Can Alabama Do Things Differently? Chad “Chig” Martin Talks Governor’s Race

Blair Castro and Thomas Jenkins sit down with Chad “Chig” Martin, candidate for Governor of Alabama, for a conversation about his vision for the state and why he believes it’s time to put policy over party in Montgomery.

Martin shares several ideas he believes could move Alabama forward, including:

• Addressing affordability and cost-of-living pressures facing Alabama families

• Fighting high utility bills and calling for more transparency and accountability from companies like Alabama Power

• Creating an Alabama lottery, with revenue dedicated to expanding healthcare access

• Exploring a regulated hemp and cannabis industry, with proceeds helping fund state infrastructure improvements

• Supporting animal welfare initiatives, including expanded spay and neuter programs

• Prison reform, including reducing eliminating on private contracts within our state’s corrections system

Martin also discusses his belief that Alabama needs leadership willing to focus on solutions instead of party labels, while bringing new ideas and accountability to state government.

Watch the full conversation now on WFUZ-TV’s “The People’s Voice!”

Learn more about his campaign:

https://www.chadchigmartin.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to WFU Z TV, the People's Voice Podcast. I'm Blair Castro, and I'm here in Lillian at the Community Club with Thomas Jenkins. Today we have a special guest, Mr. Chad Chig Martin, who's running for governor of Alabama. Thank you so much for coming out today.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

Hey, I am glad that we all could get connected today. It's been a lot of work between you guys and our team, so I'm proud to be here with you guys.

SPEAKER_00 0:25

It means a lot that you would come all the way here to Baldwin County in Alabama to talk to us and to talk to all the constituents of Baldwin County. We're one of the fastest growing counties in the state, as I'm sure you are aware. So I feel like the voters here definitely want to communicate with their options and learn more about who's running for office. And we'd love to ask you some questions about your platform.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Okay, great. And I was just going to say, you know, um Baldwin County is really one of the crown jewels of the state because it's really one of the only counties in the state that we get to see the backwaters from the Gulf and the bays and uh a lot of beautiful land down here. And we got to make sure this area is managed and protected correctly moving forward here in the state.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Absolutely. We were just at the town hall in Stockton. There's been a big issue about trying to put in solar farms and data centers all over different parts of the state in the county, preserving the rural character of our county as well as not overdeveloping it is like the hot button issue, I think, going forward. So I guess my first question would be before we dive into details, um, what are some of your priorities for your future administration as governor?

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Um it starts in the state of Alabama with the fact that we're the sixth-ranked state in poverty, which causes a lot of our problems in the state. So um economic development is at the top of the list, and it's very important because it's kind of a fix-all of a lot of things in the state, and it's really about recruiting uh in uh companies with top-earning jobs and health care benefits and retirement opportunities. And you know, things like this, they uh immediately take uh a great impact in helping people with health care benefits. They help uh economic development helps uh property taxes go up uh and make property more valuable, which means schools get more money off of these taxes. So uh economic development, recruiting new industry is hugely important to me.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

We do have a lot of poverty here. I'm originally from Florida, which is not too far away, similar, but when I came here, I noticed that as well. So it's good to hear that that's a priority of yours. Um I wanted to ask you a little bit about your background and qualifications, too. What are some of the things you've done in your background that you think help make you the best candidate for this job?

SPEAKER_01 2:53

Well, one thing about me is the fact that I just come from a regular working class family in the state and not, you know, most political people at the state level come from elite type families. Um, I I come from a family that uh had a mother that only uh didn't even finish 10th grade of high school, had a dad uh just graduated high school only, and so just uh through hard work. Uh my mom had a beauty shop in one end of our house for 25 years. My dad was a mechanic and had a small mobile home park he started. And so um it's a background I come from. I started out my career at the bottom of the barrel uh selling Electrolux vacuum cleaners door to door, and I worked my way through life. And so that's the difference in candidates like me. I know what it's like to be broke in this life and struggle because I've done it, even as a business owner with economies going up and down. I've I've had the good times and I've had the bad times. And uh, you know, I've been able to run a successful, actually multiple small businesses here in the state. The oldest one I started and still running continually to this day is 23 years as a small businessman in the state. So um I just think I understand the average Alabamian and and what it takes to live in the state.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

That's crazy. My dad actually was an electrolux sales rep in the 50s, did the old school door-to-door. Yeah. Yeah, bolling ball and all the stuff. Yeah, awesome. You don't hear about that a lot.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

I I know I was telling some young people the other day that uh I said, you back in the day, that's the way you got a vacuum cleaner. Somebody come and sold it, whether it be a Kirby or Electrolux or uh Rainbow. He hated working on rainbows. Yeah, so yeah, but it you know, that those experiences like that, though, are what shape and mold you because, first of all, it probably teaches you a real powerful lesson on um how to accept uh no in your life. I mean, you get a lot of rejection, but it shapes you and it molds you, and it teaches you how to overcome that. And uh, and so it was it was powerful uh doing something like that.

