Former state Rep. James Fields, who finished third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary this spring, is actively campaigning against Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox ahead of the November 6 general election.
Fields has been speaking at rallies for independent, left-leaning candidate Chad “Chig” Martin, while taking swipes at Maddox, the Democratic nominee.
In one video posted on Facebook, Fields can be seen calling Maddox a “swamp digger” intent on “digging into your income, digging into your household.” In Fields’ view, Maddox holds liberal beliefs but is part of a culture of corruption.
While Maddox has constantly complained that Governor Kay Ivey will not debate him, Fields called out Maddox for refusing to debate Martin. Fields further advised that Maddox is “hiding something.”
Martin himself has alleged that “the Democrat with his high paid advisors are now copying our campaign ideas.”
Fields was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014, losing that general election to Ivey. He spent a career working for the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, where he served for over 28 years until 2008, assisting the public in locating jobs, and worked himself up to a supervisory rank with the North Alabama Unemployment Fraud Division investigators. Fields is currently a pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Irondale.
Fields’ opposition to Maddox comes in striking contrast to the unity shown in the Republican ranks, with Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh last week even holding a fundraiser for her former opponent, state Rep. Will Ainsworth (R-Guntersville), in his bid to become the state’s next lieutenant governor.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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