I’m Ticked Off—and I’m Running to Fix Alabama Politics

Guest Opinion by Elijah Davidson

From the outside looking in, a 22-year-old with just a few thousand dollars to his name running against two well-connected, well-funded opponents in a State House Republican primary looks stupid. A lot of people have asked me why I’m doing this. It’s a fair question. The simple answer is: I’m ticked off.

I’m ticked off that Alabama’s young people are leaving because there aren’t enough real economic opportunities here. I’m ticked off that we’ve been one of the ten poorest states in America for decades. I’m ticked off that we have one of the highest combined state and local sales tax rates in the country—higher than deep blue states like California and New York. And I’m ticked off that Alabamians are taxed not just on income and property, but on the basic necessities of life—food, clothing, medicine, housing, and fuel.

All across this state, leaders and candidates, including both of my opponents in this primary race, are ignoring the very problems holding Alabama back and pushing people to other states. Why? Because too many politicians operate under weak ethics laws, and too many candidates are bankrolled by PACs funded by people with direct financial interests in the laws being formulated in the State House.

Put simply: I’m ticked off that problems are ignored, opportunities are wasted, and power is being abused with impunity.

That’s why I’m running. Sorry if it’s not a nice-sounding reason that fills your stomach with butterflies.

I didn’t get into this race because the odds looked good—I got into it because the system—personified in my opponents and their PAC donors—needs to be challenged. And instead of just talking about what’s wrong, I’m going to lay out a few things I’ll fight to change.

First, the culture of gift-giving in Montgomery has to end. Call me radical, but unless it’s from close family—a parent, spouse, sibling, or child—on a holiday, birthday, or anniversary, public officials shouldn’t be accepting gifts at all. Not cheap ones. Not expensive ones. None.

Some people will say that’s unfair. But what’s really unfair is that 200,000 children in Alabama live in poverty while elected officials collect salaries comparable to the average household for part-time work and accept perks on top of it. Fix that first—then we can talk about what’s “unfair.”

So here’s promise number one: I will, as District 95’s State Representative, introduce legislation to ban public officials—and their family members—from accepting any gifts, of any value, from anyone doing business with the state or trying to do business with the state.

Second, the State Ethics Commission cannot stay dependent on the very State Legislators and other public officials it’s supposed to oversee for funding. Right now, legislators control its funding through the appropriations process. That creates a built-in conflict of interest and gives corrupt State Legislators, of which there are far too many, a way to weaken enforcement.

So here’s promise number two: I will, as District 95’s State Representative, push for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the Ethics Commission a fixed percentage of General Trust Fund revenue. Doing so will prevent State Legislators from quietly defunding or pressuring the Ethics Commission without voters having a say.

Third, we need to incentivize whistleblowers to come forward. In some other states, people who expose corruption can receive a share of the penalties recovered if their tip leads to a conviction. That creates a real incentive for people on the inside to act. Right now in Alabama, too many public officials who have witnessed their peers or superiors engaged in corruption stay quiet because they’re too afraid of losing their livelihood.

So promise number three: I will, as District 95’s State Representative, introduce legislation to reward whistleblowers whose information leads to corruption convictions with a percentage of recovered penalties.

Are these three changes all that is necessary? No. Cleaning up corruption and sleaze in Montgomery is going to take time, consideration, and perseverance. But these are common-sense reforms. They’re achievable on the floor of the State Legislature and in a hypothetical constitutional referendum. And they would make a real difference.

At the end of the day, I’m running because I want to reorient the actions of government back to the interests of normal Alabamians, not just those inside or connected to the inside. People don’t exist to serve politicians. Too many Montgomery politicians and their special interest overlords have forgotten that. They act like their voters exist to give them their position, their paycheck, and their office. They don’t. If I’m elected, I’ll operate on a different principle: that my position, my paycheck, and my office exist to improve the lives of the people I represent—and to give them the tools to improve their own.

Elijah Davidson is a lifelong resident of South Baldwin County who describes his top priorities as affordability and lowering the cost of living for all Alabamians. He is also running to implement term limits, reduce State legislators’ salaries, combat “good ol’ boy” politics, protect South Baldwin County’s coastal environment from harmful development practices, and support young people who are trying to buy their first home.

For more information on Elijah Davidson and his campaign, visit davidsonfordistrict95.com or follow him on Facebook.

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