SPEAKER_02 5:22

So Alabama's so red that their favorite football team is the Crimson tide. What would you say to Republican voters saying that you're a Democrat running for the governor's seat?

SPEAKER_01 5:32

Well, I do think the tide has shifted, no pun intended with the Crimson there, but um I think uh the last time I ran, I ran one time before in the election, versus this time, there's a different feeling in the air. Um the the last four years before this election, I think have allowed people to open their eyes up and see that partisan politics is not necessarily the solution. And um I think the way I run my campaign is I try to uh lay out solutions that are just for the common sense uh person out there. They're innovative, and we show the way that these plans will work. Um I think uh I think uh that like I said, uh there's a shift, and I think uh just not getting caught up in the rhetoric of political party has been uh beneficial in us getting new voters. We've got we've got uh Republicans daily that say they're gonna vote for us. We've got lots of independents that say they're gonna vote for us. And um and see, we're even a party, I mean, a campaign that um our biggest part of the Democratic base is not the Democratic establishment. That's what makes this campaign kind of interesting is the Democratic establishment, a majority of them, don't really uh like what I'm doing. And then we've got a lot of the Republican establishment that don't like what we're doing, but that's what helps find a happy medium with a lot of people, uh, that those facts.

SPEAKER_00 7:12

I definitely think establishment politics on both sides are something people are finally waking up to and looking at, um, especially when it comes to where donors are from, who's taking PAC money from who, what strings are attached with special interest. So, how is your campaign shaping up in terms of donors?

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Yeah, we we're one of the lowest funded campaigns in the state, and and I attribute that to first of all, we don't we take zero special interest money. Um, most of the people we deal with in the state are the kind of people that are given$5,$10,$15. And I always try to tell people, you know, this is your state. I work for you. I don't work for special interest. Um, that's what's destroyed our state. Uh no candidate should have$11 million in special interest money for a job that pays$122,000 a year. And like I say, when you see that happening, uh it's simple. Houston, we have a problem.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

And for establishment candidates, too, a lot of them are very hard to connect with and get a hold of, which I think people are frustrated with for me personally, like reaching out to either current people in office or people running for office that are sort of the chosen ones. I feel like they haven't been communicative and responsive in a lot of the cases. Some of them have, but for the most part, I struggle to contact them. So I really appreciate that you're taking the time to get out here, travel the state, get to actually talk to, you know, two people here on our podcast and meet voters. That's really what it all boils down to, being heard and having someone listen to you. I think it goes a long way. And I think everyone across the board should probably be doing more of that.

SPEAKER_01 8:48

Yeah, it's a it's a real shame that um the people that take the special interest money uh feel like that makes them uh invincible to uh getting out and meeting the general public and doing debates. Um I I don't think any candidate at the statewide level that refuses to debate uh should be elected. Uh I I think I think it almost should be a requirement at some point. And it's not, but I think it should be.

SPEAKER_02 9:17

Some of Alabama's latest legislation that's coming up is that some of the first cannabis dispensaries are going to open up in the springs. What is your take on that and how they are implementing the medical program?

SPEAKER_01 9:30

I think they've messed it up right from the beginning, and I'll tell you the reason I say that. Um I think what they're offering to uh these folks out here that get the the medical cards is a a pill that's like an aspirin you take, or either a non-flavored digestible tincture that's non-smokable. And so you're gonna tell me that we have a natural plant that's medicinal, and you cannot even get the plant material uh to do whatever you choose to do with it, whether it be cook, smoke, uh, or extract from it. And and so the Alabama is gonna figure out a way to mess up everything. And and and I will just say this people that like natural medicine, cannabis in particular, on a big part, like to smoke it. And um, and and I don't understand why when Alabama passes something like that, they're gonna make it as uncomfortable and hard on people that actually enjoy that product. But personally, uh my personal feeling is I started the first hemp and CBD store in the state, honeysuckle hemp. And I think that I have a belief that if you can dig a hole in your yard, put a seed in it, cover it up, water it, and it grows, that God fully intended for you to have that available to you. And um and when it comes to natural medicine, this is a chance right now where Alabama could be a leader. We could be a leader in the farming of natural medicine and herbs and medicinal herbs. We could take a state where we're giving subsidies out to farmers so that they can pay their bills and give them a crop that would more than pay their bills and make them more money than they've ever made in their life. Um, we could also, uh in Alabama, we have agricultural schools. We could be a leader in the teaching systems of natural medicine and herbs by training the professors that teach this subject throughout the country and throughout the world. I mean, this is the problem here in Alabama. We always sit back to there's all 47 or 48 states have already done it. And then we try to do it when there's nothing left to gain out of it for our state. So I think uh forward thinking, innovation in this natural medicine industry could be huge for Alabama. And just to speak on that, if we could do things the way I would like to do in Alabama with the natural medicine, uh this would be part of funding that goes toward uh statewide projects like infrastructure, roads, bridges, uh state parks, uh entertainment areas that are available to our citizens, uh uh outdoor concert venues. Uh one of the things in Alabama, we do not have a lot of stuff for our citizens to do in the form of entertainment. And I do think arts and entertainment investments uh make for a better state.

