Dr. Robert Bentley, Republican candidate for Governor, today announced plans for the establishment of a new office aimed at better communication between the Governor's office and local governments. If elected, Bentley said he would create The Office of Local Governmental Affairs which would serve as a liaison between municipalities and the state government. "This is one of the ways, as Governor, I plan to make government more efficient," said Bentley.  "The goal of this office is to open up the lines of communication between the Governor's office and our county and city governments." 

Bentley said the new office would allow municipalities to have direct access to the Executive office. The liaison would be charged with addressing issues such as unfunded mandates for counties and cities. "Many times, locals are ordered to follow mandates handed down from the state government with no way to pay for them. The burden of funding then lies with the local government," Bentley said.

"The counties and cities should have input when these policies are put in place. They should have a say in policy development as it affects their areas. If elected, I plan to accomplish that with The Office of Local Governmental Affairs."

(August 23, 2010) - Dr. Robert Bentley, Republican candidate for Governor today released the first of a series of television ads detailing his plan for creating jobs and lowering Alabama's unemployment rate. The first of a series of television commercials begin airing Monday across the state. "Even with last week's new unemployment figure of 9.7 percent, we still have a lot of people without a job in Alabama, about 206,000 to be exact". Bentley said. "I'm sharing my plan to put Alabamians back to work."

In the commercial, "It's About Time" Bentley outlines his detailed jobs plan, which includes cutting red tape for small businesses, enforcing illegal immigration laws and keeping Alabama a right-to-work state. The commercials also emphasize the Alabama Reemployment Act of 2010 which Bentley authored. That act allows businesses to take up to a 50 percent tax deduction off the salary of anyone hired off the unemployment rolls.

Dr. Robert Bentley, Republican candidate for Governor, leads his opponent by 24 percentage points in a poll released today. The Rasmussen Reports' poll of likely voters in the state shows Bentley with 58 percent support to his opponents' 34 percent.

Bentley said he is encouraged by the poll, but is still focused on meeting Alabamians and sharing his plan to create jobs in the state. "The only poll that really matters is the one on November 2. I believe the voters are responding to our detailed plan to put Alabamians back to work, and our message that we will put a stop to the intrusion of the federal government in our lives, especially in the area of health care." Bentley said.

According to the Rasmussen poll 5 percent of the likely voters were still undecided.