MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Republican candidate Corey Hill has released his first TV ad in his bid to be Alabama’s next commissioner of agriculture and industries.
The ad will run statewide on cable beginning this Saturday with an ad buy of $80,000. The streaming buy will also reach statewide, Hill’s campaign said, and they will add broadcast closer to the primary.
The 30-second ad touts Hill’s status as a third-generation farmer.
“But farming isn’t just a job to me,” Hill, who currently serves as the mayor of Douglas in Marshall County, says in the ad. “It’s my friends, my family, my life.”
The Alabama Farmers Federation’s FarmPAC and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association’s BeefPAC have both endorsed him.
Hill will face off with State Sen. Jack Williams of Wilmer and Baldwin County business owner Christina Woerner McInnis in the Republican primary.
The latest campaign finance reports show a close contest. These reports captured fundraising and spending through the end of March.
Williams led last month in fundraising, bringing in $47,700 in contributions.
Hill and McInnis took in $17,855, and $6,130, respectively.
Williams and McInnis are neck-and-neck in spending, as of the beginning of this month. Williams has poured in $484,919 compared to McInnis’ $458,574. Hill has spent $50,860 over the course of the race.
McInnis’ reserve of $381,269 was the largest headed into April. Williams is close behind, with $349,590 on hand. Hill has $263,725.
Democrat and former ag commissioner Ron Sparks is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. He held the office from 2003 to 2011. Sparks raised $23,868 last month and has a war chest of $59,960.
Current ag commissioner Rick Pate is term-limited and is running to be lieutenant governor.
The primary is May 19. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is May 4.