By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Saturday, April 26 Republican candidates from across the state flocked to Clanton to attend the Republican Party’s Rally at the Pumpkin Patch.
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said that the Sixth District Congressional Race is one of the closest watched Primary races in America. The Sixth District of Alabama is one of the most conservative districts in the nation with Republican Presidential candidates routinely drawing in excess of 80% of the votes cast and seven Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination in the June 3rd Republican Primary.
Will Brooke was the first candidate for the sixth district to speak. Brooke said that he was a career businessman who had practiced law for ten years before he went to work for the Harbert Corporation 23 years ago. At Harbert, Brooke held a number of position including Chief Operating Officer. Brooke said that he has created over 600 jobs in the sixth district alone while at Harbert.
As head of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) Brooke said that he has worked on a number of issues including tort reform. I have never run for public office. I am not a politician but am a person just like you. Brooke says that he carries the Constitution with him every day as he campaigns across the sixth district.
Brooke said that the Freedoms that our founders left us is something that we deserve and something that we should protect for our children. Government is run best when it is run at the state level and pledged to fight against overreach by the federal government.
Brooke said that if elected he would insist that Congress pass: no law that does not apply to them, term limits, and a law banning lobbying by former congressmen. “I need your vote and your support.”
Gary Palmer was the second Sixth District Congressional candidate to speak. Palmer said that my campaign staff say I have to smile more.
Palmer said that he has never run for office before. He grew up in Hackleburgh. The small town was wiped out by a tornado on April 27, 2011 and was wiped out by a tornado in 1943 as well. Palmer’s mom was there then. They rebuilt the town then and they are rebuilding the town again.
Palmer said, “As Republicans and conservatives we have become experts at depressing people.” Blaming Obama and Harry Reid for everything is not enough. Republicans need to present solutions. Palmer compared that state of the nation to a boat that is sinking.
Palmer said that Republicans are going to repeal and replace Obamacare and said that we can provide insurances to everyone that wants it for a fraction of what Obamacare is going to cost.
Palmer said that there are 3 trillion barrels of oil in just one formation out west and the Federal government owns 70 percent of it. “We are not broke, we are stupid.”
Palmer said that members of Congress need to get out of their office and talk to people in their districts. The money spent on energy by the average American family represents what is not going in their household. Some Americans are having to spend a fourth of their disposable incomes just for the energy to heat and cool their homes and for transportation to get back and forth from work.
Palmer said that one out of every six men between the ages of 25 and 65 are unemployed. Healthcare insurance costs have doubled under Obamacare. “We can not keep sending the same kind of people to Washington and expect things to change.”
Palmer said that Americans need to understand that Congress is just 435 individuals and not a single entity. Palmer is the co-founder and longtime President of the Alabama Policy Institute, Alabama’s premier conservative policy think tank.
Tom Vigneulle said, “I am Tom Vigneulle. You don’t have to remember how to spell Vigneulle, but remember that the V stands for victory. I am a small businessman. I own and operate Royal Bedding Manufacturing in Pelham. I am a cattle farmer.”
Vigneulle said that he has respect for the constitution and respect for life. “I am prolife and pro-family. I believe in limited government. I am for the Tenth amendment.”
