Bedford looking at new Senate

State Sen. Roger Bedford will begin his seventh term in the Alabama Senate after his victory over Republican opponent Jim Bonner in the Nov. 2 general election.

Bedford, a native of Franklin County, is one of only 12 Democrats that will still be serving in the Senate once the newly elected senators begin serving their terms in January.

“I am very honored by the solid re-election vote I received, especially during tough economic times when people are dissatisfied with the policies in Washington and of President Obama,” Bedford said. 

“While many people were upset with the lack of leadership from our nation’s capitol, they were kind enough to distinguish my hard work and hire me once again to keep working for them.”

With Bedford’s party being solidly in the minority, it will mean some things will have to change in Montgomery, but he said that he is actively taking steps to make sure that both parties can work together for the good of Alabama’s citizens.

“All Democrats, including myself, will lose our chairmanships on the different committees we served on,” Bedford said. “But I’ve already reached out to governor-elect Bentley and the republican leadership in the Senate to assure them that I want to put partisanship behind us and give them a chance to bring their own programs forward.”

For the past 24 years total that Bedford has been a senator, he has been an advocate for the constituents in the sixth district and Bedford said this will remain to be true as he enters his seventh term.

“It will be a different role, now that we’re in the minority, to be an advocate for my constituents, but that will not deter me in fighting for the needs of my district. I fully intend to work with the schools and the extra curricular activities to make sure they have the extra money they need.”

Bedford said that the majority shift in Montgomery was something he thought could be possible and that’s the reason he has pushed to get major projects started and funded in his district for the past three years.

“Projects like the four-lane on Highway 24, the four-lane and bypass around Phil Campbell and Haleyville with the bridge completed, the Mike Green Industrial Park and the industrial park in Phil Campbell, and the new Vina spec building that is set to be built – these cause industries like the Toyota suppliers to look hard at our area, which could mean more jobs for our citizens,” Bedford said.

Bedford said that he owes much of his success to the local mayors, city councils, industrial boards, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and the people of his district.

“I just want to thank my neighbors and friends for supporting me and seeing through the GOP mudslinging done on the radio and through the mail against me.

“I’m just honored that they didn’t believe that I took Nancy Pelosi to the high school prom,” he said while laughing.

“In all seriousness, I am very grateful for the continued support I have received and I still urge the people of my district to contact me with ways that I can help them in the coming weeks and months.”