Mid-term elections will take place nationwide Nov. 2, and millions of people will take to the polls to elect the officials who they feel will best represent them for the next few years. Madison is no different. The race for Alabama State

Butler

Senate District 2 has been a hot topic in Madison for some time now. City Council President and “full-time candidate” Bill Holtzclaw is running against incumbent Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison. The Record interviewed both candidates on who they are, the issues they stand for and why they should be elected.

Butler:

Occupation: Pharmacist

How did I get into politics?

“I got introduced to politics when my dad was campaigning for his employer and I went with him to political rallies and handed out cards and nailed up signs. After I finished college, and starting practicing pharmacy and I became a member of the Huntsville Jaycees. I worked on projects and really loved public service, which eventually became elective office and allowed me to work for a larger part of the community.”

What separates you from your opponent?

“The number one thing, obviously, is experience and depth of understanding of this district and issues facing our district and the state of Alabama. I have a long and honorable record of public service. I have served with integrity, experience and commitment. I don’t play political games in Montgomery. I am serious about my job and my work representing one of the most dynamic areas of Alabama. I have been able to work across party lines, across county lines, and across the state to make things happen.”

What better qualifies you for this position than your opponent?

“My record. My opponent praised my record when he announced and has said he likes the job I have done, what I have been able to accomplish in the community and the fact that I have been a good conservative voice. When you are applying for a job, experience should be a priority. The ability to function productively should be something the community would like to retain. I have worked extremely hard on schools for our area and have helped our teachers, students and parents with needs in the schools.”

What are the top three most important issues facing this district and how will you represent the district on those issues?

1. Education

“When I started representing the city of Madison, there were 4,000 residents. Today, there are 40,000. Madison is what it is because of its schools. My efforts have led to the construction of Liberty Middle School, the current Bob Jones High School, to Madison having it own school system, and to the creation of every school built since the creation of the Madison City School system. I have recently sponsored and passed the first part of a BRAC school bond bill that will help us build more schools to keep up with growth.”

2. Roads

“Road efforts since I have been in the legislature include: I-565, the County Line Road to four-lanes from Highway 72, Boeing Boulevard, six to seven lanes on University Drive from Research Park Boulevard, Providence Main Street, the completion of the first phase of widening of Highway 53, improvements of Rideout Road (now Research Park Blvd), numerous local road projects in Limestone County and the conversion of Old Madison Pike to four lanes with landscaping thru Research Park. I have now been appointed to the Legislative Joint Highway Committee that has to review and concur with each addition to the State Highway Plan every year. This appointment has not been open for 25 years. I am glad to have it for our district as I represent the 5th congressional district on the committee.”

3. Jobs

“I will continue to work with the governor and the Alabama Development Office on job recruitment for our area. We have 15,000 BRAC related jobs coming in and I have made good contributions to our BRAC efforts with the BRAC EUL (Redstone Arsenal/Huntsville partnership) and the BRAC School Bond Bill that will help us get ready for BRAC 2015. We have many more jobs on the drawing board that will bring more jobs of varying pay grades to our area. I worked with Gov. Riley on the newly announced Dynetics jobs announced last week that will bring in 350 high-tech jobs paying an after salary in excess of $100,000 annually.”