Gov. Kay Ivey and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox are taking part in the National Governors Association’s “Disagree Better” campaign.
The two ran against each other for governor in 2018, and yet, they now work as a team on issues like economic development and infrastructure.
In the video, Ivey and Maddox joke about their different football allegiances and discuss how Republicans and Democrats must find a way, as they have, to disagree on issues without hating one another.
“Alabamians are some of the best people in the world, and that is because we treat everyone with respect, even if that person votes differently than us or cheers for the rival team,” Ivey said. “Even though Mayor Maddox and I once opposed each other on the ballot and maybe do not agree on every single issue out there, we do agree that the people of Alabama deserve our hardest work – and that means coming together to ensure our Sweet Home is the best place to live, work and raise a family for generations to come.”
“When it comes to solutions to serious issues, Alabamians are not looking for red or blue decisions. They just want the best decision for themselves, their children and their grandchildren,” Maddox said. “To do this, we must all work to disagree better. Even when it’s not easy, respecting each other’s perspectives, understanding unique life experiences and working to find the truth will ensure that what unites us is infinitely stronger than what divides us.
“Governor Ivey has achieved so much for our state and a great deal of her success is grounded in her ability to listen and build consensus.”
Watch the video below.
Launched in July, Disagree Better is a yearlong initiative to help Americans learn the skills of healthy conflict. The effort aims to change the political behavior of both voters and elected officials, showing that the right kind of conflict often leads to better policy, can be more successful politically than negative campaigning and is the pathway to restoring trust in our political institutions. https://www.nga.org/disagree-better/