Agriculture Commissioner candidate Gerald Dial on Wednesday released documents filed in the Circuit Court in Montgomery County from his opponent Rick Pate’s 1986 divorce, which prove that Pate’s then-wife Carolyn Elizabeth Konrad Pate received a court issued restraining order, something very rare in that era.
Pate is denying these claims, but records tell the story of what his wife told the court in sworn testimony.
Court records show that the former Mrs. Pate “avers that the Husband has committed actual violence to her person and from his manner and conduct toward her, she is reasonably convinced that he will commit further violence upon her person, intended with danger to her life and health.”
A restraining order against Pate was issued shortly after that by Circuit Judge Lynn Bright pending a final hearing before Judge James P. Woodson, III.
“Rick Pate has accused me of lies and mudslinging in this campaign, but these documents clearly show that I’ve told nothing but the truth,” said Dial. “His former wife made serious charges against him, and the Judge obviously took them seriously enough to issue a restraining order against him.”
“Rick Pate has tried to deny this ever happened, but the court records are proof. His former wife’s sworn statement speaks for itself.
Mr. Pate can deny all he wants, but the facts are clear. Instead of deny, deny, deny, he needs to be honest with the people of Alabama and explain his wife’s allegations and the restraining order against him.”
Dial and Pate are in the Republican runoff election for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries on July 17.
