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Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who was in town Tuesday on a campaign swing for local candidates, said Republicans are poised to pick up eight seats in North Alabama.
He said the state has the first Republican speaker of the House in 100 years, Seth Hammett, and November’s General Election should see the GOP controlling both the House and Senate.
He stopped off at Athens State University’s ballroom to put in a word for Athens Mayor Dan Williams, who officially kicked off his campaign on the GOP ticket for State House District 5.
“The first time I met Dan I said, this is the type of guy we need in Montgomery,” said Riley.
Williams is seeking to unseat Democratic incumbent Henry White.
Riley said one of the hardest jobs in American politics is being a small town mayor, a position Williams has held since being first elected in 1992.
“The people he makes mad he has to sit beside in church on Sunday,” said Riley. “And every time he goes to the grocery store he has to listen to someone’s problems. We want these skills in Montgomery.”
Riley said Williams would come to Montgomery with a clean slate.
“Elect someone with no other agenda,” said the governor. “If you want to see the personification of agendas, come to Montgomery.”
Riley said the state would never progress if the same people in Montgomery are appointed to chair important committees year after year.
Riley said voting for the Democratic ticket was tantamount to voting for the same liberal agenda that put Nancy Pelosi in office as the speaker of the House of Representatives.
“How did we get to the point of quadrupling our deficit in the last three years?” asked Riley. “We can’t continue and expect our state and county to ever progress. We are so close to turning this whole thing around. People like Dan can make it happen. He carries credibility with him primarily because of you and everything that is going on in this county.”
Wants to be part of change
Williams said when he came to the lectern after the governor that he wanted to be part of the change that Riley predicted is coming to the state and nation.
“When I look out over this audience I am reminded of that song, ‘I love those dear hearts and gentle people who live and love in my hometown,” said Williams. “When I told Kay (Mrs. Williams) I was running, she said I must be crazy.
“I was elected as mayor five times, but I always wanted to run for the Legislature. But when I saw them in action I talked myself out of it. Now I know I want to be a part of the change taking place in our state.
“If we don’t take a chance and elect new leadership, I don’t know when we’ll get another chance.”
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