>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

>> WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS THE 5TH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S REGULAR SESSION, BUT ALSO A BUSY DAY IN COMMITTEE AS THIRTEEN DIFFERENT HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES MET TODAY.

WE'LL HIT THE HIGH POINTS STARTING WITH GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

THE HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE MET THIS AFTERNOON AND VOTED TO ADVANCE HOUSE BILLS 151 AND 152, THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PACKAGE SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR.

BEFORE THE VOTE THERE WAS DISCUSSION AMONG LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATORY ENTITY PROPOSED IN THE BILL.

>> THERE'S FOUR SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE DETAILED IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AT A MINIMUM, THAT THE GAMING COMMISSION MUST CONSIDER WHEN WANTING TO ISSUE ONE OF THOSE TEMPORARY LICENSES TO CONTINUE THROUGH 117.

AND PAGE 5 OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, LINE ONE, PROVIDE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THE PRINCIPAL OWNERS AND INVESTORS.

THERE'S THREE OTHERS, BUT I THINK REPRESENTATIVE TREADWAY WOULD HIT HOME, BUSINESS RECORDS.

AND THE OTHER SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

>> WHAT PAGE?

>> PAGE 5, LINE 118.

>> SO YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT PREVENTS THE INDIVIDUAL OPERATING -- >> SO, A LOT OF THE ONES -- WHICH IS MY BELIEF AND OPINION -- ONCE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, POP BACK UP, THINKING THEY MAY GET A TEMPORARY LICENSE, MAY BE PRETTY DIFFICULT.

AND ONE, DO THEY WANT TO DIVULGE PRINCIPLE OWNERS AND INVESTORS.

AND STARTING BACK UP FEBRUARY 7, FEBRUARY 8.

I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE DISCRETION AROUND THAT, AND REMEMBER, ANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SET BY THE GAMING COMMISSION HAVE TO COME THROUGH LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL AND GO THAT AS WELL.

>> WELL, THEY DON'T EVEN NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

THEY ARE RUNNING ILLEGALLY, NOT RUNNING BINGO, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT SAID THEY ARE ILLEGAL AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE REWARDED FOR ANY OF THIS.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION, I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.

MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> THE HOUSE COULD VOTE ON THE GAMBLING PACKAGE AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SENATE BILL 61, DUBBED THE CHOOSE ACT.

THE BILL FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR WOULD CREATE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS VOUCHERS TO ALLOW FAMILIES A $7,000 TAX CREDIT TO GO TOWARD TUITION AT AN ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOL.

IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW A $2000 TAX CREDIT FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES.

SENATORS HEARD ARGUMENTS FROM PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS OF THE PROPOSAL, BUT NO VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE BILL.

>> THE TWO MAIN CONCERNS WERE CAPPING THE ESA ACCOUNT WHICH STARTS AT $100 MILLION, BUT IT CAN ROLL FORWARD.

HOW BIG WILL THAT POT BE.

THAT WAS A CONCERN OF THERE'S AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.

THE OTHER WAS, THE TRIGGERING MECHANISM FOR ANY GROWTH OF THE HUNDRED MILLION THAT WE START OFF WITH, SHOULD THERE NOT BE A TRIGGERING MECHANISM BEFORE THAT NUMBER INCREASES.

IN PRINCIPAL, THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY IN MY OFFICE.

>> SO, THE IDEA IS, WE'RE ADDRESSING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MOST SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AT OUR DISPOSAL.

THIS IS ALSO A BILL AS WE GET INTO IT, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE BALANCES, THE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS OF A HOST OF STAKEHOLDERS, THOSE THAT ARE VERY VOCALLY SUPPORTIVE OF UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE AND TO BE SURE WE HAVE PRUDENT POLICY, ACADEMIC AND FISCAL MEASURES ON IN SO THAT IT'S IN BALANCE.

>> FROM A SUPERINTENDENT'S PERSPECTIVE, THE REASON THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING ATTACKED ON OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A MEASURE TO SAY, THEY PUBLICLY AT LEAST REPORT THEIR SCORES, HOW DO WE COMPETE.

