PRATTVILLE, Ala. – Candidates for statewide and congressional office made their cases to retired state employees at the ARSEA/APEAL’s annual conference in Prattville Wednesday evening.
The program included five-minute remarks from candidates on both sides of the aisle up and down the ballot. The candidates hit on major campaign issues like affordability and election security.
Lieutenant governor
Democrat Phillip Ensler and Republican John Wahl honed in on their differences in their remarks.
Ensler, a state representative out of Montgomery, emphasized his relationships within the Alabama Legislature and highlighted his policy wins, namely a ban on glock switches.
“I’m not going to just tell you that I’m going to do it,” Ensler said. “I have been advocating and fighting for it. When I get in there as lieutenant governor, I have the relationship with Sen. Gudger. I have a great relationship with Sen. Bobby Singleton and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I have a great relationship with Speaker Ledbetter, so I know how to get tough things done at the Legislature.”
Continuing on messaging from his win in a crowded GOP primary, former Alabama Republican Party Chair Wahl painted himself as a political outsider with fresh ideas.
“I grew up in rural Alabama,” Wahl said. “I am not a career politician. I’m a farm boy, and I’m proud of that. We have too many career politicians out there, and I think it’s time we brought people in from the outside. Small businessmen, people who have a passion for change.”
Both Ensler and Wahl hit on another top-of-mind issue for many state retirees: cost-of-living adjustments, which state retirees haven’t received in nearly two decades.
Ensler said that supporting state retirees must be backed by finding the funding for a retiree COLA and making sure healthcare is fully funded.
“I hear from so many retirees that are struggling, having to choose between groceries and prescription medication, or having to choose between taking care of a sick family member and putting gas in the tank,” Ensler said. “Those are things that retirees should not have to struggle with. It is not enough to tell you we appreciate you. We have to back it with action at the Legislature.”
Wahl said he would be a voice for retired state employees if elected. He said he respects “the people who have built the Alabama” he knows and loves.
“Last time you guys had an increase was 2006, 20 years,” Wahl said. “Let me tell you right now, the cost of living in the state of Alabama has gone up in the last 20 years, and you, the retirees, hit it first. Whether it’s prescription medicine, whether it’s housing, whether it’s insurance, your insurance rates just went up. It’s funny how insurance companies get a cost of living, but you don’t.”
Attorney general
Democrat Jeff McLaughlin and Republican Katherine Robertson both spoke about their lengthy legal experience and their view of the AG’s office as “the people’s law firm” during their remarks.
A former state representative and attorney, McLaughlin said he’s been in every type of court in Alabama over his 36-year career. He said he would support a data center moratorium, prioritize consumer protection, advocate for ratepayers and not participate in national amicus briefs on certain issues if elected.
“It’s important too, on my first day in office, I intend to depoliticize the attorney general’s office,” McLaughlin said. “The attorney general’s office should not be an office that follows the agenda of one party or one person. The attorney general’s office ought to fight independently for the good of the people of the state of Alabama.”
Robertson, who has served as chief counsel to Attorney General Steve Marshall for the past decade, mentioned public safety in all neighborhoods and living free from the fear of violence as priorities if elected.
She said her time in the AG’s office means Alabamians can know exactly what to expect if she’s elected. Her focus in the role would be everyday people, she said.
“(Attorney general) is a political position that you have to run for, but it’s the people’s law firm and it’s the state’s chief law enforcement officer. I think that that bar supersedes any kind of politics, any type of political party,” Robertson said. “It is a job that really is a service to the people and our clients are y’all. Our client is the state, not just our agencies, not just our political leaders, but really the people.”
The general election is on Nov. 3. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19.