June 15, 2009

EXCLUSIVE

Means to seek another term in state Senate

By Scott Wright

CENTRE — State Sen. Larry Means, D-Attalla, made the rounds in Cherokee County last week to announce his candidacy for reelection to District 10 in 2010.

Means, who represents Etowah County and most of Cherokee County in the 35-member Alabama Senate, said his announcement came earlier than usual because of talk that he might not seek a fourth term.
“The election is in 2010 and normally I would wait a little while longer, but there have been some rumors that I might not run,” he explained. “So my wife and I talked about it, prayed about it, and decided we're going to try one more term.”
Means, 62, said he realizes that some voters might have qualms about sending a long-serving senator back to Montgomery for another four years. But the former city councilman and Attalla mayor feels the current economic situation calls for experienced leadership.

“If the economy doesn't turn around soon it's going to be hard on education and other matters,” he said. “I think it's going to be important to have people in Montgomery who have been there before. That's not always the case, but I think it is during tough times like these.”

Means told The Post he is proud of the accomplishments he's made in his 12 years as a state legislator.
“I feel like I have a good record,” Means said. “We've been able to do a lot for the whole district, Cherokee and Etowah counties.”

Means said he left Montgomery with a better feeling than usual after the most recent legislative session, which ended in mid-May.

“In the 11 years I've been there, I think this time was one of the best bipartisan efforts we've had,” Means said. “It should be like that anyway, but especially during tough times like we're having now. Next year, we'd better have more of that togetherness because we are going to need it. There are going to be a lot of hard decisions to make.”

Means sat down with the editor of The Post on June 8. Earlier that morning, he officially kicked off his reelection campaign at a rally in Gadsden City Hall.

“I sent out an invitation to all the local elected officials and we had a good crowd,” he said. “A lot of people showed up, ready to go to work, so we're excited about the campaign.”
Means said he has tentative plans to hold at least one campaign event in Cherokee County, possibly next month.

“We can raise money now, so we'll be doing some fund raisers,” he said. “A guy called me and wanted to hold one in Cherokee County, and I told him I'd be there. We should have dates and times in the next few weeks and we will announce those.”

Means had high praise for Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, who represents District 39 -- which includes Cherokee County -- in the Alabama House of Representatives.
“Rep. Lindsey been so good with me, helping me meet people up here in Cherokee County,” Means said. “This is a special place for me. The people in this county are like me, down to earth, and they've always been good to me. I'm going to ask them to be good to me again.”