Guest Column
by Ron Sparks

Education changes lives. The single most effective way to ensure progressive change in Alabama is to guarantee and invest in education for the young people of Alabama.

Recent studies show that from earnings to pension plans, access to health-care, and overall community vigor, higher education yields significant rewards to recipients from all racial/ethnic/gender groups and society as a whole.

With the recent economic downturn, our education system is facing profound funding gaps. And while the recent passage of the federal stimulus package is an unprecedented opportunity to bridge these gaps, it also creates unsustainable funding dependencies and ignores opportunities to invest in effective long-term solutions.

Without an influx of new revenue into our education system, thousands of teachers will lose their jobs, teacher to student ratios will rise, the level of instruction will suffer, test scores will decline, and our children’s futures will be held hostage through no fault of their own.

During times like these, the people of Alabama expect and deserve a Governor who will not only tell them the truth about the financial calamity we are facing but also offer concrete solutions to address budget shortfalls.

I am the only candidate for Governor with the courage to stand up and protect our public school system from being raided by those seeking charter schools.

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Alabama’s Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks, the Democrat from Fort Payne who wants to be governor, will announce major plans in a press conference Thursday to guarantee advanced education for every child, lower taxes yet higher funding for education and Medicaid, plus a disaster relief fund for agriculture.

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Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks announced today that he will be a candidate for Governor of Alabama in 2010.

Sparks made the announcement at a morning press conference in Montgomery kicking off a 4-city announcement tour that also includes stops in Birmingham, Huntsville and his home town of Fort Payne.

“I’m running for Governor of Alabama because I believe that I am the best candidate to lead this state through these tough times,” Sparks said. “My service at the statewide level uniquely prepares me to tackle the issues we face. I’ve been on the front lines dealing with everything from fighting to keep Alabama jobs here while working to attract new ones to ensuring our education system properly prepares students for the future. And, I’ve been able to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done for the people of Alabama.”

In short, he said, “I think that I’m best prepared for this job. I have been blessed to serve the people of Alabama and look forward to continuing to serve them as their next Governor.”

No AP story in the al.com so-called Flash news page, still, recently redesigned and updated less. Got to keep a monopoly on that news, I guess, or maybe they just didn’t bother to show up and cover it?

Sparks2010.com