Roy Moore

“I think we live in a critical time in our state in and our nation,” Roy Moore said.

In both leadership and in funding, the country needs to return “to the constitution of the United States and Alabama as our supreme law. I think that I’ve got the experience and qualifications.”

The former Alabama Chief Justice is the Republican nominee and also a former deputy district attorney, and private attorney for many years.

“I’ve been sworn to the constitution since Vietnam, served in Europe, and dealt with administrations of personnel and material matters; and been a company commander in military.”

When asked about his ousting after the national headline-making spotlight on the state regarding his stance on where God and the law stand, he commented, “I think that the people of Alabama know what I stand for and will stand up for freedoms for what I stand for and them, too.”

The voters stood solidly behind the Ashville resident in the Republican primary, who says he thinks they will in the general election as well.

Regarding his want to head the court system, including its finances and the drastic cuts that have severely affected everything from clerk’s offices to district attorneys and their personnel, he said, “Our primary concerns of our courts and the clerk, which have been cut 50 percent of staffing.”

He said in 2000 and 2001 the multi-million budget cuts didn’t result in courts closing and that some procedures done after his ouster such as electronically filing of taxes and some fees have helped what could have been an even worse situation.

On dealing with the legislature in getting funding for one of the state’s three branches, he said, “they’re necessitated to know that we need adequate funding and we know that they know hope they know that—and I look forward to that challenge.”

Asked about the battle over the monument, which was ordered out of his courthouse, he said, “I upheld the rights under the constitution of the United States to acknowledge God; it was never about a monument. It was about the constitution and upholding God.

“There would be no necessity to return the monument to the (state) Supreme Court.”

He continued, “Unless we understand God’s relationship to God and our country we fail to retain our morality and that’s a very serious issue.”

When asked about the differences between himself and his opponent he pointed out the fundamental differences in party lines.

“I think the differences between the Democrat platform and the Republicans is they have shown support for taxpayer abortion homosexual rights, same sex marriage and certainly a form of socialism in the [recently upheld] healthcare act.

“Republicans believe in rights given by God, to remain for the Defense of Marriage Act, oppose taxpayer funded abortions and abortions in general… and socialism that this [federal] administration has shown.”

He said his opponent “is pledged by loyalty oath to the Democratic nominee, in fact he and his wife supported [President Obama] and his wife was then appointed to a United States attorney level, position and I think that’s apparent.”

Bob Vance

Bob Vance made his decision because of where the state’s courts were and what the next chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court has to do and what they should be focused on.

A justice for 10 years, he said the budget crisis is of utmost importance in this election.

“It’s really been cut to the bone now; for hundreds of people we’ve had to cut back on programs and benefits to the people of Alabama. I’ve had that concern. So in the summer when I was listening to my opponent and the prior Democratic nominee, they weren’t paying attention to those issues. They were just focusing on divisive social issues, that unfortunately are all too common in political campaigns.”

The former Democratic candidate was knocked off the party ticket after controversial statements made earlier in the election season.

“It was my decision [to run]. I have had a few people come to me and ask if I would step forward if there was no nominee.”

He said it only took a day or two to decide to run after that. “It was not a decision I made in conjunction with the state party… but it was a personal decision.”

He said he wants to make sure the chief justice wants to make sure that the “real” problems facing the judiciary.

“We’re facing a real difficult situation today and the challenges in front of our courts are very significant. The chief justice, who is really the chief administrator of our courts has to work with the legislature and judges and clerks and attorneys and everyone invested in the system to try to work out a game plan to try to make due with fewer and fewer resources.”

When it comes to budget allocations and how the cuts law enforcement and clerks’ offices are facing, Vance said, “the only way to address those kinds of cuts is to lay off people. So you’ve had a number of people laid off here in just Jefferson County. So that’s one of the number of challenges we face. But I will say that part of the reason I entered the race is because when my opponent was chief justice, he did not show a capability of working well with the legislature or with judges to deal with the problems back then. We were starting to have budget problems 10 years ago.”

He said in his ability to carve out a piece of the budget from the legislature that “it is so dependant on what attitude you bring to the table. Just as with any negotiation on funding issues there is a process of dialog, and you’ve got to build trust, you’ve got to build open lines of communication. You’ve got to work without any kind of hidden agenda so that people do trust you. So that you’ve got to be receptive to their (the legislature’s) ideas or concerns or that of judges. A chief justice should answer those questions and make sure what those monies go for.”

He said he would “commit to working in good faith with candor and transparency in my dealings in Montgomery.”