Senator Shelby Speaks at Rotary Club

[gtxvideo vid=”BT9YyOhw” playlist=”” pid=”2gxTqEDg” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/BT9YyOhw-120.jpg?cachebust=1456845739457″ vtitle=”rotary club shelby”]

Senator Richard Shelby was the guest speaker at the Montgomery Rotary Club’s Monday meeting. The Senator answered tough questions, including his stance on foreign policy,  immigration and who he hopes will fill the seat of the late Justice Scalia. His main objective was to encourage people to get out and vote in Tuesday’s primary elections.

“The Republican Primary has been THE primary in recent years in Alabama,” Shelby said. “It’s not the election, but some people think it’s the first step for an election or tantamount to the election.”

Shelby has been in the Senate for 30 years and is hoping to stay in the seat another six. He has four opponents on the ticket this election year, the toughest being former marine and business owner Jonathan McConnell.

Rotary Club President Clare Weil said her club has had some important speakers in the past month, and Shelby is one of them.

“He is always for the state of Alabama in everything,” Weil said. “And he looks out, I think he does look out for the interests of the Alabama farmers and rural areas, which needs to be looked after.”

At 81, Shelby’s opponents argue his age could be a detriment to the state. Shelby said, however, his experience is an asset to Alabama.

“Been there a while, and that’s enabled me to have options new people wouldn’t have. To do some good things for the nation. This nation’s at a crossroads, experience counts. Resolve counts. And I think that I’ve got a lot to do and I believe I can do it,” he said.

Unlike fellow Senator Jeff Sessions, Shelby has yet to endorse any one candidate in the presidential race. He said any Republican running has his support.