SPEAKER_02 12:41

So to dovetail on that subject, you kind of touched on a little bit. One thing that we bring up with other candidates is talking about food independence in Alabama and incentivizing agriculture and supporting farming, farming and farmers. Uh can you tell us a little bit about your stance on those things?

SPEAKER_01 13:01

Uh and and on about say it again one more time.

SPEAKER_02 13:05

So we're talking about food independence in Alabama, the importance of food independence and supporting farming and agriculture and how we can incentivize farmers to not sell off to either foreign interests or things like the solar farm that you see popping up everywhere, uh using our good land for food.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

Yeah, and and and the way I feel about farmers, they're so important to me that um, as you can see, my campaign manager here with me today is a Alabama farmer. And so farming is uh very important to me personally, so so important I wanted a farmer's voice in my campaign. But um, yes, Alabama is blessed to be a state in the Deep South where we can grow crops pretty much year-round. And one of the things I would like to see as far as food dependence in Alabama, and this is kind of off the subject a little bit, but one of the big things I would love to see is no tax on groceries here in Alabama. And I even kind of take it a step farther. I I think that things that are required and this and a necessity for you to live day to day in this country should not be taxable items. I think, you know, if you brush your teeth every day, your toothpaste should not have to be a taxable item because that's just maintaining your health, your daily health. And so we're getting taxed to death, and um and I I would like to see that disappear. But I'm I live in a farming community of Enterprise Alabama, it's the peanut capital of the world. And so I've grown up uh with farming families my whole life, and and and there's I'm definitely gonna do anything and that includes getting good trading partners from them, even if that's within the state. We wanna, as a state, help our farmers have places readily available for them to sell their products where they're not stuck with product. We have to do a good job on that front.

SPEAKER_00 15:10

I wanted to ask a question going back to your experience. Um, you said you opened the first hemp store. I think that's really interesting. Um, how do you feel about decriminalization in general or legalization? Do you believe medical should be legal? Like what's kind of your stance on those?

SPEAKER_01 15:27

So basically, I I think, and I, you know, there's a debate about uh decriminalization or I I but basically let's just call it I'm I am for decriminalizing natural medicine in the state. I am for our state being a capitalistic society when it comes to natural medicine and letting free trade keep the prices fair here in Alabama. One thing about me, and most people around the state know my stance on natural medicine, but one thing about me is I believe that um when it comes to taxing natural medicine, that you shouldn't try to take advantage of our citizens just because you're offering a natural medicine. I think the tax rate should be a fair and just tax rate. The same, quite honestly, if you were buying a pack of gum. The same, I don't think you should punish people just because they choose a natural medicine or herb to uh for their medicinal purposes.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

I agree with that. Actually, that's been sort of an issue. Me as I am a Republican, but I'm pro-decriminalization, pro-legalization of medical marijuana. Um, and I'm sort of confused as to why other people, you know, even within my party or outside, see that as some I don't know. And then I was confused by Governor Ivey's whole plan to get rid of like even vape stores and things around. Like everything just seemed really not as well thought out. When in Florida, which is also a very conservative state, it's all available. Um I just don't understand why the state seems to lag behind in terms of accessibility and recognizing this as a legitimate medical assistance.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

Well, where the real crime there was by the state of Alabama, and this is the part that never gets talked about. We had so many farmers and potential business people invest in greenhouses, specifically for the hemp and CBD industry, invested uh in specialized equipment. And because this is still legal at the federal level, and so uh a couple of rogue legislators decided to make a law, and then the people that signed it into law knowingly admitted that they did not read the bill that well and did not realize that it was going to put about 2,800 uh hemp and CBD stores, and that includes farms completely out of business. And so, I mean, you know, I've I'm riding through the state now seeing hemp and CBD's stores closed. Um, I'm riding through the state just coming over here and saw a um bingo hall or casino closed. I mean, I'm just seeing so many things closed down by the state, and the state should be helping businesses, especially when the product is federally legal. And so they've they've ruined and destroyed a lot of people's lives over the actions they've taken in the state of Alabama, including mine. My store closed on January 1. I had one of the best employees I've ever had in my entire life of business. And one of the hardest things I had to do was let somebody doing a wonderful job go because the state had uh pulled the rug out from Undrus.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

