day, and we cannot make permanent structural change because of temporary circumstances. Anyone who tells you otherwise is likely looking to score political points – just as our federal government has done with their massive spending.” Ivey faces Libertarian nominee Dr. Blake and Democratic nominee Yolanda Rochelle Flowers in the November 8 general election. Flowers has advocated for eliminating the four percent sales tax on groceries and replacing that revenue with a lottery. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey promises tax rebates to help Alabama families
The state’s 2022 fiscal year ended on Friday, and the state of Alabama had over $2 billion it did not spend left over going into 2023. On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that, while she believes these revenues are unsustainable, she will present a plan to the State Legislature where some portion of this historic surplus will be rebated back to taxpayers. “Last week, we closed out the fiscal year, and I am proud to report to the people of Alabama that thanks to the conservative management of our budgets for the past several years, Alabama’s financial footing is very strong,” said Gov. Ivey in a statement. “Let’s be clear, though: This is the citizens’ hard-earned money, and I thank each and every one of them for keeping our economy rolling and economic activity robust, even in a difficult climate. While our budgets are balanced, we are recording revenues far exceeding normal levels. In fact, these revenues are historic but completely unsustainable. No doubt, this surplus is a direct result of reckless spending by the federal government.” Some ultra-conservatives have suggested that the state should cut income tax rates or even end the four percent tax on groceries instead of simply making one-time tax rebates. The Governor dismissed what she called “permanent structural change” because of a likely potential downturn in the economy. “Many predict – and I agree – a potential downswing in the economy is right around the corner,” Ivey continued. “We must ensure both Alabama and her citizens are in the best possible position to weather any future economic circumstances. We all know the bills have got to be paid one day, and we cannot make permanent structural change because of temporary circumstances. Anyone who tells you otherwise is likely looking to score political points – just as our federal government has done with their massive spending.” Ivey said that she is committed to providing some tax relief to taxpayers before the November 8 general election. “And while the federal government acts recklessly, we, in Alabama, will be deliberate and thoughtful with our taxpayer dollars,” Ivey said. “I have spoken to folks across the state, and people are feeling the pinch of today’s economy, and I have committed to them that I want to provide some relief to their pocketbooks. As we move through the November election cycle, I will work closely with the Legislature to provide relief directly to the people of Alabama. I will present a plan to the Legislature to allocate these funds in a manner that helps our citizens with the issues that we face today while also considering our children and their future.” “I do believe that some form of rebates should be considered, but rest assured that every option we are exploring will be focused on the interests of our citizens and keeping our people first,” Ivey concluded. State receipts go to two different funds: the state general fund (SGF), which deals with non-education expenditures, and the education trust fund. The state anticipates receipts of $2.6 billion in the SGF and $8.2 billion in the ETF. Ivey faces Libertarian nominee Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake and Democratic nominee Yolanda Rochelle Flowers in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
“We need to do better,” Yolanda Flowers says of Alabama’s criminal justice system
On Monday, inmates at the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) launched a statewide work stoppage to protest their quality-of-life concerns in Alabama’s prisons. On Wednesday, Alabama Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Yolanda Rochelle Flowers said in a videotaped statement sent to Alabama Today, “We can do better.” Flowers claimed that the prisoners were being treated “worse than animals” and called on people to call Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to address her concerns. “Hey, this is Yolanda Flowers. I am your gubernatorial candidate for Governor of Alabama,” Flowers said. “My concerns that I want to address is our criminal justice system and how unfair it is all across the state.” “Our incarcerated loved ones, our incarcerated citizens, are suffering,” Flowers claimed. “They are suffering from the injustices. They are not getting the proper food. They are not getting the proper healthcare services. Whether it is mental or physical…they are not getting it. They are living in conditions that, to be honest, are worse than animals outside. We need to do better. We need to call our governor up on this. No, she doesn’t want to give equitability to our people, but our people are suffering. Yes, they made some mistakes, but that is OK; she has too. So I am asking that you all will vote for Yolanda Flowers.” The Alabama prison system has been heavily criticized over the years. