By By Adam Prestridge
Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley made a quick stop by Atmore's famous Buster's Restaurant Friday afternoon.
Baxley, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 6 primaries, sipped on a glass of sweet tea and visited supporters tucked away in booths in the small cafe as she garnered support.
"This is a first," Baxley said. "You can say that you were the first group that ever heard me make a speech in a hat."
Reo Kirkland, Escambia County chair of the Democratic party, introduced Baxley as collection buckets began circulating around the restaurant.
"We're going to be competing against the millions of dollars of the rich Republicans in November," he said. "We've got to raise money by the bucket full."
Baxley's gubernatorial campaign tour on Friday included stops between Church's Chicken and Massey Motors in Evergreen, downtown Castleberry, Brewton, a lunch in Flomaton's city park with her final stop at Buster's, where she carried the same message to the residents.
"I have learned your state's government, I have learned the state, I know the people in this state and I certainly have the love for the people in this state," Baxley said. "We don't know what decisions will come up in the next four years. You need somebody prepared. You need somebody that's going to operate out of concern and compassion for the people. And you need somebody who's never going to forget that it's your business. The government belongs to the people. The dollars being spent are your dollars."
During her small-town talk, Baxley talked about being raised on a farm in Pansey, located in Houston County. She also touched on her plans to improve the quality of public educational system in the state.
"When I grew up public education was the only way for me," Baxley said. "I'm proud that we have good private schools, I'm proud of parents who do a good job of homeschooling, but most of our people are totally dependable on the quality of public education."
Baxley faces former Gov. Don Siegelman, former state Rep. Nathan Mathis and cabinetmaker Hilbun Adams in the Democratic primary.
Baxley noted that 40 years have passed since Lurleen Wallace was elected as a "stand-in" for her husband, George C. Wallace.
"Government is the caretaker of the people," Baxley said. "Who takes care of the people at home or in the classroom? The Bible talks about 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and then a leader came to lead them out. Lucy's going to be that leader."