TALLADEGA, Ala. – Four State Senators and Representatives whose districts include Talladega County, gathered at the Ritz Theater in Talladega this past week for a Town Hall focused on the recently completed legislative session. Representative Barbara Boyd was invited, but did not respond.
The event was co-sponsored by the three Chambers of Commerce in Talladega County. Each speaker was allowed a brief period to discuss their “take” on the legislative session. This is the final in the series of stories focusing on each individually.
State Representative Steve Hurst:
Representative Steve Hurst is the longest serving of the local delegation and focused on relationships and conversations, “I’ve found that my impact in Montgomery is at its best bringing a local point of view to the table.”
Hurst says that he tries to focus on specific needs and providing help to constituents and communities, “Take care of home folks – what they need, what they want, their concerns, how they feel about issues we are facing. I’ve found a lot of good ideas that help legislation we pass that way.”
Hurst said he feels that everyday interactions with citizens, city and county officials are vital to the job, “I can’t take your thoughts, concerns and ideas without conversations. I try to personally support those things that are important to my home communities and citizens. I probably give away more than I make, because it matters.”
Being the final speaker during the “Question & Answer” portion of the event, Hurst did not have the opportunity to speak on the specific questions that came from the audience, “Yeah, time ran out on me on that,” Hurst said after the event, “but I was listening, just like I do every day. Our delegation does a great job of bringing issues out and proposing legislation.”
Hurst said he sees his role a bit differently, “I can’t tell you how many time, when I’ve seen legislation I think I can help, I’ve gone to bill sponsors with ideas to amend or improve them. Sometimes it’s to make the bill better in some way. Sometimes it’s to address what Ben talked about, helping find a consensus to get something important passed. I generally don’t care for credit or recognition, don’t care about getting my name on a bill; I’d rather just help good bills when and how I can.”
Hurst added that he’s proud of our local delegation, “We work well together to make things happen that are good for Talladega County, our region, and our state. Different personalities, different roles, with the same difference-making goal to represent the folks who elected us.”
