By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford
Now that the 2014 election is over and the people of Alabama have spoken, it is time for state legislators to work together and honor our commitments to the people of Alabama to create jobs and provide every child in Alabama with a quality education.
We have been chosen by our constituents to serve the people. That means remembering that, first and foremost, we are Americans and Alabamians. It is time to serve the people and to work together across Party lines to do what is best for the people back home.
As House Minority Leader, I can say that Democrats look forward to working with Republicans as we move into the next legislative session and, ultimately, over the next four years. We will continue to push for forward progress, toward a better Alabama.
I will continue to fight for good schools and to create more jobs in Alabama. These are key, nonpartisan issues in my mind. These are things the people of Alabama need, no matter who might be in leadership positions.
It will take working in a bipartisan way to really change Alabama for the better, and I and the members of the House Democratic Caucus are ready to do that. I hope every legislator, whether newly elected or veteran, is equally committed to that same goal.
It’s time to put politics behind us. The campaigns are over. Now we need to do some real work – the people’s work. All state leaders need to focus on governing together and doing right by the people of Alabama. We are all Alabamians and Americans, first, and most importantly.
It’s time to move beyond the elections and focus on serving the people of Alabama. After all, it’s the people of Alabama who voted for us and who are trusting us to keep their best interests, not our own, in mind. There are no problems in Alabama that are so big that we cannot fix them if we work together. I look forward to working with every member of the House, regardless of party affiliation, to make a better Alabama in 2015 and beyond.
I want to personally thank everyone that took time out of their day on Tuesday to vote for me. I look forward to serving the people of Gadsden and Etowah county for the next four years. I am constantly humbled by the support I receive, and it means so much to me and my family that my constituents have such faith in me. I will continue to bring my constituents’ concerns to the House floor, and will continue to keep those concerns at the forefront of my mind.
I also look forward to serving another term as House Minority Leader. I appreciate the confidence my fellow House members have shown in me, and I look forward to participating in the next legislative cycle as a leader in the House.
I have always believed that elected office is a matter of public service. However the elections may turn out, and whomever may be in charge, I am proud to represent the people of Etowah County in our state legislature and I look forward to working with our state leaders to grow our state and serve the people of my district and Alabama.
Rep. Craig Ford is a Democrat from Gadsden and the House Minority Leader.
