Love receives endorsement from ALFA

By Debbie Ingram

Published: August 18, 2008

Jay Love admits the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat was hard-fought, with the race pitting the north against the south, but he dismissed any territorial alliances Monday, saying he will represent agriculture interests in the Wiregrass.

“I know how critically important farming is to this area and the state,” Love told a group of farm supporters during a press conference in Fred McKay’s peanut field near the Dothan Regional Airport.

“We have to recognize the ability for us to feed our people should be a number one priority. It is something we need for our national security interests,” the Montgomery candidate said.

Love said as a small business owner he understands the plight of the farmer.

“They face rising fuel costs, rising fertilizer costs .... These guys can’t pass that cost along to the next person on the chain,” he said.

Love received the endorsement of the Alabama Farmers Federation, and said he has been told he will have a seat on the House Agriculture Committee, which is important to local constituents.

One of the issues Love said he plans to pursue is a farm bill provision to provide federal cost share funding for landowners to put in individual reservoirs for irrigation.

“If you don’t have water, you don’t have life,” Love said.

Calling the ALFA endorsement “critical” for his campaign, Love said despite a tough primary election, he has the energy and commitment to see the race through. He said Wiregrass residents should not look upon his Democratic opponent, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, as “one of them” just because he is from Ozark.

“He has not lived here in 35 years.”

Love said he will continue to campaign hard in the Wiregrass.

“I tell people there are 77 days until the election,” Love said. “I will not be out worked. My energy level is extremely high.”