{div class=”OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188249638 BCX0”}The St. Clair Farmers Federation hosted a political forum for state senate, county commission and state board of education nominees at CEPA on Monday night.

Matt Smith, president of the Farmer’s Federation, hosted the event.

The Farmer’s Federation is a non-profit federation designed to represent all aspects of farming and ranching such as row crops, cotton, wheat, oats, corn, peanuts, poultry and meat and forestry.

Lance Bell and Micael Wright are running for the District 11 senate seat.

“We’ve got a lot going on in our country, We gotta get together and better where we are. We’ve got a lot of problems in front of us and it’s not just in DC, it’s also in Montgomery. It’s going to take us all working together as one. I can be your voice in Montgomery but I need you helping me here.

Wright, a Mobile native, has been in the St. Clair area since 1994. He was a prison chaplain and is a veteran.

As he’s witnessed the political climate in the past few years, he decided to get involved by serving the state and county.

“I wanted to find a way to contribute and serve the people of my district and state and political office seemed like the best way to do it,” said Wright.

He said he’s most interested in preserving a “strong conservative base” in Montgomery.

For the county specifically, Both Wright and Bell said roads are one of their biggest concerns.

“We’ve done a great job of growing our county, but if go to Moody and ride 411, in rush hour it’s miserable in certain areas,” said Bell.

State school board

Marie Manning and Priscilla Yother shared why they are seeking a spot on the state school board.

Yother lives in Gadsden and has been a teacher for every grade except for kindergarten. She graduated from Auburn University in 1976. She became a principal in 2000. She says she loves the idea of having a greater influence and the ability to connect with more students.

“My intent if I’m elected to the Alabama State Board of Education is, you have my promise, I will visit all 172 schools in the eight counties every year,” said Yother.

Marie Manning, current SCCS board of education member, said she feels especially connected to St. Clair County because of her education history here.

“I either taught you, taught your children or taught with you and so I know how you love education. I know how you want somebody who will take your voice to the state board of education,” said Manning.

Yother said she’s most interested in correcting a “casualness” in learning that bothers her in St. Clair County and the other seven counties in the district.

“We in America sometimes don’t think that we’re raising children to make a contribution to their community, state and nation. So, when I see young people just hanging out with really nothing to give, it bothers me to no end because I feel like we failed them in education.

Yother said challenge is important in education and believes everyone struggles in education in some way or another, depending on what their specific strengths and weaknesses. She said both the educational process and the value of education both need to be improved.

Manning said she’s most interest in solving covid exhaustion in students, parents and teachers. She said that will involve helping with stress management and improving education curriculum as a whole.

“Previous years, we’ve just dealt with test scores and just when we think we’re almost there the test changes and we have to start dealing with test scores again. I think it’s critically important that the State Board of Education lay down the objectives that should be taught in every school and those objectives should be met with a textbook,” said Manning.

Manning said she believes this will help teachers better understand what they should be teaching, which will make objectives clearer for both students and parents.

St. Clair County Chairman

Tommy Bowers currently serves as St. Clair County, Alabama Commissioner for District 3. He worked with Alabama Power until he retired in 2014 then was appointed to District 3. He also helped establish the St. Clair Economic Development Council in 1999.

Bowers said he’s most interested in having studies done of wages across the state so there will be a benchmark to see where the county needs to be for employees. He’s also interested in expanding industry in St. Clair to continue creating new jobs.

Stan Bateman is a veteran and a retired Alabama Game Warden Supervisor. He was elected to county commission in 1986, is a past president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama and a former board member of the National Association of Counties. He has served as chamber of commerce and Lion’s Club president twice, respectively.

Bateman said there are several problems in the county that need to be addressed. One he touched on was the dispatch system, which he described as “out-of-date” due to the aged radio system. He also said the four cent gasoline tax needs to be shared more directly with the cities. His proposed program would set up specific funds for municipalities.

Incumbent chairman Paul Manning touted his role in increasing new employment, funding management and aiding in the growth of new industry within the county.

Going forward, Manning said he’ll continue working to increase jobs and community improvement.

“People are interested in St. Clair County and are coming here in leaps and bounds. There’s no telling what our population with be in just a few years, please give me the opportunity to stay there and do that job I’ve been doing for eight years,” said Manning.