Author

Craig Ford

Craig Ford is the owner of Ford Insurance and the Gadsden Messenger. He represented Etowah County in the Alabama House of Representatives for 18 years.

Alabamians Want A Lottery, But Not A Blank Check Lottery

By Rep. Craig Ford As droves of Alabamians flooded into Tennessee, Georgia and Florida for a chance to win the $1.6 billion Powerball, it’s obvious the people of Alabama want to play the lottery. People in 44 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands are all allowed to purchase lottery … Continued

Craig Ford

January 15, 2016

Opinion

A New Year, A New Opportunity To Right A Wrong

By House Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford New Years is a time of reflection and resolutions—a time for changes and fixing mistakes. With the State’s next Legislative Session beginning in less than a month, there’s a resolution I would like our State leaders to make: fix the problems with the Accountability Act. The Accountability Act … Continued

Craig Ford

January 8, 2016

Opinion

It’s Time To Expand Pre-K In Alabama

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford Since 2008, education spending for k-12 in Alabama has gone down by more than 20 percent. Those cuts have been felt in every classroom in the state: from outdated textbooks and technology, to larger class sizes. But this year, the state has an opportunity to invest in education again … Continued

Craig Ford

December 31, 2015

Opinion

Remembering Christmas

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford What does Christmas mean to you? It’s a question that will probably get a different answer from every person you ask. Every family has their own traditions and customs that make Christmas unique to them. Of course, certain things about Christmas are universal. For every Christian, Christmas is a … Continued

Craig Ford

December 23, 2015

Opinion

We Can’t Have Education Without Educators

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford One of the biggest problems we have in education right now is the shortage of teachers. This is true both nationally and in Alabama. Today, fewer college students are enrolling in education courses. Eric Mackey, the executive director of the state superintendents association, recently told the Times Daily that … Continued

Craig Ford

December 18, 2015

Opinion

Maybe Santa Will Bring Us What Congressman Aderholt Won’t: The I-759 Extension

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford We are just a few weeks away from Christmas, and children across the state are heading to the mall or shopping center to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. I haven’t sat on Santa’s lap since I was a kid, but at this … Continued

Craig Ford

December 10, 2015

Opinion

Republicans Should Leave Teachers’ Retirement Alone

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford It’s been a rough year for the powers that be in Montgomery. There have been more than a few bad headlines this year, and we only avoided a government shutdown after three costly legislative sessions that led to an $80 million raid on public education and $86 million in … Continued

Craig Ford

December 3, 2015

Opinion

Remembering Our Educators This Thanksgiving

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford In our house at Thanksgiving, our family likes to sit around the table and name the things we are thankful for in our life. Of course, everyone always names the big things like family, our freedom and so on. But the things that I’m most thankful for are the … Continued

Craig Ford

November 25, 2015

Opinion

Progress Has Been Made, But There Is More Work To Be Done!

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford Congratulations to Gov. Bentley and Secretary of State, John Merrill, on their work to fully enact the “motor voter” law! It’s refreshing to see a news article about voting in Alabama that isn’t negative. And while it did take more than twenty years and the threat of a costly … Continued

Craig Ford

November 18, 2015

Opinion

Animal Cruelty And Neglect Are No Laughing Matter

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford It blows my mind that we still have to deal with animal cruelty and neglect in 2015. But unfortunately there are still sad stories like the one that just came out of Walker County. A man there owned more than 50 dogs. When his house was foreclosed on, he … Continued

Craig Ford

November 5, 2015