Scott and Tarra Dawson
By JOE THOMAS
Ledger Editor
Scott Dawson brought his message to Escambia County this week as the 50-year old minister spreads the word about his Republican campaign for governor, saying politicians have run the state too long.
Dawson received his bachelor's degree in religion in 1989 from Samford University and his master's from Beeson Divinity School in 1993.
He has spent the past years developing student conferences that have also included major league baseball teams and football teams.
He said he was with a group that asked him to consider running for governor and he first turned them down.
"They said 'why don't you pray on it'," Dawson said while in Flomaton Monday. "I felt like the doors opened for us."
Dawson noted that two of the last three governors have either been arrested or resigned and three of the past six have either been impeached, indicted or arrested.
"That should break our hearts," he said. "For over 40 years we have elected a politician as governor of Alabama. Isn't it time we elected one of us?"
Dawson said he's spent the past 30 years speaking in schools, churches, gymnasiums and at multiple student conferences and has received the endorsement from people like Mike Huckabee and the hosts of the Rick and Bubba Show.
Dawson said when elected governor he will perform an evaluation on all state agencies to see if they are adequately staffed. He also said instead of the governor's picture in the capitol he want to put up a picture of an Alabama citizen, noting that's who the governor works for.
He said he will focus on ethics, education, effective government and the economy.
"We have to get rid of the corruption," Dawson said.
He also said he'd like to see mentorships in the elementary schools to bring adults in to help students who lack that adult supervision at home.
"We need to be teaching attitude, leadership and economics," he said. "The three things we are not teaching. We need to teach children how to use money and not let money use them."
He also supports mandatory drug testing for all students involved in extracurricular activities beginning in the ninth grade.
"I'm not trying to hurt anyone, I'm trying to help them," Dawson said.
He also said he'd like students with addiction issues to have faith-based rehabilitation as an option.
As a supporter of the pre-K program, Dawson said he's not for mandatory pre-K in Alabama's public schools.
"Pre-K should be available," Dawson said. "But we've got a lot of parents at home who are teaching and preparing their children for kindergarten. It should be an option."
He also said he wants to make it easier for someone to start a business in Alabama by offering people relief from unnecessary fees and regulations.
Dawson will hold his "Kickoff to Win" rally at 7 p.m. March 19 at the Pelham Civic Center.
"I want Alabama to smile again," Dawson said.
