July 13, 2009

Peloquin to challenge Means for Senate seat

By Scott Wright

A Southside resident with a history of concern for others has decided to add his name to the 2010 ballot for Dist. 10 state senator on the Republican side.

Paul Peloquin (PEL-o-kwin), 50, has spent the past few years organizing groups to combat addictive behavior, including alcohol, drugs and gambling. In 2007, he founded the Alabama Council on Pathological Gambling.

“For the last two years I have been in Montgomery lobbying to bring awareness, treatment and prevention to the entire state of Alabama,” Peloquin said.

Last month, Peloquin sat down with The Post shortly after announcing plans to run against two-term Sen. Larry Means, D-Attalla.

“I'm not a career politician and that's why I believe we need fresh leadership in Montgomery – someone who's going to represent all of the people and the voices of the people,” he said.

Peloquin said some who work in state government attempt deny the existence of gambling in Alabama. He said the small percentage of the population that is susceptible to becoming addicted suffers as a result.

“We do have gambling and there are statistics that show that we have issues with gambling in the state,” he said. “But we do not have any education, treatment or prevention that is going to help those in need.”

Peloquin said his past experiences in Montgomery – looking in on the political process from the outside – will benefit him if he is elected to the Alabama Senate.

“I work with the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency and the National Intervention Network and I have also gotten Gov. Bob Riley to put into play a Compulsive Gambling Awareness Week and a National Intervention Awareness Week,” he said. “I have also received support as an organization from the entire House and Senate in the form of a resolution.”

Peloquin said he made his decision to run because he's concerned that the wishes of the people sometimes get lost in Montgomery's partisan political battles.

“The bipartisanship (of the 2009 session) hasn't always taken place; I was there for the past two years and saw some, but I saw a lot of filibustering,” he said. “A lot of work did not get done. Comments have been made, that I have heard, that there was a two-for-one trade on bills – two Democratic bills for every one Republican bill. To me that's not bipartisanship.”

Asked for his response to a recent comment by Sen. Means that current economic conditions necessitate experienced leadership, Peloquin stood his ground.

“Experience is fine, but in these tough economic times I believe that what we truly need is to hold forums where the people have an opportunity to say what they need,” he said. “We need fresh leadership, someone who is going to listen to what the people have to say.”

Peloquin also took issue with the lack of time that he perceives many state legislators spend on the job.

“Someone who has a burning desire to commit himself to help the people during the entire year and get the information that's necessary on these legislative issues when a session is in place is the most important thing,” he said. “For the amount of money that is being paid to our politicians, it's not a part-time job. That's where my beliefs stand.”

Peloquin said he plans to hold a rally in Cherokee County in the coming months. He said details will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

“It will be in a forum format, a town hall-type thing, where we're able to give the information that I'm looking for so I can make informed decisions based on what the people want and where they want to go,” he said.

For more information about Peloquin, visit www.peloquinforstatesenator.com.