2010 Ala. Gubernatorial Candidates Forum

POINT CLEAR, Ala - Eight Gubernatorial candidates for governor of Alabama took the stage at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear Saturday to present their view for the future.

Six years after he was removed as Chief Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court over the Ten Commandments controversy, Roy Moore is running for the top job in the state.

"One of my first acts would be to stop annual reappraisals of property which cost taxpayers and businesses millions of dollars each year," Moore said.

There are seven other contenders for the job, and they all say the economy and jobs are high on their list of priorities.

Congressman Artur Davis told the crowd, "If we are serious about building a workforce that can drive 21st century jobs we can't be afraid of reform. Existing business has got to be the driver. The global economy is the worse we've seen since 1929."

Alabama developer and investor Tim James brings an extensive business background to the race for governor.

Mobile native Bradley Byrne is a former state senator and former chancellor of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. He says,"The only way we're going to drive state economics is if we have the infrastructure in place to move people to where the jobs are."

Robert Bentley is a doctor and former State Representative. "We need to take politics out of building roads and this is essential," Bentley said.

State Treasurer Kay Ivey is the only woman in the race. She shared her ideas about economic development at the forum. "Economic development and growth for Alabama rest on the recruiting of jobs," she said.

All of the candidate say the key to more jobs is providing more businesses and industries.

Bill Johnson is a former Birmingham City Council Member. "I think by continuing the industry recruitment of the governor, and expanding existing industries is going to be obviously key to trying to weather the current economic crisis that we're in," he said.

Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks told the forum he's traveled the world. "As governor, you can rest assure I'm going to continue to travel the world to make sure we sell Alabama," he said.

But first these candidates have to sell themselves to Alabama voters. Mac Gipson said the forum could help some voters make up their mind about who to vote for.

"Whoever thought it out, put it together and made it move in the speed with that many candidates did a great job," Gipson said.

The forum was sponsored by the Business Council of Alabama.

OX10 News anchor Bob Grip was one of the moderators for the event. You can listen to Bob's interviews with the candidates by going to the video box to the side.