Alabama’s Office of Rural Development to be Closed – Director Ron Sparks Relieved of Duties by Governor Kay Ivey

Ft Payne native, and former candidate for governor Ron Sparks will no longer be Director of the Alabama Rural Development Office, having been officially relieved of his duties by the new Governor Kay Ivey.  Sparks received official notification from Ivey on Wednesday of this week indicating that he would no longer be needed – it was learned that the governor intended to sign an executive order which would abolish the state’s Office of Rural Development. 

Sparks lost his bid for political office to Bentley in 2010, and was appointed by Bentley as the Director of Rural Development the following year.

Statement issued by Ron Sparks:

I would like to thank everyone for all of the calls, texts, and emails over the last few hours. It has been an honor to spend over half of my life in public service. The people of Alabama have been really good to me, and I hope they feel that I have served them well. Many of you know that, as of today, Governor Kay Ivey, abolished the Rural Development Office (RDO). You all learned of this decision in the same manner as I did, through the news media. I am deeply saddened that politics came before protecting the people of rural Alabama, and especially before saving the lives of babies. At some point, public service has to become more important than self-service. No one from the Governor’s office had the professional courtesy to discuss the important programs that we have initiated over the last few years: 1) The lifesaving Baby Box Program, implemented to reduce infant mortality, and for which thousands of Alabama mothers have signed up since its launch just two weeks ago; 2) Telemedicine; 3) Black Belt Commission; and, many more rural initiatives designed and implemented to improve the lives of rural Alabamians. Although I never had any intention of working for the Ivey administration, it was my sincere hope that someone from her office would contact me so that I could work with her office to ensure that these programs were transitioned in a manner that was in the best interest of the people of Alabama. While my well-being is certainly secondary to any of the aforementioned programs, I do appreciate your outreach and concern. As you know, my service to our great State has never been about me. I was in touch with The Retirement Systems of Alabama yesterday, and am looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends. I will see you all on the campaign trail in the near future! God bless you all!

(Southern Torch/www.southerntorch.com)

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