Both candidates in the Alabama House District 38 race answered Opelika Daily News' questions: Democrat Hazel Floyd and Republican Rep. Kristin Nelson, who took office in February after succeeding Debbie Wood. The district covers parts of Chambers and Lee counties, including Valley and Lanett and parts of Smiths Station and Opelika.
The questions:
- What do you feel are the top three concerns of the citizens of House District 38?
- How will you address them?
Hazel Floyd (D)
Answers received Oct. 7.
1. The biggest concern I have heard from the community is inflation. No one can afford anything right now. People are not traveling because gas is too high, and groceries are becoming more difficult to purchase on small living wages.
- One thing the democrats are fighting for is to push our federal representatives to convince the rest of Congress to end this senseless war with Iran. When the war ends, we can get our diesel prices back to a sustainable rate. Then our truckers can transport our food in higher quantities and at a more affordable rate. At the local level, I can keep checking with food banks and making sure they have enough supplies to help fill the temporary gap. On the state level, we need to increase Alabama’s minimum wage. Alabama can conduct a sustainable economic viability and wage optimization assessment to decide on a livable wage.
2. The public education system remains a heavy topic on many people's minds. The uncertainty of what will happen to the already limited resources allocated to the public schools, the low teacher salaries, and the unchanging cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for our retirees.
- The main solution to this problem is allowing for a lottery. With tight regulations and a large portion of the proceeds going to public education, we can strengthen Alabama’s future. We lose too much Alabama money to GA, MS, TN, and FL. With the Choose Act income caps being removed, it does not serve families in need. Alabama does not currently have the funds to pay for a portion of every child’s private education, with no regulations. Every child deserves access to public education, and I do not want to see more schools close due to lack of funding. School employees deserve more pay. Classrooms deserve more materials. Schools need to have better access to spend their allocated money on their specific needs. As for COLA, there is no current automatic system set in place. Investing more in Alabama’s Teachers’ Retirement System can allow for the adjustments needed.
3. Lastly, AI and data centers are a big concern. What will happen to Alabama’s beautiful biosphere? What will happen to the living standards of a neighborhood with a data center or the utilities? Also, will I lose my job to the new AI technological advancements?
- Currently, I do not think legislators are discussing what the job market will look like with the new AI advancements. We need to be looking at options on how to preserve the job market or at least the incomes of families that are going to be impacted. As a state representative, I can push for regulation to protect areas that are going to be affected by a data center. We can create laws to regulate the noise pollution, make sure the data center foots the increase in power or water bills, and that local officials sign off on the implementation of the data center into their town, and insure there are no under the table deals happening without public input.
Kristin Nelson (R, incumbent)
Answers received Oct. 4.
1. What do you feel are the top three concerns of the citizens of House District 38?
I believe the top three concerns facing the citizens of House District 38 are affordability, access to quality healthcare, and education. These issues directly impact our families, communities, and the future of our state.
2. How will you address them?
Affordability: I will continue working with our federal partners to address the rising costs of fuel, groceries, and other everyday necessities. At the state level, we must do our part by championing meaningful tax relief, even if temporary, to help hardworking Alabamians keep more of their hard-earned money. We must remain mindful of how every policy decision impacts the pocketbooks of the families we represent.
Access to Quality Healthcare: Access to quality healthcare is essential, especially in our rural communities. I will work closely with those involved in Alabama's Rural Health Transformation Program to advocate for funding that strengthens our rural hospitals, supports healthcare providers, and preserves access to essential medical services. Our rural residents should not have to travel unreasonable distances to receive the quality care they deserve.
Education: I believe strong schools begin with empowered teachers and engaged parents. I will continue advocating for policies that put decision-making back into the hands of our teachers and local communities rather than unnecessary bureaucratic agencies. At the same time, I will continue supporting our public schools while championing the CHOOSE Act, which empowers parents to make educational decisions that best meet their children's individual needs. I believe parental choice encourages healthy competition, accountability, and innovation, ultimately strengthening educational opportunities for all Alabama students.
Above all, my commitment is to listen to the people of House District 38, remain accessible, and work toward practical, commonsense solutions that strengthen our communities while protecting our conservative values.
How we did this: On Oct. 1, Opelika Daily News emailed the same two questions to both candidates in each contested state legislative race on Lee County ballots, with a deadline of Wednesday, Oct. 7. We accepted answers through that evening. Answers appear as written; we corrected obvious spelling errors only and did not edit for length, grammar or content. Statements are the candidates’ own. Read more about our process and the full schedule.
