Local legislators have pledged their support to the Campaign for Alabama program’s effort to improve the education funding structure for Alabama.

Cherokee County Representative to the Alabama Legislature Richard Lindsey and State Sen. Larry Means were some of the local leaders on hand for an education summit last week at Centre First Baptist Church.

Bill O’Connor, head of the Campaign For Alabama, addressed those attending the summit on the need to reform Alabama’s tax structure.

“We have the Coalition for Education, an education group, we have the Governor’s Coalition and we have the Governor’s Commission on Education and that is a group that is appointed by the governor,” said Rep. Lindsey. “All three of these groups have a lot of people with a lot of talent, energy and enthusiasm on those committees to improve education in this state. I think by the time we get to the end of this process, those committees will come together with all of their ideas and provide a recommendation to the legislature and then hopefully, the legislature will recommend to you, the citizens of this state, things that we can do to improve education. I look forward to being a part of that, and I hope that you also will look forward to being a part of that. It is not something the legislature is going to be able to do on its own, it’s not something that business groups can do on their own. It’s going to take a grassroots effort, it’s going to take citizens just like every one of you getting involved, getting interested and helping to pass whatever proposals put forward to improve education in this state.”

Said Rep. Lindsey, “We have people who want to see Alabama move forward, raise our income levels, educate our kids better so that they will have a better future. I appreciate the opportunity to be here and look forward to working with you, the board of education and all of the people here to make education better.”

Sen. Means said he is pleased to work with Rep. Lindsey and that he has also seen O’Connor in action before.

“I appreciate the opportunity to represent you in Montgomery,” said Sen. Means. “I’ve know Rep. Lindsey for several years. I look forward to working with him. I was listening to Mr. O’Connor. I know some of you might have been thinking, ‘Man, this guy is just sugar coating this in all directions.’ I can assure you he is not. He’s pretty tough. He is going to do good for us and the citizens of Alabama and our delegation.