Republican and Democrat rivals for one of Alabama’s top offices are open to debate

State Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, called for a debate with his Republican opponent, former state GOP Chairman John Wahl.“I have put it out there and putting it out here now,” Ensler said at a press conference Wednesday at the State House. “So loud and clear, I would love to have a debate. The people deserve to see us side-by-side. They deserve to hear our visions for Alabama. They deserve to hear our track records and what we want to do for the people. So I certainly welcome a debate with John Wahl.”Wahl said later on Wednesday that he agreed.“I enjoy debates,” Wahl said. “I think it’s important for the public to be able to hear from candidates on all sides. “I’ve always been a big supporter of the debate process. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or independent. We should all have the same goals, which is helping the people of Alabama have a better life. And if that’s our goal, then the only conversation is a debate on - how do we get there?”Wahl said he and Ensler have not talked about a debate.“Look, if you’ve got two candidates who want to debate, we’ll find a way to make it happen,” Wahl said. “So get ready. Fasten your seatbelts.”Wahl and Ensler will square off in the Nov. 3 general election. The two candidates are aligned with the candidates for governor in their parties - U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.Ensler is an attorney who was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2022.He is executive director of the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama.Ensler outlined his platform at a news conference at the State House on Wednesday, spelling out his priorities on affordability, healthcare, public education, public safety, data centers, and corruption.Ensler noted his track record of working with Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature. He helped pass a bill to ban Glock switches, devices that turn semi-automatic guns into automatic weapons, and a bill requiring standards for dogs tethered or confined outdoors.“My reputation and my track record speak for itself,” Ensler said. “I’ve been able to get things done when others said they couldn’t. “But these are serious times that require serious leaders who want to solve problems rather than divide and distract.”Ensler said he would support a state lottery, a perennial issue in the Legislature but one that voters have not had a chance to decide on since 1999.“Every day we wait, we know people are crossing state lines and spending their taxpayer dollars elsewhere,” Ensler said. “We could use the revenue right here in Alabama to send rebate checks directly to hard working Alabamians who are having a hard time paying for groceries, paying for gas and so many other needs right now.” Ensler said he would work to eliminate the sales tax on groceries and the income tax on overtime pay.He said he would support establishing a state minimum wage in Alabama. Currently, only the federal minimum wage of $7.25 applies in Alabama.He said he supported Medicaid expansion, a longtime Democratic priority that Alabama’s Republican governors and legislators have opposed.Ensler said he opposes the CHOOSE Act, which gives parents up to $7,000 a year in taxpayer money per child to help pay for private school, saying it drains funds and resources from public schools.“If people want to send their kids to private school, that is their right,” Ensler said. “But it shouldn’t be in the government’s job to pay for it.” Ensler supports moratorium on data centers, which Jones has called for.“Communities across the state are watching these massive hyperscale data centers try to come in town in the dark of night and under the cover of nondisclosure agreements,” Ensler said. “They’re asking questions but they’re not getting answers from their public officials. This has to stop until there is transparency.”He said the moratorium would allow the state to put rules in place to make sure communities are protected and developers cover costs.“Facilities should be closed loop and the jobs created should be union jobs and communities should get an actual seat at the table,” Ensler said.“This isn’t about stopping development, it’s about trust.”Under the category of public safety, Ensler said he would support reinstatement of the requirement of a permit to carry a handgun concealed or in a vehicle. He said he supported more benefits for law enforcement, including signing bonuses, loan forgiveness, and housing assistance. “We also need to keep funding conflict resolution programs that teach our young people to solve problems with words instead of guns or fists,” Ensler said.