By Beth Clayton
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY–Saturday, Democrats gathered in Heflin for the first “Yellar Dog Brawl” benefitting the Alabama Democratic Majority, a non-profit foundation established by former chair of the Alabama Democratic Party, Judge Mark Kennedy.
Kennedy received an award for his service to the party from the Cleburne County Democratic Executive Committee. He spoke on the strength of a “people-powered” organization that worked to promote the best interest of the Alabama citizens.
Lily Ledbetter, a former factory worker and namesake of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, also addressed the crowd, speaking on her struggle for equal pay for women that went all the way to the US Supreme Court.
“I’m just a regular woman who ended up in the history books,” Ledbetter said.
Senator Billy Beasley (D-Clayton) also spoke, discussing the need to expand Medicaid in Alabama. Beasley said that the expansion would allow the people to get the care they need while providing the largest economic boost that Alabama has ever seen and potentially reducing unemployment to below two percent.
Lance Latham, the Chief of Staff for the House Democratic Caucus, spoke on behalf of Representative Craig Ford (D-Gadsden) about the past legislative session and the priorities for the upcoming session leading into the 2014 elections.
Latham said that electing more good people to public office would be critical.
“We need legislators to be the people’s representative to the government, not the government or the party’s representative to the people,” he said.
The evening closed out with music and dancing, with the first dance going to the Mark and Peggy Kennedy.