Well, they're sure not destroying the alcohol industry. It seems like no matter what, there's an alcohol store or liquor store on like every single corner, and they just seem to grow more and more and more. And, you know, I question what the real motives are some of the time with uh some of this money and where it's headed.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

Well, alcohol and um pharmaceutical lobbyists spent$850 million last year alone into the pockets of politicians. And the reason they did that because alcohol cells were going down. Uh pharmaceutical opioid cells were going down, and the threat was the poor old natural medicine that'll grow in your yard, and that's what they went to war against. They went to war against a natural plant.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

That's a shame.

SPEAKER_02 19:44

Yeah, that's not what progress looks like for sure. No.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

So I noticed on your website that you had um a section where you were supportive of spay and neuter programs and animal, sort of animal rights and animal welfare in the state. Can you elaborate a little bit more on that and how that ties into your platform?

SPEAKER_01 20:00

Absolutely. And one thing I just wanted to say, and speaking on a lot of these things, I'm so happy that we're a campaign that actually offers plans, not just concepts. But this is one of the plans that I have here in the state. Uh, we have a state down here in the deep south that stays warm throughout the year, and which means we have a bad problem with um uh overpopulation of dogs and cats in the state. And it is a problem. And I think uh technically by law, every county in the state Alabama is supposed to have a functioning animal shelter run by the county. That's not the case, and it just gets overlooked like a lot of things. And even in places like Barber County, Alabama, where their shelter had been closed for years, people were still going out in the country, locking their dogs in the cages, and they would find them two weeks later laid out, starved to death, because they weren't even maintained in the shelter. So what I would like to see is a is every single county in the state have a functionable animal shelter for our citizens to depend on. But in those shelters, I would like to have uh offer basic uh spay and neutering at an affordable price. And the way I want to do this is I want to have a program between the county and our universities in the state that teach veterinary medicine. And I want to have it where a student in his final years, as part of his classroom work, can come down to that county, work for a month, possibly two months there while getting college credit and performing basic services, which they would have already learned at this point in their career, of spay and neuter, of basic uh sicknesses or things animals may have, and provide that service right there at the local shelter, but mainly spay. Neuter. And I want to have it where you can bring in a cat or a dog, and for maybe as low as 20 or 25 dollars, get that animal spayed, neutered. And you know, a lot of people don't know if it's a cat that you trap in the wild. They clip its the tip of its ear. A lot if you ever see a cat with a flat ear, that means he has been caught, spayed, neutered, and released back into the wild. But I just think that it's a win-win situation for the state. It works with our uh teaching systems hand in hand and doing something for our state and our citizens. And I'd love to see this program work.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

You're absolutely right that there's no functional animal shelters in a lot of places in Alabama. I went through kind of a rough time a while back where I had to surrender a beloved pet, and there was no place to do it. Every single shelter said, no, we don't even take new animals. Like we will not even consider even going to other counties surrounding. Like there was literally no one that would take my animal. And it was just a terrible feeling. Um ended up getting really lucky in finding a foster home, but it was just pure luck with that. And I know other people don't search that hard and don't keep at it. Like there's it's a very lacking resource, it's sad.

SPEAKER_01 23:15

You know, one thing I wanted to talk about too, and I uh is um when we were talking, I was telling you I actually have plans and solutions. And um one of the things that people talk a lot about here at the state is health care costs. And I even have a 31-year-old daughter that she bends my ear about her health care costs now that it has gone up uh in the last uh couple, three months. But um one of the things I wanted to do here in the state, Alabama, we have lottery and gambling in the states around us. And I wanted to propose legislation to have four areas that are zoned for gambling across the state, full casino gambling. And these will be outside of our major hubs in the state, in areas where they have plenty of room to expand and grow without interfering with anyone uh in upcoming years. But basically, I want these to be casinos, lodging, uh, family entertainment, uh, concerts, plays, golf courses, and I want this to be run by the state and monitored by an elected group of officials here in the state of Alabama. But I want these funds, well, let's just not all of the funds, because uh any f any business person though, a facility has to have part of their profits for upgrades or whatever it may be. But I want a majority of these funds to go back into the people of Alabama's hands. And by the way, these would be employees would be state of Alabama employees making good wages and benefits. But when this money would go back out to Alabamians' hands, it would be for health care only. It would not be a handout of money. These this money would have to go toward health care costs. And it would be based if somebody made between between$10,000 and$20,000 a year, they would get so much of a subsidy to help with their health care. And$20,000 to$30,000, maybe a little less, but and so on. And then on top of that, um, I want part of this fund to go toward helping um rural hospitals in the state of Alabama, which are closing down at a high rate. Um, I also want some money to go to some of our poorer counties in the state to set up basic health care services within that community, even if it's been a single-room building, but something for in those areas of the state. And the last and most important thing that these funds would go to would be creating a non-existent mental health program here in the state of Alabama. And what you've done here is you've created a fund that's actually helping our people, and it's through an economic mechanism that we've generated here in the state, not depending on the federal government to save our back on everything we need. And so um I'm I'm real excited uh about the Alabama Gaming and Healthcare Plan, and I think it could be a winner for the state.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

