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CENTRE — “I'm a Democrat and I'm a Christian,” Sen. Larry Means proudly said during an exclusive interview last week. Means spoke with The Post one day before remarks by another Democratic candidate for statewide office became public. A few days earlier, attorney general candidate James Anderson had publicly taken offense to political opponents' insinuations that Democrats are not people of faith.

Means hinted that his own opponent's recent claim that “conservative values” are not being represented in Montgomery echoes that strategy.

“I don't think you should define someone as a Democrat or a Republican by whether or not they are Christian,” Means said, “although that's what [Republicans] will say a lot of the time – that you can't be a Democrat and be a Christian.”

Means said his conscience is clear on the issue.

“I have conservative values, and I've always been known to be someone who can bring both sides together – Democrats and Republicans.”

Means, who has been the state senator from Dist. 10 since 1998, said his experience and ability to reach across the aisle will be the two skills that matter most when the Legislature reconvenes in early 2011.

“I say this campaign is about jobs right now – creating new jobs and keeping the ones we have,” Means said. “I've run a couple of polls and that's what people are concerned about – jobs, jobs, jobs.”

Speaking of employment for the people of Dist. 10, Means humbly said he often gets more than his share of the credit for the work that helped Goodyear stay in Gadsden in the wake of an extended contract renegotiation in 2009.

“There were a lot of folks on both sides of the aisle, along with the union and the company,” Means said. “Goodyear was gone,” he said, until all sides came together to work out an agreement.

Displaying his familiar bipartisanship, Means said he's in favor of working to expand a law to give tax credits to businesses that hire new workers – a bill originally presented in the House by current Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert Bentley.

“His bill created over 5,000 jobs, and I was one of the main sponsors in the Senate,” Means said. “We were able to pass that in a bipartisan fashion, and it helped. That's what we need: people who, when things get tough, will forget about party and power, and worry about the people.”

Means said voters in Cherokee County can see his commitment to helping bring more jobs to the area every time they drive between Centre and Cedar Bluff.

“The new Gadsden State campus in Centre is a big plus, because we've got to educate our kids so they can go out and get the jobs they want,” he said. “Education and jobs go hand-in-hand.”

Regarding the current combativeness between the two parties, Means said he often relies on religious ideals to make the important decisions that affect his constituents.

“I vote my conscience,” he said. “I try to do what's right for the people in my district, regardless of whether they are a Democrat or a Republican.”

Means said if Nov. 2 goes as he hopes, his biggest issue when the Legislature reconvenes in February will be how to deal with the worst budget crisis in a generation – something he said will take cooperation, not divisiveness, to work through.

“Funding for education and all state agencies is going to mean some tough decisions,” Means said. “I think my experience down there, and my ability to reach across the aisle, will make a difference.”

Means said when the time comes to juggle billions of dollars in state funding, party won't matter in Montgomery.

“It's going to be tough,” he said. “And I guarantee you, when it comes to these budgets it won't matter who is a Democrat or a Republican, or what – we'll all be working to try and hold this state together.”

Asked about the governor's race between Bentley and Democrat Ron Sparks, Means once again showed his proclivity for staying above the partisan fray.

“They are both really good friends of mine,” Means said. “And they are both great candidates for governor. They just have different views on how to go about doing things.”