Barry Moore, where are you?

What has happened to Barry Moore?

Most people around here remember in 2010 when small businessman Barry Moore, owner of BMI, challenged Terry Spicer to represent us in the state legislature from District 91. I remember his wife and children standing on my front porch asking for my support, and I gave it.

Character was a large part of that campaign, and the majority of us voted Mr. Moore into office. This choice of the people was later vindicated by the legal demise of Mr. Spicer from public life.

Then again in 2014 we re-elected Barry Moore, despite the Josh Pipkin controversy. In that contest, character and honesty once again was front and center in the election and in their legal dispute.

The people, myself included, judged Mr. Moore (by 52 percent to 42 percent) to be more honest and trustworthy. And once again, this choice was vindicated by Mr. Pipkin’s legal problems and ultimate exit from the local political scene.

But that brings us to 2015 and my inquiry in April on the status of Common Core in Alabama. Mr. Moore assured me that he was co-sponsoring a bill to repeal it. And then…….nothing. He did not respond to my follow-up requests on this issue in May and again in June. In July I sent him a more strongly worded request, and even offered to meet him at a place of his convenience (even his driveway or the floor of the legislature) if that worked better, to have a conversation with him on this bill to repeal Common Core. And I sent one more request on Aug. 2 asking him to respond within the week. Well, here we are on Aug. 10 and still silence from Mr. Moore.

So the question is, “What has happened to Barry Moore, Man of the People?” Was he restricted by party leaders on this subject; made to toe the line; and accede to the position of the AEA? But that makes no sense because it goes against the espoused principles of the conservative majority we elected in 2010.

Is he distracted by the long budget process or possibly personal problems we are not aware of? Unfortunately, I don’t know the answers to these questions because Barry Moore has stopped communicating with me. And, given this track record, I have to assume that he isn’t communicating well with other informed voters in District 91.

So how about it folks, is he talking to any of you on this, or any other legislative subject? I know he has my address and phone number, and the invitation still stands to meet him anytime, anyplace. Hell, I will even buy the coffee.

The next move is yours Mr. Moore.

William A. Church

Enterprise