Voting is critical to The University of Alabama and to all of higher education in Alabama. Vote in the Nov. 5 General Election.
Register to vote up to 10 days before the election. Get the application and all the information at www.sos.state.al.us/election/2002/index.cfm.
Siegelman to Speak at LAC Breakfast
UA's Legislative Agenda Committee will host Gov. Don Siegelman at its Oct. 17, 7 a.m., breakfast meeting at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel. These meet-the-candidates breakfasts are designed to inform UA faculty and staff before the November elections about candidates and issues affecting higher education in Alabama. The LAC recently heard Congressman Bob Riley, the Republican candidate for governor, speaking on the issues (see Dialog, Sept. 30). For more information, contact LAC co-chairs Margaret Garner, also chair of the Higher Education Partnership board, at 348-2880, or Scott Bridges at 348-5027. For breakfast reservations, contact the UA office of government relations at 348-4771 or Carolyn Benton at 334/242-2262 or cbenton@uasystem.ua.edu.
LAC Hears Two More Legislative Candidates
In its effort to interview all candidates in local races, the executive committee of UA's Legislative Agenda Committee recently talked with two more candidates. They spoke to issues of importance to higher education in Alabama, including funding, the two-to-one split of new money in the Education Trust Fund to K-12 and higher ed institutions, tax reform, and constitutional reform. Visit the candidates' Web sites for information on the voter districts and registration, links to Alabama governmental sites, and much more: www.votevandermeer.org, www.geraldallen.net, and www.electjohnmerrill.com. To get information about Robert Bentley's campaign, call Michael H. Echols, campaign manager, at 343-2810.
Dr. Jeanette VanderMeer
VanderMeer, assistant professor in UA's Capstone College of Nursing, is the Democratic candidate running against Robert Bentley in District 63 (see Dialog, July 22). VanderMeer said that having worked in the public sector designing and implementing partnerships and programs in the community and in academia has fully prepared her to work for her constituency in the Alabama Legislature. Being a member of the League of Women Voters for more than a decade has taught her about the need for Constitution reform and tax reform in the state. "The more I learn, the more I understand that the state's problems go back to the Constitution," she said. She is less concerned about the methods of reform -- whether by a convention or by individual articles -- than she is about getting it done, quickly.
She is in favor of tax reform and home rule, noting that 70 percent of the Alabama Constitution is a litany of local issues. Regarding Alabama's "earmarking" of funds for areas like education, VanderMeer says that Alabama's education must be protected by earmarking until we adopt a better system for funding it. "I'm scared to un-earmark education, just like everyone is," she said.
Rep. Gerald Allen
Allen, the Republican candidate running against John Merrill (see Dialog, July 22), points proudly to his strong commitment to and consistent support of The University of Alabama, which he describes as holding a very special place for him. He feels confident about the campaign because "the people know my record. It has been tested." Although he feels that constitution reform will not happen anytime soon, he supports tax reform. "Our Band-Aids have been used up," he said. He believes a broad-based coalition will soon be put together to look at tax reform. He believes that if you treat people fairly, they will pay their fair share in taxes. Allen said he feels strongly that he accurately represents the wishes and needs of his constituency and is therefore against home rule. He said that the system of bringing local issues before the Legislature works for the people. He referred to some zoning issues that will be coming up in Tuscaloosa that will benchmark how the people feel about local governance.
As for funding higher ed, Allen strongly backs the one-third, two-third split of new monies for education, and he opposes a lottery. He also believes that the University, as well as other higher ed institutions, need more flexibility in managing their own funds.
Endorsements
Voters can watch the news media for any candidate endorsements by business, the local news outlets, and other groups. The Higher Education Leadership PAC, a group of statewide supporters of higher ed, evaluates candidates across the state. Their endorsements may be found at www.higheredpartners.org/HELP/candidateendorsements2002.html.
UA Home | Dialog Extra | UA News | Faculty/Staff Links | Faculty/Staff Directory | Legislative Updates
Copyright © 2002 The University of Alabama | Text Only | Disclaimer | Comments: Webmaster