Pittman running for U.S. Senate

Published 2:51 pm Thursday, June 22, 2017

Alabama voters will have a difficult decision in the special primary election on Aug. 15 to fill the U.S. Senate seat previously held by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

Currently 10 Republican candidates, including incumbent U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to fill Sessions’ seat by former Gov. Robert Bentley, and eight Democrats qualify for election.

The Republican candidates include James Beretta, Joseph Breault, Alabama Christian Coalition President Randy Brinson, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, Dominic Gentile, Mary Maxwell, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, Bryan Peeples, and Pittman.

The Democratic candidates are Will Boyd, Vann Caldwell, Jason Fisher, Michael Hansen, former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, Robert Kennedy Jr., Brian McGee, and Nana Tchienkou.

Pittman of Baldwin County visited Pell City on June 15 to speak to members of the St. Clair County Republican Party about his run for the U.S. Senate seat.

“The reason I am running is because I love this state and I love this country,” Pittman said. 

Pittman was first elected to the Alabama Senate in 2007, during a special election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Sen. Bradley Byrne. Pittman was re-elected in 2010 and 2014. Pittman said he planned to exit politics, as a strict proponent for term limits, when the opportunity to run for U.S. Senate became available.

Alabama State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega County) who has worked with Pittman over the past nine years, endorsed Pittman for the position. “Trip [Pittman] is the most fiscally conservative legislator in Montgomery and consistently works on behalf of the state to watch the budget.”

Pittman has served on several committees during his term in the Alabama Senate, including Constitution Ethics and Elections, Education and Youth Affairs, Finance and Taxation Education, and Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development. Pittman currently serves as President Pro Tem Designee of Governmental Affairs and Chairperson of Finance and Taxation General Fund.

Working with the Education Trust Fund Committee, Pittman dealt with a budget of over $6.8 billion in state funds. “We need a great education system,” Pittman said. “I have worked to protect the education trust fund and believe that if we need additional funds for the general fund, it should not be taken from the education fund. ”

Pittman stated his position on several national policies including balancing the budget, supporting the Second Amendment, vetting for immigrants, and fighting against Obamacare and the expansion of Medicare. Pittman also supports a strong defense, but stated that the country should be careful about getting engaged in conflict on the ground.

Pittman served in the National Guard and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) until he was honorably discharged in 1996. Pittman believes that his prior military service, combined with a strong legislative track record of fighting for veterans, makes him qualified to be a voice for the military.

“I will demand and require a declaration of war before putting men and women in uniform in harm’s way,” Pittman stated, disagreeing with recent national policies involving conflicts in the Middle East without official declarations.

Pittman was born in Birmingham in 1960, and moved with his family to Baldwin County in 1971. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1982 with a degree in Commerce and Business Administration. In 1988, Pittman founded his own business, Pittman Tractor Company, located in Baldwin County. The company currently services clients from all over the world. Pittman stated that he understands hard work, and his experience being a small business owner has contributed to his budgetary knowledge.

“I believe that preserving a free enterprise system is the best opportunity for the most people,” Pittman said. “People vote everyday with their money on what they want and what they believe in. We need to educate younger voters on why we need a free enterprise system. Being from the coast, they say a ‘Rising tide lifts all boats.’”

Pittman stated that the “fiber of the Country is family.” Pittman met his wife, Lynn, while attending the University of Alabama. They have been married for 29 years and have three children.

“Liberty requires responsibility.  I have seen problems and challenges in Montgomery, but you can’t change without change in Washington,” Pittman told the crowd. “Can we turn the nation around? Not by ourselves but with God’s help. Vote for the best person to represent you in the U.S. Senate.” 

The special primary election will be held on Aug. 15, with a runoff election Sept. 26 if necessary. The general election will be held on Dec. 12. 

For more information on Sen. Lee “Trip” Pittman, visit www.TripforSenate.com. For information on additional Republican candidates, visit https://algop.org/elections/2017-us-senate-special-election-info  and the Democratic candidate information at http://aldemocrats.org/blog/u.s._senate_candidate_contact_information.