Editor’s note: The following is a compilation of profiles on Republican gubernatorial candidates produced by The Associated Press.

Battle: ‘We can do things better’

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the seeds of a planned Toyota-Mazda plant in Huntsville- projected to eventually employ 4,000 people were first planted a decade ago.

Battle said the city optioned the land and, after losing a competition for a Volkswagen plant, worked to get the site “development ready.” He said he visited Japan every year for the last five years to build relationships with auto manufacturers. The work culminated in January when the companies announced they would build a joint-venture plant in Huntsville, after being offered a combined state and local incentive package of at least $700 million, including the property.

“It’s going to be a generational project,” Battle said, adding that generations of Alabamians will see the benefits. “Not only for North Alabama, there will be spinoffs of first- and second-tier suppliers located other places such as Jasper or Pell City or Birmingham or down as far as Clanton.”

Battle, 62, owned and ran a restaurant in Huntsville after graduating from the University of Alabama. He later moved into real estate. He was elected to the Huntsville City Council in 1984. He was elected mayor in 2008, and re-elected in 2012 and 2016.

While touting his area’s economic and education success, tech-heavy Huntsville, home of Redstone Arsenal and nicknamed “The Rocket City” for its role in the development of the American space program, has advantages over other areas of the state. More than 40 percent of the city’s residents hold bachelor’s degrees, compared to just 24 percent for Alabama as a whole. Battle counters that every city and region has something unique that can be leveraged to its advantage.

Battle said the state has problems with infrastructure, noting the state’s congested and rough interstates, and needs more stability in education, noting that standardized testing systems have “changed three times in the past six years.”

“We can do things better in this state,” Battle said.

Dawson stresses evangelist background, outsider status

Republican gubernatorial hopeful and evangelist Scott Dawson said if people are surprised to see him running for governor, they are not alone. In a way, he is, too.

Dawson said he got in the governor’s race because he was tired of the state being embarrassed by corruption, noting the number of recent governors involved in scandals. He said he sees his newness to the political arena as an advantage, not a hindrance.

“I’m one of us. I’m not a politician. The competitive advantage I’ve got is that everyone else is serving in office. I’m the one that’s been one of us for 30 years,” Dawson said.

Dawson, 50, is a native of Ensley and graduated from Samford University and Beeson Divinity School. He is the founder of Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association. The organization, among other things, hosts youth and pastor retreats and large-scale Christian revival meetings.

“I’ll go ahead and tell you I make decisions through a Biblical world view,” Dawson told the crowd in Jasper, adding quickly that he understands “we’re not creating a theocracy” and respects those of different beliefs.

While trailing far behind in donations, Dawson’s underdog campaign has been assisted by prominent friends made during his decades in ministry, and whose names he mentions in his campaign speech. He announced his intention to run on the Rick and Bubba Show, a syndicated morning radio show; has turned to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for advice; and received donations from Hobby Lobby co-founders David and Barbara Green.

Dawson said he supports legislation that would take Alabama “out of the marriage business” by doing away with probate judge-signed marriage licenses. He said he also supports the repeal of the Common Core curriculum standards and would like to implement mandatory drug testing for students seeking to be involved in extracurricular activities.

Hightower runs for governor on flat tax, term limits

State Sen. Bill Hightower is stressing his background as a businessman as he runs for governor on a sweeping platform of proposed government overhauls that include term limits for legislators and replacing the state income tax code with a flat tax.

“I think Alabama needs a businessman. I think Alabama needs something different than they ever had before,” Hightower said in an interview with The Associated Press.

A relative newcomer in state politics, Hightower was first elected to the Alabama Senate in a 2013 special election and won a full term in 2014. Hightower said he didn’t feel as strongly about term limits when he first was elected to the Alabama Legislature, but believes that lawmakers should be limited to three consecutive terms.

“It seems like the enemy of improvement became the professional politician, the people who are trying to keep the status quo. Term limits will change Montgomery in a way which I think will enable us to make the reforms,” Hightower said.

A graduate of the University of South Alabama who earned an MBA at Vanderbilt University, Hightower worked for large manufacturing companies, living overseas. He moved back to Mobile in 2002, saying he and his wife wanted to raise their children “at home” in Alabama.

“My background in corporate was a lot of strategic planning. I want to develop that plan that’s going to serve Alabama well,” Hightower said.

As a member of the Legislature, Hightower proposed to change Alabama’s income tax to a flat tax, and said he will propose that again if elected governor. “You just go online, or go on a post card and pay your taxes.”

He said he would also like to end budgetary earmarks and “reprioritize” spending, noting that Alabama earmarks more revenue than any other state. “Nobody else in the nation is saying Alabama does it right and I’m convinced waste and fraud is in the budget,” Hightower said.

Ivey: Alabama ‘stronger’ than it was a year ago

Speaking before plates of fried catfish were dished out to supporters at a Daleville campaign event in early May, Gov. Kay Ivey argued that the state is stronger than it was a year ago.

As she seeks to win the office of governor in her own right after catapulting into the job last year, Ivey’s message has been relatively simple: The state is doing better than it was a year ago when her predecessor stepped down under the cloud of a sex-tinged scandal.

“Alabama is better and stronger than it was a year ago,” Ivey said.

In her brief speech, she touted the state’s record low unemployment rate — a decline that mirrors a national drop in unemployment — and named companies that have announced projects, including a Toyota-Mazda joint venture, in the state. Although many of those economic development deals were in the works before Ivey took office, they were finalized while she was governor.

“Today, more people are working in Alabama than at any other time in our state’s history,” Ivey said.

After serving a year as governor and building name recognition by being elected state treasurer and lieutenant governor, Ivey is the presumed favorite heading into the peak of primary season. The more looming question is whether she will be forced into a runoff with one of her GOP challengers. Ivey must capture more than 50 percent of the vote during the June voting to avoid a runoff later in the summer.

Her campaign has been relatively low key, focusing on official events as governor rather than the campaign trail. Her challengers criticized Ivey for skipping two debates. Dawson has argued that Ivey was never “vetted” for the position of governor.

Ivey responded that she is focused on her duties as governor.

“It doesn’t matter because I’m focused on fighting for Alabama.”