By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, state Rep. Will Ainsworth, R-Guntersville, spoke to the River Region Republican Club at the Farmer’s Market Café about his campaign for lieutenant governor.
Ainsworth said he grew up in Boaz, Alabama, where his father is a businessman in the local community.
“I am from the private sector,” Ainsworth said, “I have started three businesses versus my opponents who have been in government.”
Ainsworth, who introduced a bill to arm educators, said he has a “passion” for education.
“One rural school system has one school resource officer and 18 schools. ‘Are those students safe?'” Ainsworth asked. “There needs to be just one entry coming into the school and make sure that the door locks and there needs to be cameras. It make sense to arm some teachers. One teacher is a deputy sheriff; but under current rules she can’t go into a school with a gun. Over 19 states are doing this including California of all places.”
Ainsworth said that teachers are scared that they could do nothing but use their body as a shield when a mass shooter comes to their school.
He said that he supports Pre-K because after talking with kindergarten teachers it is apparent that some parents are not doing their jobs.
Ainsworth said that the schools also need to have technology so that students can compete in the 21st century.
“We have talked about recruiting jobs and selling our state, but we also need to dive into what can we do to expand existing industry,” Ainsworth said.
Ainsworth said that he opposed Gov. Robert Bentley when he proposed $800 million in new taxes.
“There are still places to save money in state budgets,” Ainsworth said. “One of those is in motor pools. In state government, it is a luxury item to have a sate car; but look at the cost of maintaining them. We could pay mileage and come out ahead.”
“I was one of the initial 12 that signed the impeachment articles,” Ainsworth said. “I got threatened in my district over it. We did not get some road projects.”
“I am a conservative fighter,” Ainsworth said.
Ainsworth is running for lieutenant governor in the GOP primary, along with Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh, and state Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Semmes.
Florence-area Pastor Dr. Will Boyd is running for lieutenant governor as a Democrat.
The River Region Republican Club meets at the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Farmer’s Market Café. On May 5th, they are planning on having a candidate forum.
