I am excited to be a candidate for the Alabama State Senate, District 13.  The people I’ve met over the past few months have further confirmed my belief that this a great region in a truly great state.

I am committed to the causes dear to many of you: protection of the unborn, preservation of traditional marriage, the safeguarding of religious liberty, and conservation of the Second Amendment. Many of my convictions also concern public justice, solidarity, and stewardship.

Because I propose a new vision for Alabama which emanates from our common convictions, I hope to bridge party lines as a conservative Democrat who’s more focused on bettering our district and our state  than in getting bogged down in the petty bickering that has become a staple of our state politics.

We must recognize that neither major political party has a monopoly on “righteousness” and neither party exclusively represents Christians. Faithful Christians can and do work within each party.

We must be committed to principles rather than party or faction. Imagine the potential if both parties needed to compete for your vote, rather than take it for granted. Since neither party is perfect, we must not be conformed to the agendas of either but, rather, should pursue a policy of vigorous engagement toward both and within each seeking to transform them toward institutions of justice and public service.

I believe the Alabama Democratic Party in 2010 offers the best opportunity for me to not only to be pro-life, but also the freedom to pursue a family-centered vision of the common good and fulfill Thomas Jefferson’s desire to break the unhealthy concentration of power: both political and economic.

I ask you to consider the issues on which I stand and I ask for your vote on November 2nd.

Greg Varner