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.

How we can make our schools safer

Education is the most important service our government provides, and one of the top issues impacting education is school safety. Unfortunately, it seems like every conversation about school safety always turns into a debate about guns, and nothing ever gets done. But there are a lot of things we can – and should – be … Continued

Craig Ford

April 12, 2018

Opinion

The most important decision our government will make: Who will be our next state superintendent of education

The Legislative Session has come to an end, but legislators won’t be the ones making the most important decision our government will make this year. The State Board of Education will make that decision in April when they choose our next State Superintendent of Education. For all of the high-profile issues that have been raised … Continued

Craig Ford

March 30, 2018

Opinion

Educators, retirees deserve a pay raise

By Rep. Craig Ford Eleven years is a long time to go without a pay raise. But for educators, state employees and retirees in Alabama, that’s how long it has been. And for retirees and many state employees, they have actually had their pay cut during those eleven years. You may be thinking that educators, … Continued

Craig Ford

February 9, 2018

Opinion

Legislators should not ignore infrastructure, education and jobs just because it is an election year

By Rep. Craig Ford The legislative session began this week and, by all accounts, it’s expected to be an uneventful year. The only goal lawmakers seem to have is to pass the budgets and go home. But there is a lot of work that can and ought to be done instead of just kicking the … Continued

Craig Ford

January 11, 2018

Opinion

All I want for Christmas is… for every child to have a good education

By Rep. Craig Ford When my kids were growing up, I don’t know who was more excited on Christmas morning: the kids opening their presents or me and Gwen watching them! Ever since God gave us the original and best Christmas gift, our lord and savior Jesus Christ, giving gifts has been a part of … Continued

Craig Ford

December 14, 2017

Opinion

State leaders have lost their credibility on prisons

By Rep. Craig Ford With all the attention being given to the special election for the U.S. Senate, you may not have seen what has been happening in Montgomery with the prison crisis. Last year, Gov. Bentley proposed a plan to build four new “super prisons” at a cost of about $800 million. At the … Continued

Craig Ford

November 29, 2017

Opinion

Remembering Our Veterans This Thanksgiving

By. Rep. Craig Ford Every Thanksgiving, I like to write an editorial about the things that I am thankful for. I’ve written about how thankful I am for my family, and for public servants like Alabama’s educators. But this year, I want to say how thankful I am for our country’s veterans. We just celebrated … Continued

Craig Ford

November 17, 2017

Opinion

Sports teach lessons you might not learn in the classroom

By Rep. Craig Ford We all know that education and jobs go hand-in-hand. If you want to get a good job, you have to have a good education. And having good schools is an important part of recruiting jobs and industries to a community. Education gets a lot of attention in Alabama. You hear a … Continued

Craig Ford

September 28, 2017

Opinion

Should Superintendent Sentance be fired?

By Rep. Craig Ford On Thursday, the State Board of Education will meet to discuss terminating State Superintendent Michael Sentance’s contract. Politics has surrounded Sentance’s time in Alabama, starting even before he was hired. And if the Board decides to fire him, his supporters will claim that politics was the driving factor. Sentance was the … Continued

Craig Ford

September 13, 2017

Opinion

An agri-business center would be a great addition to the mega sports complex

By Rep. Craig Ford State House of Representatives Tourism and hospitality are a $13 billion a year industry in the state of Alabama. That number comes from the Alabama Department of Tourism, and it was included in a press release Gov. Ivey put out last month. But tourism and hospitality don’t just come from our … Continued

Craig Ford

September 8, 2017