That's an interesting idea. I never even thought about that. Um right now there's kind of a monopoly in the gaming world. Um never even considered opening it up.

SPEAKER_01 26:32

Well, and you know, it's I I had done a debate in the last election, and they asked every they they had asked one question and it had to go down the line of each candidate. And I happened to be last on the question to answer. But the question was asked of candidates, um, how would you feel about gambling being legal in Alabama? And after going through every single candidate, it got to me, I was the only one to say we already have gambling in Alabama, and we do, it's just controlled by Native American interest here in the Alabama. So we do have gambling in Alabama. Our citizens just are not getting to take any advantages of it. And and when it comes to things like that, so you've got you've got the uh the Alabama Gaming and Health Care Fund to help with health care. You've got the cannabis fund to help with roads and bridges and parks and infrastructure. And now when we get to education, it's just such a no-brainer to everybody in the state. 46 out of 50 states have the lottery. Um we don't, of course, but we also sit in that 46th to 50th spot in last in education, and I believe there's a direct correlation. And so with the lottery funds, I want to first of all help increase our teachers' pay up to the normal scale across the country. I want to stop building buildings in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee while our students sit in dilapidated buildings that have asbestos dropping out of the ceilings. I want to best in high-tech uh programs that we need within the state as the world's changing and teaching our kids to perform and achieve in these high levels of uh intelligence and data that are going to be happening here in this country. So um, you know, I'm I I think if the legislators would just do the simple thing and get this out into the hands of the citizens to vote on, I think it would win by more than an 80% margin uh because it's just a no-brainer. And and somebody's just got to drive this through uh in office for once here in Alabama, and I think I can do that.

SPEAKER_02 28:54

So for the inevitability of having to work with the Trump administration, what are your thoughts on some things that have put Alabama in the spotlight, mainly with ICE and with National Guard deployment to metropolitan areas with violent crime problems?

SPEAKER_01 29:17

Well, one thing I'd like to mention is about what you said there at the front end is the one thing about me is you'll if any if you keep up with me, you'll know I'm not one that talks bad about any other political leaders or anything like that. And I'll tell you why I don't, because I am a practical small businessman, and I understand that if you burn your bridges, your chance to move things forward are cut off and over with immediately. So here's what I'd like Alabamians to know. If I'm elected your governor, regardless of who the president of the United States is, I'm gonna work with them on behalf of improving the quality of Alabamians' lives. And that's that's why I'm running for office. It's not to satisfy political agendas and things like that. I I want to work and help Alabamians uh make better livable wages and uh to have health care opportunities. And it and you have to work with people above you. And it and so we're gonna always work on behalf of Alabamians and not political party pressure. And what was the other part of your question?

SPEAKER_02 30:31

Uh when it comes to things that have been hot button issues in the press lately with Alabama, such as uh deploying ICE and the National Guard to metropolitan areas for violent crime.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

Well, you know, here's the thing about ICE. Um, some of the biggest people I see complaining in in the conservative world, for instance, some in construction that I see being the most boisterous, I also see illegal immigrant crews doing the constructions on their houses. Uh so I believe that people got to stop talking out both sides of their mouth. I believe that some of the people that are most boisterous about illegal immigrants are the ones taking their kids through, getting chicken fingers at McDonald's and Chick-fil-A that are being solely uh processed at processing plants by illegal immigrants. What people have to, I come from a farming community, and what people have to understand is that in I'm just gonna use my hometown as an example, Enterprise Alabama, small farming community, big into peanuts and chicken processing. Our chicken processing plant is 97% immigrant employed. The other 3% are the managers in that facility. So you get rid of the illegal immigrants in a farming community in Alabama, you bottleneck that community into a financial crisis. Um, I am totally, I have no problem getting the violent criminals, the people that are here to cause Americans that I mean, quite honestly, that steal or from people or cause problems for Americans in any way, that are um driving drunk, that are uh buying and selling drugs. They don't you do not have that privilege if you're an illegal immigrant to do those things in our country. And and you don't have any protections, is the way I see it. But I can just tell you this I had a an immigrant lady that I've known for many, many years. Uh and as most people know, immigrants are very humble, caring people for the most part. I mean, they care so much that they sometimes carry their children on their shoulder as they make the walk to get here to the United States. But uh one of the I literally had a lady uh hugging me and crying because her daughter had gotten into the University of Alabama. And so uh some of these people have the same goals that all of us have. And and and I just I I try to tell people sometimes, whether you're Republican, Democrat, independent, libertarian, humanity doesn't stop at a borderline. You know, you either you either live humanity and project humanity or you don't. But it's a complicated subject. But here's the thing immigrants have been in my community for more than 40 years now, and I just don't think you're gonna wipe them out of there in a year or two. I mean, uh it's a complicated subject. For sure.

