Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks, the Fort Payne Democrat running for governor, came out swinging on the gambling issue this week against Gov. Bob Riley, and his opponent in the Democratic Party primary, Rep. Artur Davis.

Sparks said in a press release he recently ask governor Riley if he were going to stop the people of Alabama from crossing the state line into Mississippi to gamble. Then the Commander of the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling, David Barber, resigned, admitting he won thousands of dollars gambling at a Mississippi casino.

“This just proves the hypocrisy of those who want to kill Alabama jobs and rob our children and seniors of important revenue. We have a Governor who takes Mississippi gambling money while his anti-gambling czar gambles in Mississippi,” Sparks said. “David Barber takes his Alabama money and goes to Mississippi to help educate Mississippi children and help create jobs for Mississippi workers. That money needs to stay in Alabama and help us, not them.”

Sparks pledged if the people of the state elect him governor, he will bring an education lottery to Alabama, protect Alabama jobs, and finally make gaming pay its fair share of taxes.

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by Glynn Wilson

Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks, the Fort Payne Democrat running for governor of Alabama, came out swinging against charter schools again today on the historic steps of the State Capitol Building in Montgomery.

“Today, at the foot of the seat of power in the State of Alabama, I stand alone in opposition to one of the most disastrous public policy initiatives in recent years,”: Sparks said. “In recent days, Artur Davis and Bob Riley have told the people of Alabama that the only way for Alabama to receive money for education reform from the federal government is through the implementation of charter schools. That is simply not true.”

There are federal programs in place now in Alabama that qualify for the stimulus funds, he said..

“We have innovative schools, magnet schools, and specialized programs of excellence in Alabama that would qualify us to receive some of the $4.3 billion of stimulus funding allocated for education,” Sparks said. “Since everybody wants to talk about charter schools, I’m going to tell you the truth about charter schools. Charter schools are only marginally effective. They are not innovative and visionary and have not produced results that justify this much discussion and debate. There is no guarantee that we will get a single penny of the stimulus money by implementing charter schools.”

Studies show that 85 percent of charter schools perform at the same level or below the level of standard schools, Sparks said. “Now, tell me what all the fuss is about? Where is the record of success to back up this demand for charter schools?”

Casino gambling has a better record of success than charter schools, Sparks said. He indicated that the statistics show there is nothing special about the performance of charter schools.

“Charter schools are at best, a mediocre experimental program,” he said. “So, if it’s not about performance then what is it all about? Why is there such a rush to get on board the charter school express?”

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