IF COMPETITION BREEDS IMPROVEMENT, WE NEED TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE HEAD TO HEAD.

WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE WHEN WE'RE IN NO COMPARISON.

>> THE HOUSE ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMITTEE MET TODAY TO DISCUSS A DRAFT PROPOSAL TO REVAMP THE STATE'S ETHICS CODE.

WE DISCUSSED THIS PLAN WITH REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON LAST WEEK ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

ETHICS IS A THORNY ISSUE AND SO MEMBERS WERE CAREFUL TO GET CLARITY ON A NUMBER OF KEY POINTS.

.

>> YOU GUYS GET BRIEFED ON THIS THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO START TAKING COMMENTS.

WE'VE RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND MANAGE CHANGES TO THE DRAFTS BEFORE IT'S FILED AS BILL.

IF ANYBODY IS LISTENING ONLINE OR IN THE ROOM, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT TO FIX THE BILL OR MAKE IT BETTER, PLEASE, SEND IT TO ME.

THIS IS A WORKING DRAFT.

I SAT IN THE ROOM WITH THESE PEOPLE AND OFTEN HOURS AND HOURS ON HOURS AND SOMETIMES DOING A REPORT AND PUTTING THE EYES ON IT.

AND THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IS NOW SEPARATED.

WE NOW HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS HANDLING CRIMINAL AND ETHICS HANDLING CIVIL, AND THIS REFOCUSES THE JURISDICTION TO JUST DEAL WITH THE NON CRIMINAL STANDARDS OF NON ETHICAL CONDUCT.

AND NOW, THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE ADVISORY OPINIONS, WE'LL GET INTO THOSE IN A FEW SLIDES.

SOMETHING MENTIONED NOT AGAIN IN THE REST OF THE OVERVIEW DRAWING IT TO YOUR ATTENTIONS, THAT IS, JUDGES.

JUDGES THAT ARE COVERED UPPED THE JUDICIAL CANNON OF ETHICS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS DRAFT.

THEY WOULDN'T FALL UNDER THE ETHICS CODE IN THIS DRAFT.

>> THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAD A FULL SLATE OF BILLS TO CONSIDER WHEN THEY MET TODAY AND THEY ADVANCED ALL OF THEM WITH A FAVORABLE REPORT.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BILLS THEY REPORTED OUT.

HOUSE BILL 10 FROM REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE, ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CHARGE THOSE WHO CAUSE DEATH THROUGH FENTANYL TRAFFICKING WITH MANSLAUGHTER.

HOUSE BILL 81 FROM REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREADAWAY, MAKING THOSE CONVICTED OF SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN INELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.

HOUSE BILL 42 FROM REPRESENTATIVE DONNA GIVENS, ESTABLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THOSE GUILTY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HOUSE BILL 78 FROM REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP ENSLER, CREATING THE CRIME OF SWATTING, THAT'S MAKING A FALSE CALL TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOW UP EN MASSE AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE TO CAUSE A DISTURBANCE, AND HOUSE BILL 29 FROM REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND, WHICH WOULD ALLOW CERTAIN INMATES CONVICTED UNDER THE STATE'S HABITUAL FELONY LAW TO HAVE THEIR SENTENCES RECONSIDERED IN LINE WITH THE 2015 SENTENCING REFORMS.

A BUSY DAY FOR JUDGE HILL AND HIS COMMITTEE AS ALWAYS.

MOVING TO THE SENATE FLOOR, WHERE LAWMAKERS DEBATED AND EVENTUALLY PASSED SENATE BILL 77 FROM SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT.

THE BILL WOULD OVERHAUL THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY BY REPLACING THE CURRENT SELF-PERPETUATING BOARD WITH ONE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

ELLIOTT SAID IT IS TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT MORE RESPONSIVE, AFTER HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE TO HIS QUESTIONS ABOUT A BROWN BAG LUNCH DISCUSSION ON THE HISTORY OF GAY AND LESBIAN ALABAMIANS LAST YEAR.

