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.
Gubernatorial candidate Jimmy Blake wants to phase out the income tax
Libertarian Party of Alabama nominee for Governor, Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, says that the state should be phasing away from the 5 percent state income tax. Blake spoke with Alabama Today about his campaign on Tuesday. “Long term, we need to start phasing out the income tax so that we are competitive with our neighboring states like Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia,” Blake said. The State of Alabama is projected to have a $2.5 billion budget surplus roll into fiscal year 2023 on October 1. Some advocacy groups are calling for the state to abolish its 4% sales tax on groceries. “I think that is fine if you want to do that, but is that money going to actually get to the people, or is it just going to be pocketed by the grocers’ association?” Blake commented. “I am more interested in getting rid of direct taxes like the income tax. I am for stopping taxing food. We should never have started doing that.” The Alabama Department of Commerce recently asked the legislature to renew the state’s economic incentives. Some critics of the paying of incentives for companies to locate or remain in Alabama have denounced economic incentives as corporate welfare. “It is clearly corporate welfare,” Blake said. “We need to compete by having a favorable tax structure and creating the business environment where people want to locate their companies here. That includes having desirable schools.” One issue that has been very discussed in southwest Alabama is a proposal to build a toll bridge over Mobile Bay on I-10. “I don’t really oppose the concept of making people pay to use infrastructure,” Blake said. “My big problem with things like that is that they tend to go to special people. If it were openly bid, I would not be fundamentally opposed to doing that. One issue that I do have is that you just raised gas taxes, and then you turn around and ask people to pay to use infrastructure.” The state legislature passed an $8.262 billion education trust fund (ETF) budget for fiscal year 2023, the largest education budget in state history; however educational performance for the state remains near the bottom of the country in recent test scores. “I think we need to increase school choice in Alabama,” Blake said. “I am in favor of school choice whether that is vouchers or some other form. Charter schools can be a part of that if it is done right. I am for bringing market forces to improve education.” Blake served on the Birmingham City Council from 1993 to 2001. Blake is a medical doctor. He has held leadership positions in both the Alabama Republican and Alabama Libertarian Parties. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran who flew nuclear weapons-equipped F4 Phantom II fighter bombers during the Cold War while stationed in Great Britain. He has an undergraduate degree from Auburn University and a medical degree from UAB. Blake will participate in a gubernatorial debate in Huntsville on September 25 with Alabama Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Yolanda Rochelle Flowers. Incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey, the Republican Party nominee, is not expected to participate in debates. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama AFL–CIO endorses dozens of Libertarians in races without a Democratic candidate
The Alabama chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has endorsed 26 Libertarians for office across the state. While the group isn’t specifically for Democratic candidates only, the sheer number of Libertarian candidates being endorsed this election cycle has been something not seen before in Alabama. According to its website, the mission of the AFL-CIO is to “represent the interests of working people at the state and local level.” Nationally, the AFL-CIO is the largest federation of unions in the U.S., representing more than 12 million active and retired workers. The largest unions currently in the AFL-CIO are the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). According to Independent Political Report, the Alabama chapter released a list of candidate endorsements that included 73 Democrats, nine Republicans, and 26 Libertarians. Seven of the Libertarian candidates are running for State Senate, and 19 are running for the Alabama State Legislature. According to the Libertarian Party of Alabama (LPA) website, the party is committed to individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy, and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade. This year, the LPA had until May 24 to turn in a petition with 51,588 signatures in order to achieve party status in Alabama and for their candidates to be on the ballot. The party was successful and turned in its list of candidates to Clay Helms on May 19. This is the first time in 20 years that the party is on the general election ballot in Alabama, which gives voters an opportunity to choose candidates outside of the Democratic and Republican parties. Danny Wilson, an Alabama Libertarian Party leader, has expressed frustration over what he sees as a “media blackout” concerning libertarian candidates that haven’t been covered for the upcoming Alabama elections. Wilson is also a libertarian candidate for the Alabama Senate seat in the 19th district. Wilson stated on Twitter, “LPA (Libertarian Party of Alabama) will have 69 candidates in various races across the state. Fifty-five of those races that would have been unopposed-coronations with extra steps. Media Blackout hampers third-party candidates almost as much as ballot access and straight ticket voting. There are other options.” In June, Wilson received an endorsement from Alabama Cannabis Coalition. Just last week, the Alabama AFL-CIO endorsed libertarian candidate Rick Chandler for Alabama State Senate District 3. District 3 includes Morgan County and portions of western Madison and eastern Limestone counties. Chandler, a retired engineer from Huntsville, is a challenging Republican incumbent Arthur Orr. Chandler thanked the organization for the endorsement and gave credit to unions. “The Libertarian party continuously seeks to bring in citizens from across all walks of life to form a more harmonious society,” Chandler said. “Even those workers not part of a union have benefitted from their activities to help people achieve an acceptable standard of life, since large corporations must now strive harder to keep their workforces well compensated and working in a safe environment.” Libertarian candidates are also contesting a number of other statewide positions, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Auditor, Treasurer, and two spots on the Public Service Commission. If any of these Libertarian candidates can successfully earn 20% of the total vote, ballot access for the Party will be guaranteed into the next cycle. If they fail, they must restart the process and get signatures again. The general election is on November 8, 2022.
