Dear Editor,

Mayor Walt Maddox of Tuscaloosa is a shining star. Even in the face of utter destruction and devastation in the city and throughout this state he has given us hope for a brighter day in Alabama.

Alabama has suffered many years due to the lack of leadership on the state and national level.

We have had too many politicians in office and too few statesmen and ambassadors.

More than 30 years ago, three men appeared on the political stage in Alabama very capable to provide the leadership we needed. They were Governor Albert Brewer, State Senator Butch Ellis of Columbiana and State Senator Lister Hill Proctor of Sylacauga. Soon as they appeared, they too soon disappeared. It was my dream that they would lead us to a new day in Alabama. But they all refused to be politicians. So they left the political stage on a large scale and went another direction.

I believe State Senator Cam Ward is from the same mold of Walt Maddox and the above men, but he has allowed politics in Montgomery to seemingly remove him from the statesmen arena. My hope is that he soon discovers that Alabama, as a whole, needs him more than the political parts.

The previous administration over the past eight years totally divided this state over politics and vindictiveness. The present administration, lead by Governor Bentley, is continuing to divide Alabama due to their unsound legislative decisions in public education. Someone must take the lead and begin mending this state.

I am calling on Mayor Maddox to turn to Governor Bentley, U.S. Representative Terri Sewell and State Senator Cam Ward to form an alliance, void of politics, and begin to move this state in a new direction.

It’s late, but it’s not too late. Shining stars appear every 20 to 30 years. Mayor Walt Maddox is one.

Bobby Lee Harris

Alabaster