WEIS Radio welcomed Representative Craig Ford to the studio on Tuesday morning, and he wasted no time in getting the ball rolling in a big way:

Senator Phil Williams has held that seat for two terms, and has announced his decision not to seek re-election.  We asked Ford to share some of the reasons behind his decision to not only make the move toward a new position, but to a completely different party as well:

We also asked what potential changes he felt he may possibly encounter, switching houses in the legislature in Montgomery, should his bid for election be a successful one:

Other topics of discussion included: Representative Ford’s thoughts on a variety of projects – ranging from the paving of Highway 411 from Cherokee to Etowah County, finishing the I-759 Extension, the widening of Highway 77 in Attalla, the Etowah County Jobs Act, School Board Qualifications being enacted in order to be eligible to serve in regard to Educational Issues, and the completion of the Southside Bridge.

For more on this story, and to hear that interview in its entirety, simply click on the link below

Representative Craig Ford was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2000. He is a native and life-long resident of Gadsden, Alabama.

After receiving a marketing degree from Auburn University in 1991, Rep. Ford returned to Etowah County with a personal and professional commitment to his community.

Rep. Ford is the co-owner of The Messenger, a weekly newspaper, and the co-owner of Hodges-Ford Insurance, which he joined in 2000. That same year, he successfully ran for State Representative for House District 28, succeeding his father, the late Representative Joe Ford, who served in the Alabama House of Representatives for 26 years.

In 2003 and 2006, his legislative focus on citizens with special needs earned him recognition as the Darden Rehabilitation Person of the Year. In 2004, he was awarded the “golden axe,” which is the highest award given by the Professional Firefighters’ Association. In 2006 and 2010, Craig’s peers in Montgomery honored him as “Most Outstanding Legislator,” while citizens in Etowah County recognized his dedication to seniors by inducting him into the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. In 2007, his efforts to improve employment opportunities and working conditions for all Alabamians earned him the Friend of Labor Award and in 2012 he was chosen by the House of Representatives as legislator of the year.

Rep. Ford has demonstrated both his ability and his willingness to lead in many ways. He served in the United States Army Reserve and the Alabama National Guard, attaining the rank of Captain. Among his military honors, he received the Top Gun Award in his tank division in 1991. Representative Ford is also a charter member of the Coosa Valley Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

In his community, he serves as an Associate Member of the Alabama Retired Teachers Association, is an active member of Church of the Highlands in Gadsden, and is a former board member of the YMCA, Break Away Ministries, and Coosa Baseball. He continues to be involved in coaching youth sports.

In 2010, Rep. Ford was elected House Minority Leader by his colleagues. He was re-elected House Minority Leader in 2012 and 2014. He currently serves on the Ways and Means Education Committee and the Commerce and Small Business Committee.

During his most recent term in the House of Representatives, Rep. Ford’s strong focus on education and employment has resulted in significant gains, both in Etowah County and in the state of Alabama. In education, he has been instrumental in the development of seven new high schools in Etowah County, and led the effort to find funding for the PACT program and help save the college education for some 45,000 Alabama children. His ongoing efforts to keep quality employers and quality jobs in the county, as well as recruiting efforts for new employment opportunities, positioned him to play an instrumental role in keeping the Goodyear plant and its jobs in Gadsden.

Ford’s wife, Gwen Glover, is a teacher at Gadsden State Community College. They have two children: Jon Craig, Jr. (Jonathan) and Wells Elizabeth.

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