Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Rick Pate

Party: Republican

Residence: Lowndesboro

Political experience: Mayor, Lowndesboro, 1997-present; vice chair, Lowndes County Republican Party; member, Alabama Republican Executive Committee.

Professional experience:  Agri-businessman and owner, Pate Landscape, a company with 25 employees; owner, Pate Charolais, a working cattle farm and breeding operation; member of Associated General Contractors, the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association, Business Council of Alabama.

Civic experience: Member, Rotary International; member, the Alabama Wildlife Federation; member, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce; member, United Way of River Region.

Education: Auburn University, bachelor’s in agriculture, 1978.

Main issues: Pate wants to foster a better business environment for the state’s largest employer, agriculture and forestry.

“As an agri-businessman, business owner and cattleman, (I) understand that the solutions for the future of Alabama come from the people, not Montgomery and certainly not from Washington, D.C.,” Pate said on his campaign website.

Pate said he wants to remove regulatory barriers and reduce taxes to increase investment in agriculture and industries in the state. He outlined his vision for the office.

“It is estimated that by 2050, we will have to double food production to meet the needs of the world – it will take visionary leaders who understand that we have to work smarter, not just harder, to achieve those goals.”

Top Contributors: Farm PAC, $97,621; Poarch Creek Indians, $27,500; Alabama Forestry PAC, $20,000; Progress PAC, $20,000; Alabama Power Co Employees State PAC, $15,000; Speed PAC, $15,000; WK Upchurch Construction, $10,000; AGC PAC, $10,000, AGA SAC PAC, $10,000; AG PAC, $9,200.

Campaign: Facebook: Rick Pate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries