Auburn University hosts gubernatorial forum

The election may be more than a year off, but you wouldn’t have known it by the turnout at the Alabama Gubernatorial Forum 2010 at Auburn University on Tuesday.

Six gubernatorial candidates fielded questions on topics ranging from education and ethics reform to funding education and creating jobs before a full audience in the AU Student Center Ballroom.

The candidates present at the debate were Democrat Artur Davis, Democrat Ron Sparks, Republican Robert Bentley, Republican Bradley Byrne, Republican Tim James and Republican Bill Johnson.

Phillip Garrett, a 32-year resident of Opelika and his wife Marilyn were paying particular attention to Democratic gubernatorial candidates Congressman Artur Davis and Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks.

“What we’re concerned about is tax reform, constitutional reform and ethics in government,” Garrett said. “We hear a lot of people say the same things, but we want someone that’s actually going to do it.”

Andrew Scott, who was also in attendance the forum said he’s looking for something a little simpler.

“I’m looking for someone to tell me why I should vote for them,” Scott said. “Ethics reform sounds good, but I think we need to look at how we’re going to take care of folks by keeping folks working and by giving our kids a quality education.”

A point Davis echoed when he along with the panel of other gubernatorial candidates discussed why the voters should cast their votes for them as the next leader of the state.

“We’ve got to bring 21st century jobs to here and build a 21st century economy here in Alabama,” Davis said.

The task of doing just that is something Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne said must be done by a candidate with the necessary experience.

“Our next governor can’t be someone who just talks the talk, but also can walk the walk,” Byrne said.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Johnson plainly stated voters should cast their votes in his direction because “I’m running for governor of this state because I understand the principles and values that made this country a great nation.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James touched on the task of reducing the state’s high school drop out numbers and reducing the high unemployment rate as a couple of key issues that need to be addressed by the state’s next governor.

“The day has come to return to a simple time and put some common sense back in government,” James said.

And the job of doing that is something Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert Bentley says starts with ethics reform in the state’s government.

“We don’t need complicated ethics reform, we just need to know where every dollar goes,” Bentley said.