By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford
In two weeks, voters across our state will head to the polls and decide who will be leading Alabama for the next four years. As voters are evaluating the candidates, I think it is important that we carefully look at the candidates’ background, and how the candidates have presented themselves in their campaigns.
Last week, I questioned why my opponent, Doug Sherrod, didn’t bother to take the time to fill out the NRA’s questionnaire. In fact, I don’t think Doug Sherrod has filled out a single questionnaire during the whole campaign. I publicly questioned why a candidate would ask for our vote when he won’t tell us where he stands on the issues?
There was any number of ways Doug Sherrod could have responded to my question. He could have posted his policies online or published any questionnaires he has filled out. Instead, Doug decided to post a bizarre picture of himself sitting at his kitchen table surrounded by guns – many of which were lying on the table, pointed directly at himself!
Not only was this bizarre and unsafe, it wasn’t an answer. Doug wanted to look like he was pro-second amendment, so he posted that bizarre picture instead of telling us how he would vote on specific gun issues-or where he stands on any issues for that matter!
But refusing to answer questionnaires isn’t the first or only time Doug Sherrod has dodged political issues. Doug Sherrod wasn’t even registered to vote until 2004. Now, Doug Sherrod turned 18 in 1980. That means for 24 years, Doug Sherrod was old enough to vote but couldn’t be bothered to actually go do it. Now he wants the people of Etowah County to vote for him, and he won’t even tell us where he stands on the most important issues our state is facing.
This is just one more example of how Doug Sherrod likes to present himself one way and then act another way.
Voting is the most American thing a person can ever do. It is also one of the easiest and best ways we can support our country and honor our veterans. But for 24 years, Doug Sherrod couldn’t be bothered to go vote. Instead, Doug thinks all he has to do is post a picture on Facebook of himself wearing a tie that looks like an American Flag.
The truth is: Doug Sherrod didn’t register to vote until he started thinking about running for office. We can assume this because his first political campaign happened only a few years after he finally registered to vote.
My point is this: serving in political office at any level should be something you do out of a desire to serve the people you represent. And if you truly want to serve the people and are not in it to serve yourself, then you will tell the people where you stand. You will be passionate about voting and you won’t dodge the issues. Montgomery has enough self-serving politicians. We don’t need anymore.
Rep. Craig Ford is a Democrat from Gadsden and the Minority Leader in the Alabama House of Representatives.