>> LBGTQXYZ, THE RIGHTS OF THEM AND THE HISTORY OF THE LBGTQ IN THIS STATE, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

THEY CAME TO TALK TO THEM AND IT WAS A GRANT GIVEN BY SOMEBODY ELSE, A THIRD PARTY OUTSIDE CAME TO THIS BOARD, THE BOARD THEN INSTITUTED THAT.

THEY DIDN'T INITIATE THAT.

BUT WE'RE READY TO PUNISH THIS BOARD TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WANT TO DIG IN ON THE SELF-PERPETUATING BOARD INSTEAD OF REALLY DEALING WITH THE REAL ISSUE HERE.

>> WHAT'S NOT RELEVANT IS, WHO SOMEBODY HAD SEX WITH LAST NIGHT, THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

DOESN'T MATTER FOR YOU OR FOR ME.

WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.

>> U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE WAS IN TOWN TODAY SPEAKING TO THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS NO VOTE ON LEGISLATION FUNDING THE DEFENSE OF UKRAINE AND ISRAEL THAT RECENTLY PASSED THE SENATE.

>> I WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THIS UKRAINE FUNDING THAT WE VOTED ON.

WE STAYED UP ALL NIGHT THE OTHER NIGHT, VOTED AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING.

WHY WAS I AGAINST THAT?

FIRST OF ALL, I'VE NOT VOTED FOR A DIME GOING TO UKRAINE.

I'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S LIKE A JUNIOR HIGH TEAM PLAYING NFL FOOTBALL.

THEY CAN'T WIN.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT?

YOU DON'T GO TO WAR.

AND PROBABLY A HALF MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS CONFLICT OVER THE TWO YEARS.

YOU DON'T KEEP SPENDING MONEY.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO NEGOTIATE THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS.

BUT THERE'S NO NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THEY SPEND UP TO $120 BILLION AND NOW WE NEED $60 BILLION MORE.

WAIT A MINUTE!

WHY ARE WE KEEP DOUBLING UP.

SOMEBODY GO GET US OUT OF THIS MESS BUT NOBODY IS WILLING TO DO IT.

>> AND THAT'S THE DAY THAT WAS HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL INTERVIEW TWO OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY ELECTED IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES.

REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS HENDRIX OF BIRMINGHAM AND REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN BRINYARK OF TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES.

THOSE INTERVIEWS WHEN WE COME BACK.

.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NOW ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS HENDRIX FROM BIRMINGHAM.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AS I SAID, ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, SPECIAL ELECTION BACK IN OCTOBER, RIGHT?

DISTRICT 56.

>> YES, SIR DISTRICT 55.

>> RIGHT.

I'M SORRY, 55, IN BIRMINGHAM.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS.

SO, LET ME ASK YOU, HOW'S IT GOING SO FAR.

>> SO FAR, ACTUALLY IT'S BEEN EXCITING.

I WOULD SAY A LOT OF WORKING PARTS AND LOTS OF MOVING AROUND, DIFFERENT MEETINGS, AND DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

YES, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET MY FEET IN THE WATER, TRYING TO GET MY FEET WORKING AROUND, UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS AS IT GOES, AND GOING PRETTY GOOD.

>> TODD STACY: TELL ME WHAT GOT YOU RUNNING, IT WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A VACANT LEGISLATIVE SEAT.

SO, WHAT BROUGHT TO YOU THAT DECISION?

>> IT WAS A STORY THAT STARTED WHEN I WAS THE BIRMINGHAM RESOURCE OFFICER, JACKSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE I WAS FOUR YEARS.

A FIGHT BROKE OUT IN THE LUNCH ROOM.

AND ASKED FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER TO ASSIST WITH THE FIGHT.

I GET THERE.

AND ONCE I GET THERE, THE FIGHT IS BROKEN UP, BUT THEY WANTED US TO ESCORT THE STUDENTS TO THE OFFICE.

IN THE MIDST OF GOING TO THE OFFICE, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE YOUNG MAN, AND I CAN JUST TELL BY HIS AURA, WHAT'S WRONG.