SPEAKER_00 33:45

I wanted to ask, going back to your thoughts on education. So in Baldwin County, we have this really nice new school, Baldwin Preparatory Academy. Don't know if you've ever been by there or seen it, but it is incredible. And it is very focused on you know, trades and certifications. How do you feel about more of those things popping up?

SPEAKER_01 34:02

Yes, um, when I talk about um economic development, and one of the things I want to do is, and and there's a few things that I want to make initial investments it with in the state, and one is an industry recruiting board. And um, and and these will be people that I pick and choose uh and and bring some of the top people in. And what I want to do as governor, unlike governors in the past that have sit back and they do nothing, I think if a governor plays a direct role in the industry recruitment when we're reaching out across the world to high-tech companies, and then you've got the governor himself visiting and calling up and saying, uh, we want you here to Alabama. This is our goals with you here in Alabama. Uh you're gonna see uh you're gonna see so much industry coming to the state, you're you're not gonna believe it. But to your point, one of the most important parts of these things is I want to create what's called the Alabama Job Corps Program, that is a statewide program uh that even allows um potential grants for underserved and underprivileged financially people in the state where they can go to these institutions and learn a trade. But where we're gonna do a better job is when we recruit industry, let's just say for the Baldwin County area, the mobile area in general, um, we're probably gonna be looking at aerospace. We're probably gonna be looking at skills involved with shipbuilding. We're gonna be looking at medical. Well, what we want to do when we're recruiting them, we want to make sure we have an Alabama Job Core Center in this area that is training the skills that are needed to do those jobs. So they are working and coordinated with each other. And as people retire out or quit, you've got a pool to bring right in and fill those jobs and keep production rolling. So uh I'll just tell you this: the way I see it right now, trade schools and trade programs are the wave of the future of employment in Alabama because AI is taking the place of software engineers, of computer programmers, of all of that kind of support in general is being pushed to the side by an artificial service. So it's gonna take people that want to make money going forward that want to do these um skills, like, and I'm only naming a few there's I mean, plumbers charge what doctors make now almost. I don't know if you've noticed that or HBAC. Uh and so we've got to do a really good job on trade programs.

SPEAKER_00 36:54

I wanted to ask you a little bit about your thoughts on the prison system here in our state and what you might do to make changes in that.

SPEAKER_01 37:01

Um, well, the first thing I would do in the state of Alabama is we have decided as a state currently that we need to contract services out within our prison system, that we need to have prisons where the guards don't work for the state, but for a company we contract out. Well, the first thing I'm gonna tell you if we're contracted services out, it means we're paying double for that service. Because it means that contractor's got to make their money and whoever that employee is has to make their money. So I want I want the state to be in control of our prisons, not only for that reason, but because of the problems we're having right now, like with the documentary the Alabama Solution shows. Um, the reason we're having a lot of these problems because we don't know what's going on within our own state prisons right now because of a lot of these contracted services. So I want I want us to have control of our prisons. Um, when it comes to um inmates in our prison system, I think one of the most important things we have to do is stop recidivism uh in and out. You know, that's what we've got now. Somebody gets out, there's no opportunity for them, they're right back to doing what they did, and they're right back in the prison, which is not good for them or their family, and it's not good for the state Alabama financially to have a revolving door of prisoners that we're taking care of. So one thing that I would love to do is within our prison system, I would like to create an inner-prison trade program where nonviolent offenders have an opportunity while they're in prison to go to class, learn a trade, leave that prison with a license and ready to go to work when they walk out the door. See, that's where we're messing up here. We're just putting people right back into the same circumstance. Uh, when it comes to things like within the system, I'd like to see change. Well, right now we have a program where we let prisoners go out and work at like a fast food restaurant or things like that. And then at the end of the week, the state takes a big portion of that money earned, the prisoner gets a small amount. And that part I don't really have a problem with because I understand the concept of it. But where I have a problem, now some of these prisoners are working two to three years working a fast food job or wherever it may be, 40 hours a week. Now their time comes up for parole, and they're getting denied parole because the state wants to keep the hourly money rolling in that they're making. Because what they do is they pull each prison pulls all that money together into interest-bearing accounts, and they're basically taking their money to make even more money. And and fair pardon and parole boards are a very, very important part of a prison system, and so we want to make sure that when it's someone's time to get out, it's their time to get out. They're that they're not being kept in because they are uh a green dollar bill.

