Former Alabama Attorney General Troy King crossed party lines Tuesday to endorse Democrat Ron Sparks for commissioner of agriculture and industries, calling his former colleague the most qualified candidate in the race and saying their shared record of public service outweighed party labels.
King made the endorsement in an open letter, describing it as a first for him.
“I wanted to take a minute to do something I have never done before: Publicly endorse someone else for public office,” King wrote.
King, a lifelong Republican from Elba, served as Alabama’s attorney general from 2004 to 2011. Governor Bob Riley appointed him after Bill Pryor left the office for a federal judgeship, and voters elected King to a full term in 2006.
King wrote that he had spent much of his life helping build the Alabama Republican Party. But his experience as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, he said, taught him that protecting Alabama is a responsibility that transcends political affiliation.
King and Sparks served in statewide office together while Sparks was agriculture commissioner from 2003 to 2011. King said that experience allowed him to see how Sparks approached the responsibilities of the office.
“We never shared a political party home, but we did share a love for and a commitment to the people of Alabama,” King wrote.
King urged Republicans and Democrats to support Sparks, whom he called “the most qualified man running in this race.” He also said he contributed to Sparks’ campaign.
“Because sometimes it’s about politics, but this time it’s about the people,” King wrote.
Sparks said he was honored to receive the endorsement from a former colleague with whom he worked on consumer protection and agricultural issues.
“We did not see political party differences when we served together,” Sparks said. “We simply worked hard to protect the producers and consumers of Alabama.”
Sparks cited their work addressing price gouging and protecting Alabamians from contaminated seafood imported from other countries as examples of that cooperation.
King is the latest prominent supporter to endorse Sparks in a campaign that has attracted backing from figures with ties to Alabama agriculture, rural communities and military service.
Former Alabama Farmers Cooperative CEO Tommy Paulk endorsed Sparks in May. Paulk retired after 19 years leading the farmer-owned cooperative and praised Sparks’ experience, leadership and record as agriculture commissioner.
Teddy Gentry, a farmer and founding member of the country music group Alabama, has also endorsed Sparks. Gentry brings one of the state’s most recognizable names to the campaign as well as his longstanding connection to farming and rural Alabama.
VoteVets endorsed Sparks in June. The national organization, which has a network of roughly 1.5 million supporters and works to elect veterans to public office, highlighted Sparks’ military service in the Coast Guard Honor Guard and the leadership experience he carried from that service into government.
Sparks is seeking a third, nonconsecutive term as commissioner of agriculture and industries. He secured the Democratic nomination without a primary contest.
He will face Republican nominee Corey Hill, the mayor of Douglas, in the November 3 general election. Hill won the Republican nomination in a June runoff.
The winner will succeed Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, who cannot seek a third consecutive term and is running for lieutenant governor.
