Bread Members in Alabama Ensure that Hunger is Addressed in Upcoming Election for Open Seat in Sixth District

The elections in 2014 (congressional) and 2016 (congressional and presidential) are vitally important to Bread for the World. Bread wants to help end hunger by 2030, and to do that, it needs to help build the political will to make hunger a national priority by 2017. Starting with this year’s elections, Bread hopes it can get a Congress and new president who are behind these goals.   from  "Hunger is an Election Issue"

Posing with Rep. Bachus at Bread Lobby Day 2014

A group of Bread for the World members in Alabama, led by Suzanne Stigler Martin and Kristin Farmer, are making sure that hunger becomes an issue in the congressional election for the open seat in the 6th Congressional District. The Bread advocates met with Democrat Mark Lester on Sept. 18 and Republican Gary Palmer on October 6.  The two candidates are running for the seat that is being vacated by Rep. Spencer Bachus (who has been a strong ally of Bread in the fight against hunger and poverty).

In New Mexico, we know from personal experience that the meetings are useful in ensuring that candidates become familiar Bread for the World  and also start thinking about hunger. We met with five candidates in November 2011 when the seat in the First Congressional District first became vacant, and again in October 2012, when two finalists were running in the general election. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has become an anti-hunger champion through her work in the House Agriculture Committee, won that election.

In their meetings with candidates Lester and Palmer, the Alabama Bread members asked the candidates  two questions.

1. Will you prayerfully and thoughtfully consider U.S. Government programs targeted at reducing poverty and eradicating hunger and poverty?

2. How do you believe that the U.S. Government can best attack issues of hunger and poverty?

Below are the responses for the two candidates.

Mark Lester

Post by Bread for the World Alabama.

Gary Palmer

Post by Bread for the World Alabama.