SPEAKER_00 40:16

So you definitely have a lot of plans. I'm actually really impressed. Um have seen you online and stuff, but you are very you have everything really well thought out.

SPEAKER_01 40:25

Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 40:29

It's uh sometimes people will not really have a tangible plan when they talk about why they're running for office, but I actually thought about things.

SPEAKER_01 40:36

I have things I want to do. It's important. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:38

So another issue that families in Alabama struggle with a lot is our utility bill. They're always extremely high, and it seems to be getting higher and higher every time we look at it. What do you think about what's going on with our utilities at this moment?

SPEAKER_01 40:50

Um well, as our team says to everyone across the state, our the only thing we can do is educate people on this process in the state because it's just become a hot topic. And a lot of people know that um the Public Service Commission in Alabama is an elected group of people that handles uh power and utility rates and regulations. Well, here's the problem we have here in Alabama. People are not paying attention to this position, and the people that are running for these races are backed by the same Alabama power that we are is in question here. So things tend to uh be ruled in their favor toward their side because of who's going into office. So, first of all, we've got to study and make sure we get good uh candidates in that aren't paid for by special interest money into that position. That's very important. Uh, secondly, um my team and I have known for months that um we have elected officials in this state that are at the highest federal level that have spouses that are that are um hobbyists for people like Alabama Power. Then you have the main Republican candidates and probably even possibly, I don't know, I would I would say some of the top-level candidates from both party that are sponsored by Alabama Power and funded in their elections by Alabama Power. And so the difference in me and a lot of those guys, first of all, I have the least amount of money for any governor candidate in the state. Now, the thing to me that is most impressive in saying that, I feel like we're right in the middle of this race because of the people in our campaign, which are called the Citizens-Driven Movement, that have helped us counteract the special interest money by working for the campaign, by helping us grow. And so uh, yeah, it's it's we we've got to get that special interest money out of our state. That's why right now we find ourselves with them raising bills and no campaign officials or elected officials there to have our back because they own the candidates.

SPEAKER_00 43:07

Alabama power also has a lot of influence in our local media sources. So I would encourage everyone to pay attention to where money's coming from and really vet those PSC candidates. Um, we are not getting Alabama Power money. We are getting billed by Alabama Power, though, a lot. So feel free to contribute and help offset our costs anytime.

SPEAKER_01 43:25

Yeah. And listen, in in my book, you guys here, both of you, do so much of a better job than the people that we were talking about. Um, you have uh a couple of news groups in this state that are directly funded by Alabama Power. And I will call them out, but I'm not gonna do it. I don't want to my campaign manager says no, but let's just say a couple of the top uh news, I don't even want to call them the top because they're the bottom to me, but uh this is the top right here, just so we're clear. Yeah, these are the real, these are the real news people in the state. State that are getting getting in it. And listen, I'm a Democratic candidate, and as we've all talked, they she's a Republican. They get the message out uh equally and equitably for all citizens. And like I said, it is a shame that even Alabama power is controlling some of the media in this state.

SPEAKER_00 44:20

So just to add another addendum here to that, I actually used to be a Democrat and I left the Democratic Party. And it was because of the I I worked in politics. I saw the establishment working in the Democratic Party, and I was so disgusted and I was treated very poorly. Anyone who challenged the system, it was their voice was like stomped out. And I really, you know, wasn't about that. It's like that on both sides, though, as I learned. I was like, but my personal experience with them, it was so I was very distraught and disheartened by how much goes on behind the scenes with the establishment politics. And this was in Florida, not in Alabama. Yeah. I like to see people from either side who are willing to challenge the status quo, who are willing to say, I have ideas, I have a plan, like, and come out and talk to people. That's really what it should be about. And I'm hoping and encouraging people everywhere we go to get involved and to talk to people, to ask candidates questions, to go to the meet and greets, to go to the forums, to make an informed decision, no matter what party you are. Like just get it in your brain what's happening.

SPEAKER_02 45:26

Yes. Every time. Yes, participation in general.

