Montgomery, AL, Feb 4, 2010 –  Kathy Johnson, former director of Governor Riley’s statewide Alabama Broadband Initiative and the wife of GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Johnson, released the following comments related to the latest breaking news on gaming in Alabama.

 

“As Alabama's former statewide broadband director, I saw first-hand how rapidly technology is advancing in the world around us,” Johnson said. “Our children are taught by teachers located in other schools through web-based distance learning. Physicians diagnose ailments of their patients who are physically located hundreds of miles away--all through a monitor and a high-speed Internet connection. Communities without broadband can't attract businesses, and families are moving because they understand advanced technology is not an option--it's a necessity for the way we live today.

“Whether we like it, or not, the world we live in has changed. Those without technology are being left behind. In addition to its impact on economic development, education, healthcare, public safety and so much more, technology has changed the way we communicate and even how we are entertained.

“Our cable provider’s digital recorder just paused and saved a press conference on electronic bingo in Alabama. As controversial as it is, technology has even changed the way people play games. The same technology that has advanced the way we teach our children through fancy web-based bells and whistles has changed dominoes, solitaire and bingo. Only those in counties being left technologically and economically behind are still daubing B-12 on paper cards.

“Bill and I don't gamble, but I'm thankful that we live in a country in which our freedoms are second to none.  One of those most priceless freedoms, freedoms that came at the expensive price of precious blood shed by our troops, is the right for our voices to be heard through a simple process called voting. There was a time, not all that long ago, that my voice was silenced simply because it was in God's divine design for me to be born a woman. Thank God for America and the right for each of us, no matter our race, gender or socio-economic status to be able to walk into a voting precinct and check a box on a ballot.

“I urge all interested parties to come together with one voice and allow the Alabama Legislature to consider a bill that will allow your voice and mine to be heard. Yes, technology has changed, and thankfully so. In addition to watching the recorded press conference, I watched the recorded news and saw the concerned individuals who may be losing their jobs. I'm thankful that the thousands of people who had their livelihood put on hold today can rapidly apply for unemployment benefits--all over the Internet--all through the use of advanced technology with bells and whistles. 

“While technology has changed, democracy has not. Let the People Vote.”

 

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Bill Johnson, former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is a Republican Candidate for Alabama Governor in 2010. Johnson has been a member of Governor Riley’s cabinet since 2005 and led Riley’s grassroots efforts for his successful races for Congress in 1998 and Governor in both 2002 and 2006. He was the Governor’s representative on the Appalachian Regional Authority (a 13-state coalition) and the Delta Regional Authority (an 8-state regional effort). Johnson has worked with state and local-level economic and workforce development efforts; was instrumental in launching the Black Belt Action Commission, of which he was director during the program’s initial two-years; was active in launching the Rural Action Commission; and was the impetus for development of the Community Prison Re-entry (CPR) Network. Johnson, the son of a career military and civil servant, is a native of Birmingham. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Prattville and are the parents of three children.