"As a small business owner and farmer, I’ve seen how government regulation and misguided policies often break the back of our small businesses and family farmers. Getting rid of outdated regulations and making it easier for folks to maintain a family farm or start a small business will help our local economy."
Nationwide, the average age of a farmer is 58. Many family farms are closing their doors. As your State Senator, Andrew will continue working to keep the agriculture industry vibrant in Alabama.
Not too long ago, Alabama was one of the least-supportive states for small business creation in the nation. Andrew believes we must keep improving.
As our State Senator, Andrew will continue to fight to protect our water resources from being encroached upon by out of state interests.
Andrew believes that broadband internet is just as essential as electricity was 100 years ago. Our economic development and quality of life depend on access to fast, affordable broadband.
Getting rid of outdated regulations and making it easier for folks to start a small business or maintain a family farm will help our local economy.
Andrew knows that we are competing with surrounding states to bring new industry and we need to do everything we can to get those jobs.
"There are many projects which I want to see completed, including extending I-759 in Gadsden, building a new Southside Bridge, and completing the Highway 411 4-lane project between Etowah and Cherokee counties which is currently under construction."
For years, we were in a bare-minimum maintenance situation with our infrastructure. In Montgomery, Andrew has continued to fight to repair our crumbling roads and bridges. Many of our roads are simply unsafe, and many of our bridges are past their intended lifespan.
Extending I-759 in Gadsden and building a new Southside Bridge will mean much more than just relieving traffic congestion. Andrew believes these projects will contribute to the economic development of Etowah County, help recruit industry, and improve the quality of life for all of us who live and work there.
Andrew is excited that the US Highway 411 expansion project was announced as one of the first Rebuild Alabama Projects. Many of our citizens travel that road for work, and the bottleneck there is dangerous. Continuous 4-lane access from I-759 into Cherokee County via US 411 will also help recruit industry to Cherokee County.
“When it comes to education, the most important thing we can do is expand access to pre-K. We need to get that done, even if it means rearranging some of our priorities. Studies have shown that if you can get a child reading at the appropriate level by 3rd grade, then he or she is more likely to graduate high school."
Andrew firmly believes that we must expand access to Pre-K. Studies have shown that this is the most learning-critical time in a child's life. We must accomplish this by rearranging our priorities, not through new taxes.
Schools work better when local school boards, parents, and teachers can make most of the decisions for our students- not Montgomery or D.C. politicians. Andrew will continue to work to give our local school boards more flexibility and decision-making power.
Students at even the smallest schools deserve to have access to electives and advanced courses that will prepare them for college or entering the workforce. Andrew is a big supporter of distance learning, vocational programs, and advocates for the availability of dual enrollment and AP courses.
"The best education I ever got was growing up on a farm. We have so much potential here, and we need a State Senator that can be trusted to represent our Northeast Alabama values while not shying away from tackling the difficult decisions our state faces."
Alabama has some of the lowest taxes in the nation, and it is essential that we keep them that way. Our working families are already struggling to make ends meet, and as a small businessman and farmer, Andrew knows the sacrifices that so many of us are already making.
Andrew believes the 2nd Amendment is under attack in Washington, and our state legislature must do everything possible to stand up the DC and protect our right to bear arms.
As a born-again Christian, Andrew is committed to do everything possible to help protect the sanctity of human life. He will always be an advocate for the most vulnerable among us.
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