SPEAKER_00 45:31

Yeah, we want good voter turnouts. And I try to, we had our uh candidate forum last night, um, our first one, and my 11-year-old daughter was there, and you know, there wasn't a lot of kids don't care about stuff like that, but she was kind of like sort of paying attention. I feel like if we can lead by example and show younger people and show kids that, you know, this is important and people will show up and people will care, then maybe in the future they'll be able to carry that stuff forward.

SPEAKER_02 45:57

Yeah, they will listen because I was she was telling us about how kids at school were talking about the Iran conflict, and I asked her a few questions about it, and of course they didn't know anything about the actual situation. And she actually sat there and paid attention as I broke down what was going on. And so you can't say that kids can't take an interest in politics, you just have to be able to present it at the right time.

SPEAKER_01 46:24

Um I will say this because in the last month or two, and I I can just tell you, just last week, I was in a store in my hometown, and a young man and young woman, and I say young, they were early 20s, but they both worked there. And the the younger guy came up to me and I didn't know him, and he said, I just want you to know something. He said, the one thing that I can say you have done, he said, he said, people my age now that I hang out with are talking about politics at least. And he said, and he said, I'm telling you something, you did that, and that made me feel so good because I mean, I've tried to explain to people, our leaders are being elected by 70 and 80-year-old people every year in the state because nobody else, for the most part, is participating. And and so, yeah, it's super important for young people. It's and it's another thing that's super important for people to not get caught up towing political party lines. It's about the best candidate, it's about the person you look in the eyes and you trust. It's the, you know, it's it's just like with me. Anytime I go anywhere in the state, if I have to speak for five minutes or 30 minutes, I don't, I don't carry any notes because I go with the feel of what that community is about, because that's what being a governor is about, is understanding each community in the state, understanding what's important. Um, and it's just like the community that we're all sitting in today. This is this is a different kind of place from the rest of Alabama. This is sacred, protected wetlands in this area. And so to govern, we have to govern differently here. We have to make sure that future progress doesn't hurt long-term uh plans here uh in this beautiful, in this, you know, ecological system. I mean, we've got to take care of places like this. And so, you know, and then and and we've got to work on places like the Black Belt region of Alabama and build new roads and bridges and infrastructure so they can get technology parks. And yeah, every every place in this state has a story. And I do want to say this people every single day say, Well, what are you gonna do? And I'm not gonna name any group, but they'll say, What are you gonna do for this group of people in Alabama? And I try to make it clear. I'm gonna do the same thing I do for every single other citizen in the state. I'm gonna make sure they're treated equally, fairly, that your rights and privileges as an Alabama citizen are upheld. I mean, governing means you govern for all. Doesn't matter if you're red, blue, purple, green, whatever, you get you are entitled to be governed the same exact way by your leader in your state. And then that's what you're gonna see with me. I believe that an Alabama working together is a stronger Alabama. We're gonna do, we've we've even got simple things that we want to do as a candidacy here in the state of Alabama. Like if I was fortunate enough to get through this primary and fortunate enough to get elected, and one of the things I want to do, and I want to be a participate participant in it, is I want to have one Saturday where we arrange and encourage Alabamians to pick up two bags of trash. Let's literally start cleaning our state up. Because when you do things like this, this creates more community pride. And um, we want to do little things like give Alabama families from different counties each week an opportunity to come to the governor's mansion. It's your house. Have dinner in the governor's mansion. If you've done, we want to let communities nominate people that to do this. Somebody that's done something special for that community. Well, let's nominate them and let them come to the governor's mansion and have dinner. I mean, like I said, that's your house. This is your state. I take the attitude, I work for you.

SPEAKER_02 50:25

So you can't ask for more than that.

SPEAKER_00 50:30

Mr. Martin, thank you so much for coming here today to speak with us here in Lillian at the community club. We really, really appreciate you taking the time. And if anyone wants to follow or learn more about him, tell them where they can find you online.

SPEAKER_01 50:42

Um, you can find us our biggest uh social media page is Chad Chig Martin for Governor of Alabama 2026 on Facebook. Uh we also have Chad Chig Martin on TikTok. And you can visit our website at www.chadchigmartin.com. It tells our thinking, our plans, things we want to accomplish, but it also gives you a chance if you want to donate and help the campaign. Like I said, we are the lowest funded uh state campaign for governor here in the state Alabama, and and we in a lot of ways it's what helped build this campaign because people know this campaign's not about money because we just don't have it. And uh so, but I want to thank you guys. What you guys are doing here today is so important in changing everything about this state when it comes to political views. Because, like I said, this is natural, raw, organic, uh, just good fa fashion news, good fashion, gold, good old fashioned, just reporting. And I thank you guys for doing what you're doing. Thank you so much for that.