Sparks makes final push in county

“Franklin County and its people have always been very good to me and I always feel like I am coming home when I’m here,” said the two-term state commissioner of agriculture.

Sparks will face Republican Dr. Robert Bentley in the Nov. 2 general election.

He told supporters Tuesday that Alabama voters are ready to implement his lottery plan that would generate funds for state education.

“The price of a college education continues to go up and our kids deserve the same opportunities as those in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia where millions of Alabama dollars are spent on the lottery,” Sparks said.

“I want to be able to tell our kids that if they stay in school and out of trouble, we will give them a college education. These kids won’t be competing for jobs against people from Mississippi and Tennessee, they will be competing for jobs against people from China and India. We have to prepare them for the future.”

Sparks said he also has a state road-building plan that will create about 38,000 jobs.

“Highway 43 that runs right through here is one of the projects I want to work on,” he said.

“This is the main artery for northwest Alabama and I want to make sure that it helps this part of the state the way that it should.”

During Tuesday’s rally, Sparks’ longtime assistant agriculture commissioner Glen Zorn also made an appearance. Zorn is running to replace Sparks as Ag commissioner.

“Glen Zorn needs to be the next commissioner of agriculture so he can continue building on what is in place,” Sparks said.

“He has done a great job for the people of Alabama for the past eight years.”