Davidson Backs Freeman in District 95 Runoff on June 16

Guest Opinion by Elijah Davidson

I've decided to endorse a candidate in the upcoming District 95 runoff and I don't give a damn who it upsets. This is my honest assessment.

Since May 19th, a lot of people have reached out to me to try and convince me to endorse either Frances Holk-Jones or Joe Freeman. More importantly, a lot of supporters reached out to give me their opinion and ask whom I was supporting.

At first, I told them that I was planning on just staying out of it altogether. I was really frustrated with losing and with both Frances Holk-Jones and Joe Freeman seeming to be more interested in mudslinging and spending thousands of dollars telling voters how horrible the other was than they were in laying out policies and legislation they planned to fight for in Montgomery to improve the lives of people here in District 95.

Anyone who followed my campaign knows that I think candidates who just sling mud and spew empty rhetoric are part of the problem, and refusing to give specific policies one would fight for is about as obvious a sign that you cannot trust a politician as there is.

Long story short, I was just going to stay out of it.

Then I got a text from a lady I met while door-knocking several weeks before Election Day named Mrs. Suzie.

As I previously stated, I met Mrs. Suzie one day while door-knocking in Foley. When I knocked on her door, she was standoffish and understandably annoyed that I was interrupting her Saturday to talk about politics. Then she looked at my flyer, read through the policy priorities I had listed on it, started to ask questions, and opened up to me about her life and her concerns.

She told me that she has a severe health issue that renders her unable to stand for longer than a few minutes and invited me inside to sit down.

She then told me that she had lived in her little home by herself since her husband passed away a year or so earlier. She and her husband, originally from North Louisiana, had used most of their retirement savings to buy their house here in Foley outright. She said it was her husband's dream to live in South Baldwin County near his favorite fishing spot, Weeks Bay.

After he died, Mrs. Suzie, due to an obscure Social Security rule I still don't understand, lost her husband's Social Security payment and had to make ends meet with just her own payment and a small portion of her husband's retirement pension.

She told me how tight money was and how she recently had to get rid of her smartphone and buy a flip phone because she needed the money she saved from doing so to cover her medication's monthly copay. That meant she couldn't do one of the few things she enjoyed: FaceTiming her daughter and grandkids who lived out in West Texas.

After telling me all of that, she told me she wasn't voting in either the primary or the general election. I asked her why, and she said, and I quote, "Why would I use the little energy I have to go vote for some politician who doesn't care one bit for a poor lady like me?"

We talked for about another hour. Then I gave her my phone number in case she had any more concerns or needed my help in any way, and I left.

When Mrs. Suzie texted me on Wednesday, May 20th, and asked how I was doing and what I was planning on doing for the runoff, I told her I was fine and was planning to do nothing.

She then proceeded, and rightfully so, to ring me out over the phone, telling me that "people like me who voted for you gave you leverage. Don't waste it. Use it to make the other two address your concerns and our concerns."

So that's what I did.

I wrote up a seven-point pledge, ran it through dozens of supporters, close friends, family members, and a few others for feedback, and then agreed to meet with both Frances Holk-Jones and Joe Freeman.

My meeting with Frances Holk-Jones and the intermediary who set it up lasted about two hours. I brought a list of questions I had for her simply as a constituent, ranging from why she didn't debate me or Joe Freeman to how she justified voting for HB227, which would've effectively legalized bribery (look at the friendship clause, people).

Some of her answers were satisfactory; others not so much.

I then presented her with the pledge. She refused to sign anything. I challenged her on why she was refusing to sign onto some pretty reasonable pledges, in my view.

Long story short, I left the meeting with an unsigned pledge paper and zero confidence that Frances Holk-Jones would, if re-elected, go to Montgomery, fight for the concerns of those who voted for me, and work toward the ultimate goal of my campaign: reorienting the actions of government back toward serving the interests of the many instead of the few.

My meeting with Joe Freeman, his wife Mignon, and a few others went better. Just like with Mrs. Holk-Jones, I brought a list of questions I had as Elijah Davidson the constituent and the pledge that my supporters and I drafted.

Joe Freeman signed every single pledge (as you can see below).

However, the next day he reached out with a concern regarding the ambiguity of the term "gift" and asked for an addendum clarifying what is and is not acceptable.

Once we agreed on the addendum with Mr. Freeman, I met with Mrs. Holk-Jones again to present her with the adjusted version so she would have a fair chance to consider the revised pledge. Thankfully, she signed it.

After both meetings, I went a little overboard consulting different people. I talked to family members, friends, a priest, a random guy who recognized me in the grocery store, and many, many supporters. I told them, in one form or another, that I would not be endorsing Frances Holk-Jones but was considering endorsing Joe Freeman and was very conflicted.

Unable to settle that internal conflict, I reached out to Mrs. Suzie to get her thoughts.

She asked me why I decided not to endorse Frances Holk-Jones.

I told her that, other than the fact that she is being backed by many special-interest groups I wouldn't trust to take out my trash, I never once heard her say that the status quo in Montgomery needed to be disrupted, and while I am grateful she signed the pledge, I find it very suspicious that she initially refused and then, less than a week before the runoff and after running several polls, decided to sign every single one.

That feeling of distrust was reinforced over the last couple of days when, despite claiming she had nothing to do with it, she reposted a very negative and dirty ad about Joe Freeman on her Facebook profile as an embedded file in which he was criticized for going bankrupt in 2008, which happened to everyone who didn't have a silver spoon in their mouth and a couple million dollars in fallback money, amongst other horrible allegations.

To have an incumbent State Representative tell a bald-faced lie (saying she had nothing whatsoever to do with that ad despite having an imbedded file) to the world and then ask to be re-elected is nothing short of shameful and disqualifying.

