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Political Rally in Nauvoo
The event was a great success. Many local candidates outlined their platforms for their respective campaigns.
Nick addressed the audience with a heart-felt and down home message of the importance of restoring a common sense approach to government in Washington.
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Times-Journal Article
Sparks announces campaign for Congress
By Jared Felkins
The Times-Journal
Published April 30, 2008
Jasper attorney Nick Sparks officially launched his campaign for the U.S. House Fourth District seat this week in Rainsville, which forces a Democratic primary race to see who will face Congressman Robert Aderholt in November.
Sparks, who qualified in early April, chose to wait until this week to launch his campaign. The Walker County native will face Greg Warren, of Nauvoo, in the June 3 Democratic primary.
Sparks said he is pushing for an economic change in Washington.
“I believe right now, we have good things going on in this district,” Sparks said. “But the biggest issue we are facing is the declining value of our dollar. I would like to see a balanced budget and to curb deficit spending. Putting a fair sense of government back is of utmost importance.”
Sparks also said he wants to see the Central American Free Trade Agreement reformed.
“I would find a way to right that wrong,” Sparks said. “This mess wasn’t made in a day and it will take more than a day to correct it. If there were a majority that wanted CAFTA reform, I would jump on board. We need to find a way to replace these jobs lost by CAFTA and strengthen our middle class.”
In doing so, Sparks said he plans to help local governments work to attract industries to replace those possibly lost through CAFTA.
“We can work with local industrial development boards and talk to them at length about what they need,” Sparks said. “We need to make sure infrastructure is there. On the local level, those people are the ones who are fighting to get companies there. Government doesn’t need to leave these people out to dry.”
Sparks said, if elected, he plans to work to bring money to the Fourth District through discretionary spending.
“I believe we can set the pace,” Sparks said. “Tom Bevill brought the pork home. There are so many good things that bear his name and so many others that don’t. I plan to prioritize the things the Fourth District needs and have an open line to our constituents about what we need.”
Sparks said he also supports ending the war in Iraq.
“While we support the spread of democracy and while we are happy an evil dictator has been removed, we have been in Iraq for five years,” Sparks said. These troops we have lost have died in the most honorable way they could, but we have got to quit exploiting our troops. It’s time to bring them home.” |
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Birmingham News Article on Primary Race
Monday, May 19, 2008
MARY ORNDORFF
News Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON - There is a youthful vibe to the Democratic primary in the 4th Congressional District race.
The two fresh political faces who want a chance to take on Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt have coal mining in their family roots and aspirations for public service.
Greg Warren, a 35-year-old radiology and CAT scan technologist from Nauvoo, initially worked two jobs and sold doughnuts to help finance his first run for office.
Nick Sparks, 28, hung out his own shingle in Jasper as a lawyer before getting lured into politics by the ailing economy and shrinking job market.
Now they are both criss-crossing the large, rural district below Huntsville and above Birmingham where labor and manufacturing are still prominent, trying to revive the Democratic traditions that held the area before Aderholt was elected, at age 31, in 1996.
\"So many people have been disenfranchised by the Republican brand of politics,\" said Sparks, a last-minute entry into the primary.
Although the district was firmly in Democratic hands for 30 years under former Rep. Tom Bevill, Aderholt has not been threatened and was re-elected in 2006 with 70 percent of the vote. Yet the unpopular war and the fever pitch of the Democratic presidential primary gives these Alabama Democrats hope.
\"Now is the time for the change,\" said Warren, who has been on the campaign trail for more than a year. \"There is going to be a window there this time.\"
The winner of the June 3 primary will challenge Aderholt in the general election in November.
So far, the two Democratic candidates have focused their campaign on Aderholt, not each other.
Warren was 19 and in the Navy in Albany, Ga., when he went to hear former President Jimmy Carter speak, and a political seed was planted. He is targeting two of Aderholt\'s recent votes: for the Central American Free Trade Agreement and against a $35 billion, five-year expansion of a children\'s health insurance program.
\"He\'s made a lot of decisions that are in opposition to this district,\" Warren said. \"He\'s being viewed more as an outsider.\"
Aderholt was persuaded to vote for CAFTA by Bush administration officials who promised a side deal to protect domestic sock makers, many of them in DeKalb County. The side deal, however, was late and the tariff that eventually was placed on Honduran socks was less than what the industry had hoped for.
\"I agree wit |
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