Newly elected Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Sen. Bobby Singleton brought his push to rebuild and broaden the state party to North Alabama on Wednesday, telling a Decatur crowd he plans to spend his first months on the job listening to voters across all 67 counties.
Singleton, who took over as party chairman earlier this month, joined 5th Congressional District Democratic nominee Andrew Sneed for his “Hear Every Voice” town hall at the Turner-Surles Community Resource Center.
About 75 to 80 people attended the event, which was moderated by former Republican state Rep. Mike Ball. Describing himself as an Independent now. Ball also provided some pre-town hall entertainment, playing music for the crowd before the program began.
The appearance gave Singleton an opportunity to outline his vision for the Alabama Democratic Party less than three weeks into his new role.
“I said that I want to bring some new energy to this party,” Singleton said. “I want this party to be a big tent, to be inclusive, to allow everybody to be expressive. I wanted to be out there where we can listen to people.”
Singleton, a longtime state senator from Greensboro, said his experience serving in the Legislature’s Democratic superminority helped drive his decision to seek the chairmanship.
He said Democratic lawmakers have often been engaged in legislative battles without a strong enough party organization behind them to communicate their message statewide.
“I would sit in that room or on that floor and think, what if I just had a party to support me in my issues?” Singleton said. “We would be in the middle of the battle and we would be in the middle of fights.”
Singleton said changing that dynamic will require strengthening the party from the local level up.
“We’re going to build a party that’s going to be from the ground up,” he said.
That includes a goal of visiting all 67 Alabama counties during his first 90 days as chairman. Singleton told the Decatur audience he intends to return to Morgan County specifically to meet with local Democrats and hear directly about the issues affecting the community.
“I don’t want to be the one who’s up here with the mic just projecting to you,” Singleton said. “I will be back up here and I will sit down with you in your community and talk to you, and let’s talk about issues that you have and how we’re able to build together, how we’re able to have solutions together and how we’re able to grow together.”
Singleton also emphasized that his “big tent” approach includes people who do not agree on every issue.
“We may disagree on things, but disagreement doesn’t have to mean that we have to be against each other,” he said. “We are a Democratic Party and we’re going to listen to people and we’re going to be what Alabama is about.”
Singleton pointed to his friendship with Ball as an example. The two served together in the Alabama Legislature on opposite sides of the aisle and, Singleton recalled, also shared a considerably less partisan pastime in the Legislature’s house band.
“Even though people would think that we couldn’t get along on the floor, after hours, you know, we were still human beings,” Singleton said.
Singleton also used his appearance to make clear that his plans for the party include competing aggressively in races across Alabama, including Sneed’s challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Dale Strong in the 5th Congressional District.
“You have a chairman who will stand up and fight for you,” Singleton said. “I am a party person who believes in winning, and I want everybody to understand that I get up every day to win.”
Sneed continues town hall series
Following Singleton’s remarks, Sneed took questions from attendees on issues including Social Security, health care, mental health and gun policy.
Sneed said the town hall series is intended to give voters an opportunity to raise their own concerns and tied that approach to Singleton’s emphasis on listening.
“That’s what Senator Singleton said. That’s what’s missing right now,” Sneed said. “It’s fundamentally why I’m running for Congress because I feel like a lot of people don’t feel heard.”
Strong was invited to participate in Wednesday’s event but declined, according to Sneed’s campaign.
Sneed said he wanted the event to focus less on traditional campaign speeches and more on questions from those attending.
“While this started out like a rally, it’s not a rally,” Sneed said. “It’s about listening. And we’re going to do that. And I’m going to answer your questions because that’s what democracy is supposed to be.”
He also echoed Singleton’s call for political engagement that reaches beyond party labels.
“We’re in this together whether we’re politically aligned or not,” Sneed said. “The way forward is going to be together, to move past labels, to decide what’s best for the state, what’s best for this district.”
Sneed’s “Hear Every Voice” series began Aug. 17 in Scottsboro. Additional town halls are scheduled for Sept. 9 in Athens and Oct. 6 in Huntsville.
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