FOLEY – Republican candidates vying for Bradley Byrne’s state senate seat debated for nearly an hour and a half July 24 at the Gift Horse Restaurant, a forum sponsored by the South Baldwin Republican Women. 

David Ed Bishop, Albert Lipscomb, Randy McKinney and Lee “Trip” Pittman –  Don McGriff could not attend due to a prior engagement - endeavored to distinguish themselves from the pack with each citing their varied reasons for why they should be elected to serve a seat that covers the vast majority of the county’s population.  

Byrne’s vacant seat, Senate District 32, covers all of the county’s municipalities, and most unincorporated areas, petering out north of Stockton and west of Bay Minette.  South and Central Baldwin fall entirely within the seat’s jurisdiction.   

The Republican primary will be held August 7, and if one candidate does not receive 50 percent of the vote, a runoff between the top two candidates will occur on September 11. 

The general election, slated for October 16, will pit the Republican winner against the only Democrat – A.J. Cooper. 

Candidates were asked a series of questions posed by the forum’s sponsor and the public, written on a note-card and conveyed by the moderator.  Each candidate was required to answer within one minute. 

One questioned asked the candidates what they believe is the most pressing issue facing Baldwin County. 

McKinney, who serves on the Alabama state school board, said that insurance is his primary concern since it is hurting the overall marketplace. 

Lipscomb, a former county commission who once held Byrne’s coveted seat, cited three issues: infrastructure, insurance and health care.

Bishop, who currently serves on the county commission and held a city council seat in Fairhope for over two decades, said that insurance is his greatest concern and he mentioned three additional issues: keeping a lid on taxes, controlling immigration and maintaining quality of life in the county by managing growth.  

Tripp, who worked on the county’s planning and zoning commission, placed quality of life, including growth management and environmental preservation, as top priority, but added that immigration and insurance are also considerable. 

When asked about the controversial double-dipping debacle which, in some cases, legislators are delegating policy on the house floor in Montgomery while holding faculty positions in publicly funded classrooms, all candidates agreed that the practice should be eliminated. 

As for attracting industry to the county, Tripp recommended that taxes be kept low to promote economic development and to create an awareness that the state and the county fosters a favorable business climate. 

Bishop pointed to the effectiveness of regionally coordinated efforts such as partnerships with the Mobile County commission and economic development agencies.   

He added: “If we keep promoting and developing our schools, we will pull businesses here.”

Lipscomb said that the county needs more support from state-level agencies including the Alabama Development Office, which supports small business ventures. 

McKinney said that work-force development programs will entice smaller corporations, eventually enhancing job opportunities in the county.   

“Small businesses create good quality jobs,” McKinney said, adding that businesses with less than 100 employees make a positive impact on the local economy.

To determine voting eligibility for State Senate District 32, voter registration cards list the senate district number or check the probate court’s website, which searches registration records based on last name: www.bcconline.co.baldwin.al.us/voters/voterIndex.aspx