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), on behalf of several current and former inmates, has sued the state claiming that the prisoners do not get the proper mental services and that the prisons are chronically understaffed. Federal Judge Myron Thompson has ordered the state to address the lack of mental health services. ADOC has responded by contracting with a new mental healthcare provider. Thompson has also ordered ADOC to hire 2,000 more prison guards. Despite raising the pay and providing generous signing and retention bonuses, ADOC has not been able to hire even 20 percent of that number in the past three years. That case is still pending. The Obama Justice Department ordered an investigation of the Alabama prison system. An investigation that the Trump Justice Department carried out. The DOJ investigation revealed that ADOC is the country’s most violent prison system and that numerous documented cases of beatings, rapes, and even murders of inmates by other inmates in the system. The system is awash in illegal drugs, and several inmates have overdosed while in ADOC custody. After the Ivey administration failed to move quickly enough to address DOJ’s concerns, then-Attorney General William Barr filed suit against the state, claiming that conditions in the Alabama prisons are so bad that they constitute a “cruel and unusual punishment” and are thus unconstitutional – a claim that the state of Alabama disputes. The Biden DOJ has not backed away from the Trump administration’s position and offered leniency to the state. In November, the Alabama Legislature approved Gov. Ivey’s plan to build two new mega prisons that will house in excess of 4,000 inmates each. The Ivey administration claims that the new facilities will allow ADOC to guard the same number of inmates with fewer guards while providing better health and mental services to inmates. Construction is underway on the two mega prisons in Elmore and Escambia Counties. In December, Gov. Ivey fired ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn, a Bentley Administration holdover who had been tasked with transforming the prison system. A video of an inmate being beaten by an ADOC guard on the roof of one of the prisons has only enflamed passions on both sides of the standoff. The inmates claim that ADOC is retaliating against their work stoppage by withholding food. Ivey and Flowers, along with Libertarian Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, will be on the November 8 general election ballot for governor. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Democrat Wendell Major is running for Attorney General
Alabama Democratic Party nominee for Alabama Attorney General Wendell Major addressed a diverse group of voters on Sunday following the gubernatorial debate between Libertarian Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake and write-in candidate Pastor Dean Odle at Huntsville’s Studio 53. “My entire history has been service,” Major said. “I joined the Marine Corps out of high school. I spent 36 years as a Jefferson County Deputy. I am the police chief of Tarrant.” “I will enforce the letter of the law from day one,” Major promised if elected as Alabama’s AG. Major has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law. “I have been a lawyer for 15 years,” Major added. Major is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He is also a licensed polygrapher. “Civil forfeiture is a problem,” Major said. “It is out and out robbery.” Civil asset forfeiture is when law enforcement seizes guns, money, vehicles, homes, businesses, and other property because they believe that the property was used to or obtained by illegal activity – usually the illicit drug trade. Assets can be seized in Alabama without the accused being convicted of a crime or sometimes even charged. Major was born and raised in Alabama. He met his wife here and has raised his family in Alabama. Major is both a father and a grandfather who says he wants to make Alabama safe for generations to come. As a high school student, Wendell Major joined the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Club program to help his community become safer. Major says that he opposes using police to generate revenue. “I told my Mayor when he appointed me police chief that the day he asks me about revenue is the day I quit,” Major said. Since Major did not have a primary opponent, his campaign has largely been underreported until now. Major faces incumbent Republican Steve Marshall in the November 8 general election. There is no Libertarian nominee for Attorney General. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Libertarian candidate for Lieutenant Governor Ruth Page Nelson campaigns in Huntsville
On Sunday, the Libertarian Party of Alabama nominee for Lieutenant Governor Ruth Page Nelson addressed a diverse group of voters at an election forum event at Huntsville’s Studio 53. “I am Ruth Page Nelson the Libertarian candidate for Lieutenant Governor,” Nelson said. “I am your choice for change.” Nelson is challenging Republican incumbent Will Ainsworth in the general election. “Now you have a choice to make a difference,” Nelson told the crowd that had just seen Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake debate write-in candidate for governor Dean Odle. “We have a state that builds itself on mass incarceration. We will change that,” Nelson said. Nelson grew up in Florida but is a resident of the Dothan area. She is a community activist and an electrician. She is certified by the U.S. Department of Energy to teach solar system installation installers. She has a degree in microbiology. “The integrity of the vote has been a major issue in this election,” Nelson said. “The integrity of the vote determines whether you vote or not.” Nelson is for replacing the state’s ESS vote counting machines with a hand counted paper ballots. “We need to go to the paper ballot,” Nelson said. Nelson previously ran as a Republican for U.S. Senate. “Your vote determines the future of your children and grandchildren,” Nelson continued. Nelson said that the office of Lieutenant Governor is important because, “The Lt Governor is the President of the Senate.” This is the first time that the Alabama Libertarians have had ballot access since 2002. Libertarians need for at least one of their statewide candidates to get at least twenty percent of the vote in order to keep ballot access without going through the ballot access petition process – a process that cost over $240,000 during this election cycle. No Libertarian candidate, including Nelson and Blake, knew for sure that they would be on the ballot until May 24, thus the Libertarian nominees have been late getting ramped up in this election cycle. “I am trying to win enough votes to see that Ruth Page Nelson gets 20% of the vote so we can keep ballot access,” Blake said. “We have 65 candidates who are on the ballot. Fifty of those people are running only against a Republican or a Democrat.” In those 50 races the Republican or Democratic nominee faces only a Libertarian. The Lieutenant Governor’s race is one of those 50 races where one of the two major parties chose not to challenge the other. The general election will be November 8. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Dean Odle and Jimmy Blake debate in Huntsville
