By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, March 22, the West Alabama Republican Assembly announced that they were endorsing Jim Bonner in the State School Board District 7 Republican Primary Runoff Election on April 12.
The President of the West Alabama Republican Assembly Joshua Wyatt said in a statement, “In today’s times we are hard pressed to find qualified candidates that represent our core values, that embody our conservative beliefs. Someone that reflects what we need in Montgomery. Jim Bonner is this man. Mr. Bonner is running for State Board of Education (District 7) and he is someone that can be trusted to defend our values and fight for us in Montgomery against liberal ideals from Washington and home. He is a conservative republican that will fight against common core and make sure our values and beliefs are adequately reflected in the education arena. As the President of the West Alabama Republican Assembly I am extremely excited and honored to have our chapter endorse Jim Bonner for State Board of Education.”
Bonner said, “I will not approve any plan that involves raising taxes. I seem to be currently putting out a fire wherein someone who can’t read complex sentences thinks that I advocated raising taxes or expenditures of the State Education system, in fact we can live on two percent less the first year. Alabama is taxed enough, with a four percent sales tax and a five percent income tax plus ad valorem taxes our education budget is a majority of the common man’s tax burden.”
Bonner worked for 30 years as a classroom teacher. He has a Master’s Degree from the University of North Alabama and a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University.
Bonner’s opponent for State Board of Education District 7, is incumbent, Jeff Newman. Jeff Newman has more than three decades of experience in education, Newman most recently retired as superintendent of education of the Lamar County School System. Prior to his service as superintendent, he served as an administrator of federal programs, a career technical principal and director, a high school assistant principal, and an agribusiness teacher.
Newman has angered many Alabama conservatives for his support of the controversial Alabama College and Career Ready Standards, which are aligned with the experimental Common Core Standards.
The runoff election will be on April 12. Republicans in District 1 also have a runoff election for the school board.