AND I SAID, OKAY.

WHY DID YOU GET INTO A FIGHT.

AND HE WAS TELLING ME THAT THE OTHER GENTLEMAN, THAT HE GOT INTO THE FIGHT WITH, WAS TRYING TO TAKE HIS FOOD WHILE HE WAS AT LUNCH.

AND I SAID, OKAY.

AND HE SAID HE TAKES THEIR FOOD HOME TO HELP FEED THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR THEM BACK THEN TO TRY TO GET FOOD WITHIN THE HOUSE AND MOM IS WORKING FOUR JOBS, SINGLE PARENT HOME AND TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS AND HE WAS TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO HELP HIS MOM OUT.

SO, THAT STARTED IT AND I GOT PERMISSION FROM THE SUPERVISOR TO TAKE I AM HAD HOME, HE DIDN'T HAVE A WAY HOME.

AND ONCE WE GOT TO THE HOUSE, HE WAS THERE, AND IT WAS VERY DISTURBING.

HE GETS TO THE HOUSE, AND THE WINDOWS ARE BROKEN OUT AND HE HAS TO GO AROUND BACK TO ENTER THE HOME BECAUSE THE FRONT DOOR IS NOT WORKING.

AND THEN I SAW THAT THEY WERE SLEEPING ON MATS ON THE FLOOR, NO FURNITURE, NO FOOD IF THE REFRIGERATOR AND RIGHT THEN, IT SHOWED ME, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MAN WAS GOING THROUGH BECAUSE I WAS RAISED IN THE PROJECTS MYSELF.

SO, I KNEW THEN, IF I EVER GET IN THE POSITION TO IMPROVE LIVES OR THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY FROM WHERE I CAME FROM, THAT'S WHAT STARTED IT.

I STARTED DOING THE RESEARCH AND STARTING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO IN TERMS OF PERSPECTIVE, POWER, AND AS AN OFFICER, POSSIBLY SOMEWHERE ELSE LOOKING AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND I COULDN'T HOLD TWO POSITIONS, SO, THAT'S WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CAME OPEN.

>> TODD STACY: THAT'S A POWERFUL STORY.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU SHARED THAT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES, WHAT ANY GOVERNMENT DOES IN VOTES, DOES THAT BILL PASS OR THAT VOTE PASS.

AND THAT'S A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE WHAT IT IS FOR SOME PEOPLE AND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES IS SO IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT AND YOU SHARED THAT.

WHAT OTHER ISSUES THAT MAYBE CAME UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND HAVE COME UP SINCE THEN.

NOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU THINK, OH, I COULD ATTACK THOSE ISSUES.

>> ISSUES THAT CAME UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, ESPECIALLY ECONOMIC GROWTH AND IN MY DISTRICT, ONE PARTICULAR AREA ON FAIRFIELD.

FAIRFIELD CITY HAS LOST A LOT OF BUSINESSES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.

ONE IMPORTANT AREA, I TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO TRY TO BRING BUSINESSES BACK TO THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE HURTING.

NOT JUST FAIRFIELD BUT DISTRICT 55, WHEN I SAY WEST END, ENSLEY, AND YOU GOT AREAS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL, BUSINESSES JUST TAKING THEIR BUSINESS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ECONOMIC GROWTH IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

EDUCATION IS A KEY COMPONENT TO MIND.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY CRITICAL TO ME BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL MY SENIOR YEAR BECAUSE I LOST MY GRANDMOTHER, AND I FELT LIKE MY LIFE WAS OVER.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS MY LEGAL GUARDIAN.

AND THE ONLY THING SHE WANTED ME AND MY BROTHERS TO DO WAS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, I THOUGHT MY LIFE IS OVER, NO REASON TO CONTINUE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

SO, MY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, SHE CAME TO MY DOOR AND SHE SAID, HEY, TRAVIS, GET UP, GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

THE ONLY THING THAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER WANTED WAS YOU TO FINISH THE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, I DID.