The Libertarian nominee for Governor, Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, and write-in gubernatorial candidate Pastor Dean Odle both attended a gubernatorial event at Studio 53 in Huntsville on Sunday. Both are challenging incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey, the Republican nominee, in the November 8 general election. Dr. Blake is a medical doctor, former Birmingham City Councilman, and U.S. Air Force veteran. Blake is a former Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Alabama. “I started the first free-standing emergency room in Alabama – American Family Care. I sold my interest in that, and I have been in family practice in Hoover and doing emergency care in Centreville and Fayette,” Blake said. “I am a Libertarian, and I believe you have a right to your own life,” Blake explained. “I served eight years on the Birmingham City Council, where we changed the politics of Birmingham and Jefferson County. Mayor Arrington and the Alabama Citizens’ Council ruled the city with an iron fist. When I left, not one of their candidates was in office.” Odle is a pastor of a Church in Lee County. He is a Christian evangelist, former international missionary, and private school master. Odle was one of nine Republican primary candidates on May 24 but was defeated by incumbent Ivey. “I never thought I would do this, but when we see the mess that Alabama is in, I felt that we needed somebody who was not already in politics to clean this up,” Odle said. “Somebody had to run against the fake Republicans what I call the RINOs – Republicans In Name Only. The Republican Party in Alabama is corrupt to the core.” Blake disagreed with Odle. “The establishment Republicans are the real Republican Party,” Blake argued. “I wish Republicans were who they say they are, but they aren’t.” Both opposed the implementation of red flag laws in Alabama. “No, I would not,” Blake said when asked if he favored the state accepting federal dollars to implement a state red flag law. “I think the right to keep and bear arms is critically important to keep you safe from criminals. The founders of our country thought it was critically important that we have the ability to keep and bear arms to protect against the government. We in the Libertarian Party do not want to infringe on your Second Amendment rights.” Odle said that taking away an American’s gun rights on suspicion that they might do something is a violation of our constitutional rights. “I don’t care what laws that Congress make; if it is not constitutional, it should not be enforced in Alabama,” Odle stated. Both expressed their opposition to government-ordered shutdowns during pandemics. “We (Odle’s Church) never shut down,” Odle claimed. “We as American citizens do not lose our constitutional rights during an emergency, whether that is a war or a pandemic.” “My view is that Kay Ivey is a big government globalist,” Blake said. “Look what happened during the COVID hysteria with the shutdowns and the mask orders.” There was disagreement over the expansion of gambling in the state. “If the people of Alabama want to have a lottery, if they want to have casinos, I am alright with that,” Blake said. ‘What I don’t want to see happen is what normally happens in Alabama is that we pick two or three of our friends and give them exclusive right to have casinos.” Blake said that if electronic gambling machines are legalized in Alabama, then they should be allowed in every gas station and store in the state. “If 100% of that money should go toward eliminating the income, I am all for it,” Blake said. “We have to amend the constitution to allow a lottery,” Odle said. “I really personally am not for it, but I will not stand in the way if the people want it and the legislature passes it. The governor is not a dictator. I am not for casino gambling. That just opens the door to organized crime.” There was also disagreement about the legalization of marijuana in the state. “I don’t believe in black markets; I believe in personal responsibility,” Blake said. “Black markets create a dangerous society. We learned that in Prohibition. If we had a free market, there would be no fentanyl on the streets; because nobody would be willing to put their corporation’s name to it and be sued – the exception is Pfizer, who asked their buddies in the government to eliminate their liability to put a dangerous product (the COVID-19 vaccine) out there.” “We have laws that limit certain activities,” Odle said. “I don’t believe that we need to fully legalize marijuana. I have talked to people that have come here from states that have legalized marijuana, and they say that that is when their states went downhill. I don’t favor fully legalizing it, but I do favor decriminalizing it. We don’t need anybody in prison for nonviolent crime.” Both candidates agreed that the state should have some mechanism for a paper hand count of the ballots. “The voting machines across the country, both ESS and Dominion, are easily hackable,” Odle said. “The people that they don’t want, both Democrats and Republicans, get cut out,” Odle said. “France counts 70 million paper ballots in one evening.” “We have paper ballots, but what we don’t do is go back to the paper ballots to check the count,” Blake argued. “Each candidate should be able to designate three or four percent of the ballot to go in and do a hand count to check the accuracy of the count.” Both candidates said they were pro-life, but there was disagreement over what that means. “We do not have a right to an abortion,” Blake said. “If somebody trespasses on your house, you do not have a right to kill a squatter.” “I think we can all agree that at some point in the process, there becomes two people,” Blake said. “We have to have a little common sense. Rape and incest
