State Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Semmes, asked the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans on Thursday for their votes in his race for lieutenant governor.
Glover was at Sidebar, a restaurant, in Birmingham.
Glover said that he has served in the Alabama House of Representatives and has served three terms in the state Senate.
“I was outspent 3 to 1,” in that first Senate race but had easy reelections after that because of, “My conservative voting record.”
“A lot of people ask me what lieutenant governor does,” Glover said. “The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, assigns bills to committees, and approves Senators travel expenses.”
Glover said that if elected lieutenant governor, all bills will go to a committee whether it is a good bill or a bad bill.
In the past there have been committees where bills were simply sent to die. Glover promised not to operate that way.
“I have never taken a trip on taxpayers expense,” Glover said.
“The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor vacates the office,” Glover said. “That is not likely to happen, but keep in mind that it is a possibility.”
“I am going to work with the governor whoever that is going to be,” Glover said.
Glover said that too many days in the school year are thrown out on mandatory standardized testing.
“It is very frustrating for parents and for teachers,” Glover said.
Glover said that if he is elected lieutenant governor he will be a full time lieutenant governor.
“I am not going to take another job,” Glover said. “I want to go around the state and meet with teachers and parents and figure out how to solve problems.”
Glover promised not to take a state vehicle and won’t have a state trooper to drive him around and serve as a personal bodyguard.
“Why should we have those members of the legislators taking troopers off the road to drive them around?” Glover said.
Glover said that he has been traveling the state visiting all the counties but that you may not see my commercials on TV.
“There are some named candidates who are getting big campaign contributions,” Glover said.
“I feel comfortable in Baldwin and Mobile Counties where my name is strong,” Glover said. “We are trying to get out the word in the rest of the state. Particularly here in Birmingham.”
Glover is a career teacher and coach.
Glover faces stiff primary competition from Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh and state Representative Will Ainsworth, R-Guntersville.
The eventual winner of the June 5 Republican primary will face north Alabama pastor Bishop Will Boyd on November 6.