I DID NOT GET MY DIPLOMA, JUST MY CREDITS.

SO, THERE WAS A PROGRAM AFTER THAT THAT HELPED ME GET MY G.E.D.

AND THAT'S WHY I AM SITTING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> SO, IT'S FAIR FOOS THAT YOU ARE PROPONENT OF SUCH PROGRAMS AND FUNDING GETTING THOSE PROGRAMS OUT TO MORE PEOPLE AND EDUCATING FOLKS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF THAT KIND OF A THING.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN RESOURCES OR ACCESS TO CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS BECAUSE THE RESOURCE IS NOT THERE, THE FUNDING MAY NOT BE THERE.

>> TODD STACY: YOU HAVE A POWERFUL STORY AND ONE THAT I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH OUR VIEWERS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING YOU MOVING FORWARD.

I KNOW IT'S LIKE DRINKING FROM A HIRE HOSE RIGHT NOW.

BUT TRUST ME, IT GETS EASIER.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND WE'LL FOLLOW YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

>> TODD STACY: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING ME NEXT, NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE BRYAN BRINYARK.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

>> AS I SAID, ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU WON A SPECIAL ELECTION BACK IN JANUARY.

>> RIGHT, THE GENERAL ELECTION FROM THE SPECIAL ELECTION WAS IN JANUARY.

WE HAD A PRIMARY IN SEPTEMBER, RUNOFF IN OCTOBER.

SO, IT WAS THREE FULL BLOWN ELECTIONS IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.

IT'S BEEN GREAT.

>> DISTRICT 16.

THE DISTRICT FORMERLY HELD BY CALL SOUTH WHO GOT THE WEST ALABAMA CHAMBER JOB.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE DISTRICT, THE AREA THAT YOU REPRESENT.

DISTRICT 16 IS A FANTASTIC DISTRICT, BEST DISTRICT IN THE WHOLE STATE, IT IS.

ALL OF FAYETTE, NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, CITY OF BROOKWOOD, AND THEN GOES UP TO JEFFERSON COUNTY AND GETS THAT SEGMENT OF WEST JEFFERSON COUNTY FROM CONCORD, ROCK CREEK, NORTH JOHNS, OAK GROVE, ALL THE WAY UP TO WEST JEFFERSON, OVER I-22 ACROSS THE COUPLE OF MILES.

>> SO, SMALL TOWN ALABAMA.

>> RIGHT, SMALL "TOWN & COUNTRY" FOLKS.

THEY CHOOSE TO BE SO.

THEY ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO A BIG CITY TO LIVE THERE IF THEY WANTED TO.

BUT THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE OUT.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE.

NOW, IT'S A CHOICE TO RUN SO WHAT MADE YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS AGO, I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF DOING THIS.

I'M A LAWYER, LAWYER FOR 31, MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE 23 YEARS.

AND I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN ALL GROWN, GONE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

AND WHEN CALL ANNOUNCED, AND MY LOCAL SHERIFF I'M FRIENDS, HE SAID THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT, YOU NEED TO DO THAT.

AND OUR LOCAL D.A.

IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SAID, PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS, WE NEED YOU.

SO, I STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE UP IN FAYETTE COUNTY, I HAVE SEVERAL CLIENTS OVER THE YEARS THAT I REPRESENTED AND KNOW THE JUDGES AND LAWYERS UP THERE.

AND I STARTED HEARING THAT I HAD A PATH.

I TALKED TO MY CHILDREN ABOUT IT, PRAYED ABOUT IT, AND I DECIDED TO DO IT.

IT WAS THE KIND OF THING THAT I AM AT A POINT IN MY CAREER AND LIFE, IT MADE SENSE TO DO IT, IF I GOT IT, I COULD DO IT, I HAD TIME.

AND IF MY CHILDREN WERE SMALLER NO WAY I WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF DOING THIS.

I WAS A COACH FOR 15 YEARS AND ALL THAT.

SO, I SHOULDN'T FUSS WHAT THEY ARE DOING DOWN HERE IF I'M NOT WILLING TO GET DOWN HERE AND HELP.