Leigh LaChine is the Libertarian candidate for State Auditor
The Greater Birmingham Libertarians held a candidates forum in Homewood on September 12. Leigh LaChine is running for State Auditor and was one of the three statewide Libertarian candidates who spoke at the forum. “One thing I don’t want is straight-ticket voting,” LaChine said. LaChine said that the important thing is to give the voters a choice on the ballot. Lachine is the Chairman of the Greater Birmingham Libertarians, who hosted the event at Jim’ N Nick’s barbecue restaurant. He is the former Chair and Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of Alabama. He is also the President of the Eastwood Neighborhood Association, which is part of the Birmingham Citizenship Participation Plan. Current State Auditor Jim Zeigler is term-limited from running for a third term. State Rep. Andrew Sorrell is the Republican nominee for State Auditor after a hard-fought primary runoff battle. “My opponent got a perfect score from the American Conservative Union,” LaChine said. “He spent over $650,000 for a job that pays only $85,000. That does not sound very conservative to me. I hope to run my campaign for less than $1000, so I don’t have to file a campaign finance report.” LaChine was born in Toledo, Ohio. He and his wife, Kathy, are very active in their community, serving as certified barbecue judges and fostering animals for the Human Society. LaChine wrote on his website, “Libertarians believe that education is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality, accountability, and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Recognizing that the education of children is a parental responsibility, we would restore authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government.” “Governments should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent,” Lachine added. “We believe the federal, state, and local governments simply can not afford to continue borrowing at our current rates. This runaway spending has led to a federal debt of over $30 trillion and climbing. The State of Alabama is $5 billion in debt. LaChine is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Lake High School in Millbury, Ohio. He has a bachelor’s degree from East Michigan University. Libertarian gubernatorial nominee Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake and Lieutenant Governor nominee Ruth Page Nelson also addressed the forum, as well as several State Legislature candidates. Lachine has worked in and started environmental consulting firms in Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. LaChine and Sorrell will both be on the November 8 general election ballot. There is no Democratic nominee running for State Auditor. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Libertarian Ruth Page-Nelson running for Lieutenant Governor
Libertarian nominee for Lieutenant Governor Ruth Page-Nelson addressed a gathering of Libertarian candidates in Homewood on Tuesday night at Jim’ N Nick’s barbecue restaurant. Jimmy Blake, the Libertarian candidate for Governor, introduced Nelson. Blake said, “We have a very sharp Black lady Ruth Nelson. Her opponent is Will Ainsworth. He is sort of a pudgy rich kid. He has more money than any other candidate on the ballot.” “My opponent Will Ainsworth is a very rich man. I have no Democratic opponent,” Nelson said. “I want you to vote for me because I will fight for rules that will make you free. Vote for me, Ruth Page Nelson, for Lieutenant Governor; I will not let you down.” “I opened a green jobs training center in Dothan,” Page-Nelson said. “They decided to tear it down to build a parking lot. I was opening it so we could have local jobs. We were funded and ready to roll. The EPA stepped in and said you can’t tear it down. Then it burned down.” Nelson said that she had been active with Dothan for Justice Now, a group that fights for racial equity. “I ran on the Republican ticket for U.S. Senate (in 2020),” Nelson stated. “The Republicans tried to throw Republican. They left me on the ballot, but there was a media blackout of my campaign.” Nelson discussed her views on Medicaid expansion and women’s health issues. “I am for expanding Medicaid,” Nelson said. “That is key to having a healthy population.” “I almost died during childbirth,” Nelson continued. “I will fight for a woman’s right to choose. I will never tell a woman that she does not have a right to make her own decisions about her own body.” Nelson accused the federal government of picking winners and losers with the funds that they provide for energy projects. “That $600 million went to the people in that room,” Nelson commented, recalling an Obama administration green energy initiative. “I am a strong proponent of green technology,” Nelson said. “We have been under the Alabama Power monopoly for far too long. I am a big believer in solar. I believe the sun that lands on your property is yours to use.” Nelson promised to fight corruption if she is elected. “We have proof that people were having drugs and guns planted on them in Dothan,” Nelson recounted. “We took that up to the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI to start an investigation. We waited, and nothing happened.” “Our state is using mass incarceration as a business,” Nelson argued. “When you see corruption, we have to root it out. I will root out corruption.” “I am not a cult; I am a candidate,” Nelson said. “You need to be OK with who you are voting for. You can bubble me in even if you straight ticket vote.” Nelson will face incumbent Lt. Gov. Ainsworth in the Nov. 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
