Auburn University brings the race for governor home.
Auburn citizens, faculty and students packed into the Student Center Ballroom for the Alabama Gubernatorial Forum 2010 Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
All delegates running for governor in 2010 who declared candidacy before Sep. 25 were invited to speak. Participants included Robert Bentley, Bradley Byrne, Artur Davis, Tim James, Bill Johnson and Ron Sparks.
The candidates discussed their ideas for the future for public education, ethics in government, small business growth, environmental problems and tax inequities.
"We are so blessed, all eight of us, to be in this contest," Davis said. "We are blessed because there is nothing like American democracy. We are blessed because we are public servants for this great state."
Davis also proposed a constitutional convention to rewrite Alabama's Constitution.
James said he opposes a constitutional convention, but thinks the constitution should be fixed article by article.
"It would be a free for all for which group will control the outcome," James said. "We don't need to go there."
Citizens of Alabama participated in the forum through an Ask Alabama Poll by the Center for Governmental Services.
Six hundred adult residents were randomly selected to answer the question: "If you could ask the next group of candidates for governor just one question, what would it be?
"The reason I am running is because I understand the principles and foundations that made this a great nation and what we need to do to keep this a great state," Johnson said.
Byrne said he is a candidate that won't back down.
"Our next governor is going to have to be somebody who just doesn't talk the talk, but it's going to have to be somebody whose walked the walk," Byrne said. "I offer you myself to be your governor and to lead us into a bright new day."
When asked about his platform, Sparks said he would place a tax on gambling and introduce a special education trust fund, or education lottery to stimulate Alabama's economy
"Every child in Alabama deserves the right to an education, regardless of their family's income," Sparks said.
Bentley said he would like to open an office of small business development and create tax incentives for more companies to come here.
Johnson said state governments will need to keep the "belt tight" to stay within the new smaller budget. He said though the budget is being cut, he promises to keep taxes low.
All the candidates made statements about their policies if elected governor.
The Alabama gubernatorial election will take place Nov. 2, 2010.
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