A debate forum for Alabama Senate 22 candidates was held at the Faulkner State Arts Center in Bay Minette on April 28. The forum was jointly sponsored by the North Baldwin Chapter of the Common Sense Campaign (Tea Party) and the Baldwin County Young Republicans.

Four of the five Republicans for that office participated. Candidate Harry D’Olive sent a letter asking to be excused due to other commitments.
The forum was very poorly attended, which probably bodes a similar voter turnout at the June 3 primary. A recent AL.com (Mobile Press-Register) report painted all five candidates as pretty much indistinguishable in their political philosophies.

They all want lower taxes; they all want to improve education; they all like guns; and they’re all against same-sex marriage. Oh well, perhaps that is precisely as it should be. They are all Republicans, aren’t they?

The real question is which candidate will be the most likely to carry out the Republican agenda they are all preaching. One of my favorite axioms is, “It is not what we know that counts, but what we do with what we know.” Likewise, it is not the answers the candidates give to a series of canned questions that matters most, but their individual skills, talents, experience and character.

Apathetic voters often excuse themselves by saying, “What’s the point of voting. Nothing ever changes!” The fact is, everything always changes. If every voter sat on his or her hands and declined to vote or fight for his or her preferred candidate, things would still change, likely for the worse. The only question is whether we as individuals will participate in history-in-the making or be content to sit on the sidelines and observe it.

There is another Senate 22 candidate “Fireside Forum” coming up on Thursday, May 8, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is plenty of room for everyone at this event and no one has to get dressed up and drive anywhere.

Even the candidates can come in their overalls and work boots, if they want to. All people have to do is tune their radios to WBZR 105.9 FM in Atmore and listen in. If listeners are outside the WBZR listening area, they can still tune in on the Internet for live streaming of the proceedings through an application called Tunein Radio. It’s time for voters to pay attention before it’s too late.

This is an important election!

Lloyd Albritton
Atmore