I HAVE A SKILL SET TO KNOW.

AND I THOUGHT IF I DON'T GET IT, I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT, SO NOTHING TO LOSE.

>> NO FOUL NO PLAY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO, WHAT'S IT MEAN SO FAR, MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

>> PEOPLE SAY, ARE YOU LEARNING A LOT?

NO.

I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO A LOT.

I DON'T THINK I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING YET REALLY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT ALL IN.

IT'S TRULY WATER FROM A FIRE HOSE.

AND PEOPLE SAY, IS IT LIKE COMING THROUGH A FIRE HOSE.

YES, IT IS.

LOTS OF THINGS COMING AT ME QUICKLY.

I WON THE ELECTION ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 9TH.

I WAS DOWN HERE THE NEXT MORNING, JANUARY 10 FOR THE REPUBLICANS CAUCUS.

AND SO, YES, SIR, I'LL BE THERE.

>> TODD STACY: THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

MAYBE IT WAS STUFF THAT CAME UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL OR SINCE THEN, THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO HEAR ABOUT FROM YOUR ISSUES OR PLATFORM.

>> I RAN AGAINST FIVE OTHER REPUBLICANS, SIX OF US IN THE PRIMARY.

AND ALL OF THE BIG NATIONAL ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED ON THE TRAIL.

WE HAD FOUR FORUMS WHERE WE GOT ONSTAGE AND TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE INTERNET THAT WERE SENT IN FROM BEFORE OR FROM THE CROWD AT THAT NIGHT.

AND EACH ONE OF US HAD TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

AND WITH THAT MANY REPUBLICANS ON THE STAGE, WE'RE ALL TRYING TO OUT-REPUBLICAN EACH OTHER, CAN'T BE TOO CONSERVATIVE OR THE OTHER WAY.

AND THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS GAMBLING, GAMING LOTTERY.

THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE THIS TIME.

AND YOU KNOW, I SAID, I'M A CHRISTIAN, I'M NOT A GAMBLER, I DON'T EVEN BUY THE SCRATCH OFF CARDS WHEN I GO TO FLORIDA.

BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT.

AND YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT I, A BOMB HAD GONE OFF.

AND THERE WAS A GUY THAT RAN UP WITH A PHONE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, YOU ARE SAYING YOU ARE AGAINST IT AND YOU ARE FOR IT.

I SAID, NO PERSONALLY I'M AGAINST IT, BUT I'M RUNNING FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND IF I AM ASKING THEM TO TRUST ME TO VOTE FOR THEM, WHY WOULDN'T I TRUST ON THEM TO RUSH ON IT.

AND ALL THE REST OF THEM, WERE NO GAMBLING, NO GAMBLING, COMES WITH CORRUPTION AND CRIME.

AND I SAY, VOTE FOR IT WHEN IT GETS TO YOU.

AND PEOPLE WOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS SAYING YOU JUST GOT MY VOTE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I AM, WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE.

SO, I RAN ON THAT FOR THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS.

I DID AN OP-ED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, ON THAT ISSUE.

THAT WAS THE DISTINGUISHING THING IN MY RACE.

IT WAS WHAT AT LEAST THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT SEEMED TO WANT OVERWHELMINGLY.

>> I MEAN, YOU ARE RIGHT.

THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE.

AND MAY NOT FIND ONE MORE DIVISIVE THAN THAT ONE.

VERY STRONGLY-HELD OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

WE'RE COVERING IT AND WILL CONTINUE TO COVER IT GOING FORWARD.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT WELCOME TO THIS CRAZY SHOW WE CALL THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'LL FOLLOW YOUR CAREER GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> TODD STACY: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

A QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE ON A SHOW YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS.

DEFENDING FREEDOM, A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ARTHUR D. SHORES, AIRS TOMORROW NIGHT ON APT.

SHORES WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS TRAILBLAZER AND THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TRIAL ATTORNEY IN ALABAMA.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 HERE ON APT.

AND WE'LL BE BACK ON THE AIR TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.