Although the race hasn’t attracted much media attention, St. Clair County voters should be concerned about who the next commissioner of agriculture and industries is, according to a candidate seeking the state post.

“The work we do out of the Department of Agriculture and Industries affects every person in Alabama every day of their lives,” said Glen Zorn, a Democrat who currently serves as the department’s assistant commissioner.  “They all have a stake in this race.”

A former mayor of Florala and a 40-year veteran of agriculture and agribusiness, Zorn said that a primary role of the DAI is consumer protection.  

“When you go into a grocery store and buy a pound of meat, it’s our responsibility to make sure you get every ounce you paid for.  When you pull into a gas station, it’s our responsibility to make sure you get an exact gallon of gasoline and the correct octane on the label. When a pesticide company comes into your home to apply chemicals, it’s our responsibility to make sure that they’re safe.”

Zorn faces Republican opposition in November’s general election, but said that partisanship has little bearing in the race.

“I just don’t see that being a Democrat or Republican is as important as being able to work with people on both sides of the aisle.  I want to be able to continue to do a lot of things we’ve been working on, such as creating markets, locally and abroad, for products that are made here in Alabama.”

Another goal Zorn said he hopes to work toward if elected is enacting a statewide comprehensive water management plan, an effort he said should be of particular benefit to such rural counties as St. Clair.  He helped develop a regional plan for 13 counties in southeast Alabama in the late 1980s when it was projected that the area could be without water resources by 2050.

“What we had to do was learn to take what water we’ve got and manage it better so it will still be there in times of need.  As a small-town mayor, when talking to industries interested in making investments in our communities, they want to know about our water resources and how long they will last. The Department of Agriculture and Industries should take the lead in trying to prepare a comprehensive water management plan for the state of Alabama.”