Sparks wants lottery to fund college scholarships

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks has unveiled a campaign platform for governor that includes creating a state lottery to pay for college scholarships.

At a news conference Friday in Montgomery, Sparks also advocated taxing the growing electronic gambling industry in Alabama. He said he would use the money to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, provide more funding for education and Medicaid, and create a disaster relief fund for agriculture.

Sparks also called for an end to annual property tax reappraisals and a return to doing them every four years.

He faces U.S. Rep. Artur Davis of Birmingham in the Democratic primary in June next year.