Gubernatorial hopeful Doug Jones tells Huntsville crowd he’s ready to address high housing costs

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones brought his campaign to the Rocket City on Wednesday night, hosting a town hall at Campus 805. Addressing a crowd of several hundred residents, Jones focused heavily on the economic pressures facing North Alabama, specifically pledging to secure the infrastructure needed to support Huntsville’s rapid growth.

A Partner for Huntsville

Jones emphasized the necessity of state-level cooperation to handle the region's expansion, pointing to past milestones like the arrival of Mazda Toyota and the future impact of Space Command. Reflecting on his discussions with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and the chamber of commerce, Jones stated, "What they need in Montgomery is a partner, and I will be their partner."

Addressing Housing and Healthcare

With his own son having moved to the area recently, Jones acknowledged the surge in construction but noted that rising costs are becoming a significant hurdle. He proposed utilizing the recently passed federal housing assistance bill—a piece of legislation he noted was backed by bipartisan support despite opposition from his opponent, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville.

Healthcare also remained a top priority during the Q&A session. Jones reaffirmed his commitment to expanding Medicaid, arguing that state officials have allowed political motives to block progress while rural hospitals struggle. Additionally, he expressed support for repealing certificate of need laws to encourage more birthing and outpatient centers, telling attendees, "We need to make sure we have hospitals open around the state."

Education and Policy Debates

Jones took aim at the current state administration’s financial management, characterizing the spending of Covid-19 aid as reckless. He further outlined his plan for the CHOOSE Act school voucher program, suggesting a phase-out strategy that would allow current participants to remain while closing the program to new applicants. He argued that the current lack of accountability and standards for the vouchers threatens public education funding.

The town hall also touched on national and constitutional issues, including a call for a non-partisan commission to oversee district map drawing to combat gerrymandering. Jones also addressed concerns regarding data centers, stating he is not "anti-data center" but stressed the need to carefully analyze their impact on local utility rates and water resources.