GUNTERSVILLE — Thus far, and it won’t be easy to top, Lieutenant Gov. Will Ainsworth has had the biggest campaign rollout of the early stages of the 2022 election cycle.
Campaign organizers told Yellowhammer News upward of 3,000 people attended the re-election kickoff event on Friday at the Jeff Cook Performing Arts Stage at the Guntersville Civitan Park alongside the Tennessee River.
Governor Kay Ivey and State Senator Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) were among the political dignitaries participating in the formal announcement. The event also included a cameo by country music hit singer Riley Green.
Ainsworth touted his efforts in improving living conditions for Alabama’s military families and the strides the economy had made recovering from COVID-19.
“In Alabama, we’re going to send a message — we have sent a message to Joe Biden and the Democrats that it is time to get people back to work,” he said. “It’s time to cut out the benefits. It’s time to do what makes America great. We banned having a vaccine passport in Alabama.”
Ainsworth lauded efforts by the legislature to prohibit vaccine passports, ban critical race theory from being taught in public schools and prevent the participation of transgender athletes in female athletics in K-12 public schools.
“Alabama has the safest and strongest election process in the country,” Ainsworth said. “I will say this: We eliminated double voting and also curbside voting. But I promise you this — we’re going to work to make sure elections are safe and fair in Alabama. You have got my commitment on that.”
The lieutenant governor also proclaimed that protecting the Second Amendment from a potentially hostile Biden administration would remain a prime concern.
He added his focus would be to preserve Alabama values while improving opportunities for future generations.
“The main reason I’m running is for my kids, your kids, your grandkids’ future,” he said. “It is a huge time commitment, but I want to say this: I want our kids, your kids, everybody in here to always be proud to call Alabama home. I don’t want our kids to have to move to Atlanta or Nashville or Austin or another state. I want them to be able to live right here in Alabama and have the same opportunities as any kids in the world. We’re going to do that. We are doing that.”
“As a matter of fact, people are leaving other states to come to Alabama,” Ainsworth added. “And that’s why I’m running. Alabama is the greatest state in the country because we respect hard work, we have the best people, and we have Christian conservative values. And with your help, I look forward to working with you to keep us the greatest state in the country.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
