State Rep. Phillip Ensler says his record of working across the aisle and focus on pocketbook issues can help him reach Alabama voters who might not typically consider a Democrat in a statewide race.

Ensler, a Montgomery Democrat and candidate for lieutenant governor, pointed to his legislative work on taxes, mental health and public safety as he makes his case to voters ahead of the November election.

“The case is that I’ve been in the Legislature, I’ve gotten things done,” Ensler told 256 Today. “I have sponsored legislation to cut people’s taxes. I have my efforts to expand access to mental health services, so I know what it takes to get things done.”

Ensler said affordability is at the center of his campaign, including eliminating the remaining state sales tax on groceries, cutting income taxes for working- and middle-class Alabamians and restoring an exemption on overtime pay.

“The biggest thing is putting more money in people’s pockets, and there are a lot of ways we can do that,” he said.

His other priorities include expanding access to health care and mental health services, investing in public safety and increasing support for public education.

Ensler said Medicaid expansion could provide additional support to hospitals, particularly those serving rural communities. On education, he called for teacher pay raises, expanded access to literacy coaches and additional college and career counseling.

Data centers and Flock cameras

Ensler has also called for a moratorium on new data centers until Alabama establishes additional protections addressing their effects on surrounding communities.

“I’m all for technology and data centers are something that we need to have, but put more guardrails in place to make sure that it’s not hurting people’s electrical rates, their water and noise pollution,” he said.

Ensler said he has heard concerns in rural communities about noise, wildlife and other potential effects of large data center developments.

“People who live in rural areas, they have chosen to live there for a reason, and they don’t necessarily want the noise pollution,” he said. “They don’t want it hurting the wildlife there.”

He also raised concerns about nondisclosure agreements involving local officials during the recruitment of data center projects.

“I’m not opposed to having them entirely, but at least having more parameters in place,” Ensler said. “The fact that local officials are signing non-disclosure agreements where they’re then keeping things secret, I mean, that’s crazy. If you want to be an elected official, you have to respond. You have to give information to your constituents.”

Ensler said he favors a similar guardrail approach to Flock license plate reader cameras.

While he cited concerns about misuse of the technology and the handling of data by private companies, Ensler said license plate readers have also proven useful to law enforcement in cases involving kidnappings and other serious crimes.

“It is a helpful tool for law enforcement,” Ensler said. “So similar to data centers, we should have guardrails in place. The Legislature should pass legislation that regulates them more, but doesn’t completely ban them.”

“The biggest thing for me is that hearing from law enforcement who have or are using it in the right ways, I wouldn’t want to take the tool completely away from them,” he added. “But people do have very real legitimate concerns, and we have to do better than what it is right now.”

Working across the aisle

Ensler is facing Republican John Wahl in the lieutenant governor’s race. While the two agree on eliminating the remaining state grocery tax, Ensler pointed to his experience as a public school teacher, attorney and state legislator and said he feels Wahl lacks the experience needed for the office.

“I’ve worked on legislation for years, have been in the Legislature where I’ve gotten things done for people,” Ensler said.

“You know, I love butterflies. They’re beautiful creatures,” he said. “But being a butterfly farmer is not necessarily relevant experience to get things done in the Legislature,” Ensler said, referring to Wahl’s background as a professional butterfly farmer in western Limestone County.  

With Republicans holding large majorities in the Alabama Legislature, Ensler said relationships he has developed across party lines would be central to advancing his priorities as lieutenant governor.

He pointed to his work with Republican lawmakers on Bo’s Law, dealing with animal cruelty, and legislation banning Glock switches.

“I have the relationships on the Republican side and definitely with Minority Leader Bobby Singleton and rank and file,” Ensler said. “I would go in, not even on day one in January, but November 4th, be ready to hit the ground running because I have those relationships on both sides of the aisle.”

Ensler also said he believes increased Democratic engagement in Alabama this year will carry into the general election. He said his campaign is traveling to all 67 counties and trying to reach voters across party lines.

“I get everywhere I go, I hear from Republicans who say, ‘I voted for Donald Trump. I had to vote Republican, but I am going to cross over and vote for you,’” Ensler said.

He said data centers and utility costs are among the issues he hears about from those voters.

“People are hurting. They’re having a hard time,” Ensler said. “They’re tired of things that aren’t working in their favor.”

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