As we approach Nov. 29, when the voters of House District 45 go to the polls to elect a new state representative, I want to thank everybody in the district who has patiently listened to the candidates throughout the campaign.

These are tough times for everyone in our state and our district. I want to go to Montgomery to secure jobs for the district to make sure the voices of our district are heard.

The current Legislature has cut education, putting hundreds of teachers out of work.

The current Legislature cut the take home pay of police and firefighters, and are forcing thousands more employees into retirement.

I do not favor increasing taxes on home-grown Alabama companies fighting to create new jobs.  But it is time for giant out-of-state corporations like ExxonMobile to pay their fair share. The current Legislature is balancing the budget on the backs of the individual taxpayer and Alabama based businesses while giving corporate welfare to some of the biggest companies in the world.  That’s just not right.

There are clear differences between my opponent and me.

I will be a voice for the district. My party does not make me sign a pledge to vote in a bloc, and I will have the freedom to vote for the best interests of our district.

The Republican Party webpage (www.algop.org) shows the Republican Caucus pledge that every Republican is required to sign.  Go to my website (www.paigeparnell.com) and you can see the pledge and a copy of a letter written to a Republican House member reprimanding that member for not voting as he was instructed.

All Republican candidates are required to uphold the oath they sign which demands they vote exactly the way their party leadership tells them. This means they have to vote with the party, and not the district.

Montgomery insiders have come into our district and have orchestrated attacks on me.

We need someone who is going to stand up against the Montgomery insiders and represent our district’s best interests in the State Legislature.

The Republican pledge to their party means that any candidate they have will be co-opted into voting against education for our children, voting against benefits for our firefighters and police officers, and voting against healthcare for our seniors.

The only pledge I will take is to the people of this district.

This is the opportunity to send a message that you as voters support education for our children, a living wage for our police and firefighters, and healthcare for our seniors.

I pledge that the people in my district will come first when I go to Montgomery, not my party.

If you want to send the current Legislature a strong message and send a strong leader to represent you, then please vote for me, Paige Parnell, on Tuesday, Nov. 29.