ABC endorses Byrne

The Bradley Byrne camp announced today that its candidate has secured the endorsement of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, a win the campaign notes is the "third major business endorsement" of the gubernatorial campaign.

It's interesting to note that the ABC supports Sen. Lowell Barron's gigantic roads construction bill, legislation Republican lawmakers have derided as wastefully extravagant and too slow in turnaround to have any appreciable impact on the state's economy in the near future.

As pointed out over on Left in Alabama, Byrne doesn't seem quite sure what he thinks of Barron's roads bill.

But the ABC apparently found enough in Byrne that they liked that it didn't matter.

From the campaign's news release:

Emphasizing that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne has the vision, temperament and proven experience needed to turn Alabama’s economy around and create robust job growth, leaders of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama today announced their group’s endorsement of the conservative, reform-minded candidate in his bid for governor.

The ABC endorsement was announced during a news conference at the association’s Birmingham headquarters office and signals the Alabama construction industry’s support for Byrne over eight other candidates in the governor’s race. In addition to earning the prestigious ABC endorsement, Byrne has also won formal endorsements from the 15,000-member Alabama Association of REALTORS® and the 5,000-member Alabama Retail Association.

“Today I’m delighted to be here and to be joined by a great group of commercial contractors and skilled craftsmen to announce an endorsement our association feels will continue to keep Alabama on the forefront of economic development, create jobs and ensure Alabama remains a place where national and international businesses want to locate,” said ABC of Alabama Immediate Past Chairman Vance Fulkerson. “Today I am proud to announce that Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama formally endorses Mr. Bradley Byrne as the construction industry’s choice for Governor of Alabama in 2010.”

Following Fulkerson’s announcement, Byrne expressed his gratitude for the group’s support and affirmed his pledge to reinvigorate Alabama’s economy and build an environment ripe for new job creation. “This great endorsement means the world to me and to my campaign,” Byrne said. “There may be no professional group that understands more personally than you do the challenge and pain this economic downturn has inflicted on the people of this state for so long. I am grateful for your support and confidence, especially in the midst of these difficult times.

“If given the privilege to serve as your governor, I pledge to do all in my power to create a robust economy so the people in this room and the other members of this organization can get back to the business of building a better Alabama for all of us,” he added.

Emphasizing Byrne’s commitment to helping small businesses and keeping the cost of doing business down, along with his support for the principals of merit shop, which ABC members strongly endorse, Fulkerson said, “The economic strain has created a new sense of fear. Our industry and the State of Alabama need a governor who understands the need for a positive economic development image nationally and internationally, and the importance of job creation that will get skilled craftsmen back to work.

In closing, Byrne told the crowd, “I’m honored to have you on our team. As a senator, I was proud to support hard-working Alabama job-makers like you and those you represent. And, with your help, I look forward to working as Governor to make sure Alabama is always ‘open for business,’ by building an economic environment that promotes growth, encourages entrepreneurship and meets the needs of our existing businesses.”