FRIDAY: Bedford eyeing governor's race

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
State Sen. Roger Bedford said he is carefully considering a run for the governor's office in 2010.
Two days after Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom announced that he would seek re-election and not enter the governor's race like many had thought, Bedford quickly became a popular choice for the Democratic nomination.
"I wish Jim Folsom had decided to run," said Bedford, who has served as this district's senator since 1994.
"But as soon as he announced that he wasn't running, my phone started ringing off the hook with people asking me to run. It has been very humbling."
Bedford has set no time frame on making a decision, but said that he would listen to the people of this district and throughout Alabama.
"I had one fellow from south Alabama who told me that if I got elected governor then I could help all of the people of Alabama like I do those in my district," Bedford said.
"I think we need a strong governor in these tough economic times and I think we need someone who could unite our legislature."
Bedford was first elected to the state Senate in 1982 at the age of 25. He served two terms before losing a bid for the attorney general's seat in 1990. In 1994 he was re-elected to the Senate and has served this district since that time.
He was the Democratic party's nominee for U.S. Senate in 1996 but lost that race to Sen. Jeff Sessions.
Bedford said he will be making his way around the state gathering feedback on whether or not to run for the state's highest office.
Agriculture Commissioner Ron sparks announced Friday that he would also be running for governor. He joins U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, who represents a portion of central and west Alabama, as the only Democratic candidates to announce their intentions to run for governor.
"I will talk it over with my family and continue to pray about it," Bedford said.
"Right now, I am just humbled by the response and interest people have in me running."