Robert Bentley
Dr. Robert Bentley, a dermatologist with Alabama Dermatology Associates in Northport, currently serves in the House of Representatives’ 63rd district, representing Tuscaloosa County. Bentley is a member of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa.
1. What is your position on the form of gambling known as electronic bingo in Alabama, and how have you evidenced that position during service in state office?
I am against electronic bingo gambling but I’m against all gambling. I have voted against bills that have come up related to electronic bingo.
This year, had that bill (Senate Bill 380) been brought up in the House, I was a no vote on that bill. I was going to vote no. I told (Rep.) Arthur Payne (who keeps a list of those opposing gambling bills) and ALCAP (Alabama Citizens Action Program) that I was against it.
2. Many have called for a statewide vote on gambling in Alabama. What does the phrase “statewide vote on gambling” mean to you, and what is your opinion on this?
Many of the bills that have been brought up are statewide votes on gambling, but those are not clean votes. The only bill I would support on a statewide vote for gambling would be where a no vote means we outlaw all forms of gambling in the state of Alabama.
The only way to solve the issue is to have a vote like that and allow those of us who are opposed to gambling — Christians and others who are opposed to gambling — to have the right to vote it out completely in the state of Alabama. That is the only way to rid this state of Indian gambling. You cannot rid this state of Indian gambling because of the IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) law. That’s why Hawaii and Utah don’t have any form of gambling.
3. Would you describe the push for a vote related to legalizing electronic bingo gambling in select locations across the state during this year’s legislative session as a “statewide vote on gambling”? Why and what was your position on the legislation?
It was not a true statewide vote on gambling. I was totally opposed to that because a no vote with that bill did not solve anything. Things would remain as they are at present. It also left up to a future Legislature the enabling legislation, and you certainly don’t want to do that. If you have any kind of vote, people ought to know exactly what they are voting on. I would have voted no on that bill. I was on record as a no vote for that bill.
4. As governor of Alabama, what will be your position on gambling and its expansion in any form in the state?
I’m against expansion of gambling and I have always been.
5. Will you work for the defeat of gambling bills in the state Legislature and commit to veto them if they pass?
I will work to defeat any gambling bill, but people must realize if it’s a constitutional amendment, I don’t have the chance to veto (it). I will veto any gambling bill that is not a constitutional amendment.
6. Why do you hold the position on gambling that you do?
Economically, it hurts any region where it is located because it takes money out of the economy. Ethically, I think gambling is wrong. It hurts people and causes many social problems related to individuals and their families. And I just believe it is morally wrong.
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Bradley Byrne
Bradley Byrne served as chancellor of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education from 2007 to 2009. He is currently working full time on his campaign for governor. Byrne is a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Fairhope.
1. What is your position on the form of gambling known as electronic bingo in Alabama, and how have you evidenced that position during service in state office?
I am opposed to any form of gambling, including electronic bingo. I’ve taken that public position since my beginning in the Alabama State Senate in 2002 and continued that through the campaign. I never got a chance to officially vote against it because they couldn’t get the numbers of people needed to bring it up, but I had a consistent position against it from the very beginning.
2. Many have called for a statewide vote on gambling in Alabama. What does the phrase “statewide vote on gambling” mean to you, and what is your opinion on this?
It means we would be opening the door to the gambling interest controlling the state of Alabama. Therefore I would be against a gambling referendum of any kind.
3. Would you describe the push for a vote related to legalizing electronic bingo gambling in select locations across the state during this year’s legislative session as a “statewide vote on gambling”? Why and what was your position on the legislation?
I was against them all because I was against gambling, period. I’m against any gambling proposal.
4. As governor of Alabama, what will be your position on gambling and its expansion in any form in the state?
I would be opposed to any expansion of gambling in the state of Alabama.
5. Will you work for the defeat of gambling bills in the state Legislature and commit to veto them if they pass?
Yes, I would oppose gambling legislation, and I would veto any that come in the form of a bill. But it would take a constitutional amendment to hold a referendum, and the governor can’t veto a constitutional amendment.
6. Why do you hold the position on gambling that you do?
Gambling is bad for individuals, bad for society and bad for the economy.
I’m also worried that if we had gambling in the state of Alabama that the gambling interest would exercise great power over our political system.
That would not be healthy for our political system or the state. Gambling preys on the poor. We need to lift up the poor of our state and gambling brings them down.
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The Alabama Baptist plans to sit down with the winner of the runoff as well as Ron Sparks, Democratic candidate for governor, before the November election to discuss more of the issues.
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