Doug Smith began building the economic machinery for the state 50 years ago, and is running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in an effort to repair the economic engine. Smith was the father of the Alabama Development Office (ADO) that brought Mercedes-Benz and over 350,000 good paying jobs to the state.
As Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, he will repair the damage to the state’s economic machinery, which has been used by every Governor, both Democrat and Republican since 1967 until 2002, at which time the machinery was systematically dismantled by Bob Riley and the current administration under Governor Bentley. Since 2002 the incumbents have continuously occupied the governor’s office in Montgomery, and during that period the state’s average income has been steadily falling from near a peak of $50,000 per household in 2002 when the Republican Governors came into office until down to about $44,000 today, and it continues to fall.
The Republicans have badly damaged the engine and that has contributed to a depression in large segments of Alabama economy.
As Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, he will repair the damage to the state’s economic machinery, which has been used by every Governor, both Democrat and Republican since 1967 until 2002, at which time the machinery was systematically dismantled by Bob Riley and the current administration under Governor Bentley. Since 2002 the incumbents have continuously occupied the governor’s office in Montgomery, and during that period the state’s average income has been steadily falling from near a peak of $50,000 per household in 2002 when the Republican Governors came into office until down to about $44,000 today, and it continues to fall.
The Republicans have badly damaged the engine and that has contributed to a depression in large segments of Alabama economy.