By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, Jamie Clements, candidate for House District 62, addressed the Rainy Day Patriots (RDP) at their regular October meeting at the Homewood Library.
Clements told the RDP said that he is a native of Tuscaloosa County and is a civil engineer by training. In addition to his work as an engineer he works as adjunct professor at the University of Alabama teaching surveying for engineers.
Clements is a Vice President at PELA Engineering. He has 3 kids: ages 2, 8, and 13.
Clements was involved in the College Republicans during the 1980s, but became much less involved while he was building his professional life. Clements said that the whole climate of the U.S. is different that what it was 30 years ago. Clements said that he has become re-involved in politics and has been re-learning politics.
Clements is the First Vice Chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Republican Party and is the faculty adviser for the University of Alabama College Republicans. Clements was also a delegate at the 2012 Republican Convention in Tampa Bay.
Clements said to the RDP that he is a problem solver and that he believes in maintaining a civil discourse even when talking with people whom he disagrees. He said that he is pro second amendment. “I want as many guns as I can get. I like them.” He said that he is pro-Life. He is opposed to Common Core because, “We don’t need the federal government to tell us how to think.” Clements said, That we have issues to deal with like same sex marriage and abortion shows for about 50 years the Church has failed. Jesus Christ is the only answer to problems like same sex marriage and abortion. The Church should be teaching personal responsibility.
One of the crowd asked him why the Tuscaloosa Republicans hosted Karl Rove. Clements said, “I had nothing to do with that.” I am not impressed by Karl Rove.”
Clements said that one problem with the growth of the Republican Party is that a lot of people switched parties that don’t really have a conservative political philosophy. “There are a lot of RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) in Tuscaloosa.
Jamie Clements does not face a Republican incumbent because Rep. John Merrill (R) is vacating the seat to run for Alabama Secretary of State.
District 62 is in the southeastern part of Tuscaloosa County around exit 100 and includes Vance, Colley, and Taylorville.
Chad Mathis’s campaign manager, Matt Sauvage also spoke to the RDP. Sauvage said that Mathis (R) from Indian Springs is not a career politician. He wants to get things done. He owns a business and is a small business guy. Mathis is worried about Obamacare and the out of control spending in Washington. Mathis is running for the Sixth Congressional District seat currently held by Representative Spencer Bachus (R). After 21 years in the Congress, Bachus is retiring when his current term ends in December 2014.
Sauvage said, “We need somebody who will represent the values of people in Washington.”
The Rainy Day Patriots were not ready to commit because they are waiting to see whether or not Sen. Scott Beason (R) from Gardendale will enter the race. Beason challenged Bachus unsuccessfully in the 2012 Republican Primary.
Sauvage said that, “Beason is someone that I very much respect.” Sauvage said that Mathis has assembled an experienced campaign team. People with different perspectives and experiences. Sauvage said that Mathis worked on the Ted Cruz (R) campaign in Texas. He helped Richard Mourdock in Indiana and is similar in political philosophy to Sen. Mike Lee.
Legislative Director of the Rainy Day Patriots Ann Eubanks said that Chad Mathis has always been supportive of the Rainy Day Patriots and has attended several of their meetings.
In other RDP business, Ann Eubanks said that RDP President Zan Green has relocated to Dauphin Island which is why she could not attend the meeting. In Zan’s absence, the meeting was conducted by Eubanks, Dawn Ray, and Melody Worbington.
The next regular meeting of the Rainy Day Patriots will be Thursday, Nov 12th at the Homewood Library. Doc Thompson from the Glenn Beck Radio Program will be there to kick off their year long 2014 election campaign. Candidates are invited.
Eubanks said that members should be aware of one issue that has come up. Calhoun County Republican Party Chairman Gene Howard published a article in the Calhoun County newsletter claiming that the Alabama Education Association (AEA) is now recruiting candidates from the tea party. Howard reported that State Senate candidate, Tom Sprayberry (R), had accepted $30,000 from the AEA in his bid to primary challenge incumbent Sen. Gerald Dial (R). Eubanks said that Sprayberry is not a Rainy Day Patriot, is not affiliated with the Calhoun County Rainy Day Patriots, and simply spoke to the Calhoun County RDP chapter.
Eubanks said that the Rainy Day Patriots and the Calhoun County and Walker County Rainy Day Patriots have not and do not accept money from the AEA.
State house candidate Matt Fridy (R) also addressed the RDP.
