Walt Maddox in 2018 AL Governor's race
On Drugs:
Substance abuse should have its own cabinet-level officer
Alabama has been hit hard with opioid abuse and addiction. Our state has the highest rate of prescription opioid use in the nation, and it's well established that legitimate use of opioid medication is a leading cause of opioid abuse. One of my first
steps to fight this crisis will be to separate substance abuse out from under the Dept of Mental Health. We need a cabinet level officer who answers directly to the Governor while continuing to coordinate drug policy with mental health resources.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
On Education:
Proposes a state lottery to transform the education system
Alabama is failing its children by not providing every child with a top-notch education and the opportunity to succeed. Without raising taxes one penny, my proposal of the Alabama Education Lottery will transform Alabama's public education system.
The Alabama Education Lottery has four pillars: scholarships for higher education and workforce development, expansion of Pre-K, creation of the Promise Program to relieve funding inequities, and the creation of Community Innovation Grants.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Incentives to encourage people & utilities to use solar
Q:Will you support legislation that would increase Alabamians' ability to choose solar energy for their homes and businesses?A: Policies should be instituted that encourage the use of renewable energy sources.
We should recognize that people who install solar panels on their homes are making a choice that benefits all of society, and therefore consideration should be given to incentives that encourage both utilities and homeowners to shift to solar power.
Source: Conservation Alabama on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2018
On Environment:
Sees his role as a protector of the natural resources
Q: In your opinion, what is the governor's role in supporting conservation in Alabama?
A: The governor must be a leader who sets priorities and values, who faithfully executes the conservation and environmental laws of Alabama, and who proposes policy changes to strengthen protection of Alabama's natural resources.
Source: Conservation Alabama on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2018
On Health Care:
Expand Medicaid so all citizens receive care
Alabama's health ranking is 47th in the nation. In the past seven years, seven rural hospitals have closed or are scheduled to be closed. Pediatricians, dentists, nursing home providers and mental health professionals are leaving smaller communities
jeopardizing the continuum of care for tens of thousands. Montgomery has refused to expand Medicaid which would have provided a $1.8B infusion into Alabama's health care system by providing medical coverage for 331K.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
On Jobs:
Will make workforce training and development his priority
Today, 600K Alabamians are either unemployed or working in jobs that don't match their skills or their needs. Over 100K commute to other states for work. This trend must stop. Without better and higher paying jobs, our schools, health care,
roads and bridges will never meet the standard we deserve. We will make workforce training and development the cornerstone of rebuilding our economy to meet the 21st century. We will make college affordable in our state.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
On Technology:
Crumbling infrastructure threatens safety and job growth
Our roads and bridges are crumbling. Alabama has nearly 102K miles of public roadways, and yet so many are deficient with nearly 50% rated as fair, poor, or very poor. Unsafe roadways contribute to one-third of traffic deaths. There are 16,000 bridges
in Alabama and more than 20% are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. When our roadways and bridges are not safe, Alabamians are not safe, and new jobs will not come because they can't pass along our roads to develop the industry.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Put the principles of people over those of the parties
"I've listened, and I've listened hard," Maddox said. "Our people want a governor with vision and integrity and energy. They want a leader they can have a cup of coffee with, and one that will represent Alabama with pride."
Maddox continued to push "Principles of people over parties, ideas over ideology and results over rhetoric." "To the people of Alabama, I believe I am that leader," he said.
Source: Birmingham News on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Jun 6, 2018
On Abortion:
Anti-abortion but pro-law: don't waste time on new laws
Running in the wake of a series of Republican scandals, Maddox said the major accomplishment out of Montgomery in recent years has been, "to take us to the most corrupt state in the nation."
Maddox has described himself as personally against abortion, but says he is also "pro-law" and the state should not waste time passing restrictions that are destined to get struck down by the courts.
Source: Tuscaloosa News on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
May 13, 2018
On Gun Control:
Refuses to comply with the NRA even if it costs him support
Maddox, released a letter he's written to the NRA, in response to the organization's questionnaire, saying he won't commit to any specific legislation in advance, even if it costs him support. Maddox wrote, "this process somehow implies that if
I make a commitment on legislation that I would get your support. That strikes me as being the kind of quid pro quo agreement that has landed too many state leaders either in jail or out of office in recent years."
Source: WHNT News 19 on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Mar 9, 2018
On Immigration:
Find a compassionate pathway to citizenship
When asked about immigration, he said it would be up to the federal government to solve that issue. He said whatever we do, it should be done with "compassion" and human "decency." In Tuscaloosa, our law enforcement officers are not concerned with
immigration," he insisted. "We're concerned with drug dealers. We are concerned with the number of illegal guns going around on our streets." "But we have to find that pathway to citizenship," he said. "We cannot let Dreamers be excluded."
Source: New American Journal on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Mar 9, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Make Alabama's tax structure less regressive
Alabama's regressive tax structure problems involves more than just its income tax. Powerful land owners have successfully lobbied to keep property taxes low. This causes an unhealthy dependency on income, sales, and other taxes, which are not
distributed according to wealth or ability to pay. Once Alabama is ready it will be possible to enact revenue neutral tax reform that distributes the burden of operating state and local governments in alignment with how wealth is distributed.
Source: Alabama Policy Institute on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Mar 9, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
Fiscal 2018 budget raised rates on services and cut expenses
Maddox is forecasting a $148.21M budget for the General Fund with $52.43M for the Water and Sewer Fund. He's recommending a $1 garbage rate increase for residential customers with a $2 hike for commercial garbage customers. The fiscal 2018 budget also
includes a 3% rate hike for water and sewer bills. Alongside these increases, the budget also includes a 5% reduction in expenses across all city departments and the same decrease in funding for the 5 largest outside agencies that receive funding.
Source: Tuscaloosa News on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Aug 22, 2017
On Civil Rights:
Honors Civil Rights History Task Force
Mayor Maddox and the Tuscaloosa City Council formally recognized the efforts of the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Task Force. "The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Task Force seeks to bring about positive change and reconciliation through collecting,
preserving and telling the stories of the important struggle for civil rights in Tuscaloosa," Maddox said in reading the proclamation. "Its vision for Tuscaloosa is for it to become an important tourist destination for civil rights history.
Source: Tuscaloosa News on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Oct 19, 2016
On Crime:
Approved tactical short-term crime reduction strategy
Maddox released a statement saying he has authorized a series of tactical measures proposed by police to curb violence. Maddox said a breakdown of family structures, declining state revenues, overcrowded prisons and police departments inundated
with repeat offenders were several reasons for the spike in crime and that the issues go beyond the work of the Police Department. Maddox didn't disclose details about the tactical measures though he did say it was a short-term crime reduction strategy.
Source: Tuscaloosa News on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Oct 19, 2016
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021