Not to mention all the dark money that has been given to her campaign or spent on her behalf, proving that she is more of the same. To be fair, Joe Freeman and his campaign did a lot of negative campaigning, and I brought that up in my meeting with him.

Mrs. Suzie then asked me why, despite Joe Freeman signing the pledge and my meeting with him going well, I was struggling to endorse him. I told her that while I trust Joe Freeman far more than I trust Frances Holk-Jones, and I will be voting for him because he was willing to put himself on record in support of the policies and promises in the pledge, his association with certain people and groups connected to the powers that be in Montgomery gave me significant cause for concern.

I also told her I was concerned about an ad and a mailer that FarmPAC, which is supporting Joe Freeman, sent out depicting the horrible tragedy of the young Ukrainian girl in North Carolina being stabbed to death by a nutcase and then attempting to tie Frances Holk-Jones to it even though she had nothing to do with that case whatsoever.

Mrs. Suzie's next question was what I would be saying to people by endorsing someone. I told her that, in my view, an endorsement is a statement of 100% confidence that the person you are endorsing shares your goals, is committed to the same values, and seeks to accomplish those goals through the same strategy.

She then told me that, at the very least, what I owe the 1,500 people who voted for me is complete honesty.

After saying that, she asked me, "Can you look me and your other supporters in the face and tell us that you are 100% confident that Frances Holk-Jones will stand up for our interests, not special interests, if re-elected?"

I said, "Hell no."

She then asked me, "Can you look me and your other supporters in the face and tell us that you are 100% confident that Joe Freeman will stand up for our interests, not special interests, if elected?"

I said, "I cannot say that with 100% certainty, no ma'am."

Unable to settle on a decision about endorsing Mr. Freeman, I reached out to several trusted political advisors, one of whom suggested that maybe I get Joe Freeman to pledge in writing to give me special access to him if elected so I can more effectively lobby on behalf of normal people in District 95.

He agreed and signed a pledge to that effect.

So, considering all of that, I have decided to vote for Joe Freeman, endorse Joe Freeman, and recommend my supporters do the same. He is a decent man who makes mistakes like the rest of us. The difference is that he owned up to the one’s that were actually true and pushed back on the ones that weren't.

I want to be clear: by endorsing Joe Freeman, I am in no way, shape, or form laying aside my concerns regarding the influence of groups like FarmPAC over him or my misgivings about the strategy he pursued during the primary campaign.

But by agreeing in writing to give me special access to him in his capacity as a would-be State Representative and by signing the pledge the first time it was presented to him, I believe he has given me the tools I need to effectively speak up for the people who supported me, serve as a constant reminder to him if elected as to whom he is serving (it's not just farmers or those opposed to gambling expansion), and help constituents who might not feel comfortable going to him directly lodge their concerns and voice their opinions.

I want to make clear that this role he and I have agreed to is not a paid role. Neither he nor I will in any way, shape, or form profit from this arrangement.

This is simply something I have chosen to take on willingly in the interest of making sure Joe Freeman never forgets that he, as State Representative, must serve the interests of the many instead of just the few.

So while I still have significant concerns regarding Joe Freeman, I can say that has subjected himself to accountability mechanisms that give me the confidence in supporting him and, more importantly, bring concerns to him on behalf of those who ask for my help as someone with a direct and clearly delineated relationship. I plan on using the those mechanisms to raise hell for constituents and make sure he does not start drifting into the habit of ignoring them or going along to get along with the powers that be in Montgomery.

I understand that many of my supporters and some friends whom I respect will be angry about this decision.

But I believe this is the best option for those who supported me and for the people of District 95, who deserve better than what they got over the last four years.

So to everyone reading this who has a concern, who will have a concern, or who wants to relay a message to Joe Freeman if he is elected, go to him directly or, if you want someone in your corner, come to me and I'll raise hell for you.

To the Uber driver, the Walmart worker, the plumber, the fast-food employee, the single parent, and everyone else who doesn't have a group like GUMBO, the Business Council, or ALFA looking out for them in Montgomery, you can take it to the bank that I will hold Joe's feet to the fire and make sure he never forgets who sent him to Montgomery in the event that he wins. I don’t think he will but one can never be sure, hence all the pledges.

I hope that gives the supporters of mine who, like me, still have concerns about him the confidence they need to cast their ballot for him next Tuesday.

Regardless of the fact that I endorsed Joe Freeman, I hope that all of my supporters who are reading this will look at the pledge, see who signed and didn’t sign what, and, instead of simply taking my word for it, come to their own conclusions regarding whom they would rather have representing them in the State House.

To the friends, allies, and people I respect who will be upset by this decision, I hope you can tell that this decision was thought out and was in no way, shape, or form easy.

At the end of the day, my one and only obligation is to the 1,500 people who voted for me and asked me to speak on their behalf. No one else.

I hope that by doing all of this, I have honored that trust.

And finally, to the unstable keyboard warriors who have been texting me, calling me, and Facebook messaging me at all hours of the day and night to tell me to do what they want and who will no doubt be pulling their hair out because I didn't back their preferred candidate, I don't give a hot damn if this decision upsets you.

Below are pictures of the candidate pledge each candidate signed, the addendum, and the agreement between me and Joe Freeman.

The above was originally posted on Facebook. It is reprinted here at the request of the author.

Elijah Davidson is a lifelong resident of South Baldwin County whose prior political experience includes leading the Turning Point USA chapter at Gulf Shores High School (which became the largest in the nation) and working for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Most recently, he ran in the Republican primary for Alabama House District 95, where he received 19.02% of the vote in his first political outing.

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