Gubernatorial hopefuls Kay Ivey and Ron Sparks discussed everything from education reform and the prepaid college tuition program to perennial issues like ethics reform and PAC-to-PAC transfers as part of the last day of the third annual Alabama Community Leadership Conference.
The conference attracted approximately 178 representatives from local governments, businesses and groups from across the state, said organizer Arturo Menefee, a leadership development specialist with the Economic and Community Development Institute at Auburn University. The two-day event at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center was a chance for participants to network with others from across the state and discuss leadership as well as current issues.
Ivey, a Republican hopeful and current state treasurer, called for new approaches to existing problems and highlighted cost cutting and transparency in her tenure as treasurer in her bid for her party’s nomination. Ivey said she would work to cut pork and other excessive spending while diversifying the state’s industrial base.
“We don’t need to put all out eggs in one basket,” Ivey said. “I thought we learned that from textiles and steel.”
Echoing claims by Gov. Bob Riley and others that the state had a moral obligation to fulfill prepaid college tuition contracts, Ivey said she would salvage the program with a five-point plan which would protect contract holders and tax payers while paying for bailouts with cuts to pork and other excesses in the state budget.
As part of the PACT rescue, Ivey promised no new taxes nor raids on the Alabama trust fund.
Sparks, like Ivey, cast the state’s obligation to the program as a moral one.
“If you elect me governor and you paid for the PACT program, you are going to get it,” said Sparks, who is campaigning for the Democratic nomination.
The Agricultural and Industries Commissioner planned to pay for the PACT rescue and other struggling programs like Medicaid with taxes on gambling in the state. Sparks also proposed a lottery-funded scholarship program for Alabama students. He said about $80 million leaves the state annually for gambling in neighboring states. Sparks wants to tax and regulate gambling in the state.
“As governor, I’m not going to make you gamble,” he said. “That’s your privilege. I just want the taxes off it.”
Both candidates promised bi-partisanship if elected.
“Everyone is welcome at the table,” Sparks said.
“You have to work with folks not at folks to get things done,” Ivey said.
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