By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama House candidate Charlotte Borden Meadows (R) has accused the Alabama Education System (AEA) of attacking her for her support of education choice.
On Friday the Meadows Campaign released a written statement. Meadows said, “I’m the only candidate being attacked by the AEA, because I’m the only candidate in District 74 that believes in giving Montgomery parents a choice in where they send their kids to school.”
Meadows said, “I’m proud of the work I have done as an education advocate. Alabama’s Education system needs reform and I am not going to back down because AEA attacks me. I am the only candidate that is pushing education reform and not defending the education status quo. I support the Accountability Act because I believe it is good for our students and families.”
Charlotte Borden Meadows is running for House District 74 which was vacated by Rep. Jay Love (R) when he resigned to accept a position directing an education reform group. Meadows is running against Dimitri Polizos, and Heather Sellers in a special election on Tuesday, October 8.
Meadows is a former member of the Montgomery School Board who has worked for education reforms which would give parents choices in where they send their children to school. Proponents of school choice argue that competition will lead to better outcomes for children. Opponents argue that taking money from the public school system to fund charter schools or vouchers that parents can use to go “school shopping” only takes money from public schools and sends it to private schools, where teachers are typically non-union and always non tenured.
The winner of the Republican Primary will fill Love’s unexpired term because no Democrat qualified to run in the heavily Republican district. However political insiders have told The Alabama Political Reporter that Rep. Joe Hubbard (D) is considering running in District 74 in 2014 since his current District was moved to Shelby County during redistricting. Other insiders argue that that district is too conservative for any Democrat to win and that Joe Hubbard is more likely to run for Mayor of Montgomery if he runs for public office again after his term (and his district) expires next year.
