Chad Chig Martin

Chad Chig Martin was born in Enterprise, Alabama. He graduated from Enterprise High School. Martin earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1991. His career experience includes owning Martin Mobile Home Park, Thunder Industrial Supply, and Honeysuckle Hemp Company.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Chad Chig Martin, and I will be a candidate for Governor of Alabama in 2026

I am a small businessman from Enterprise, Al.

My belief system is to provide fair and equal representation for all citizens

I will not govern through divisiveness

My first priority will be to recruit high-tech industry with job placement throughout the state. I will be creating high paying jobs with insurance and retirement benefits

My hope is to create four zoned entertainment areas throughout the state that offer both adult - and family oriented themed destinations

I would like to bring lawmakers together and work to pass the lottery and decriminalize natural medicine in Alabama

My hopes are to revamp the public education system and create institutions that are a source of community pride. I will focus on bringing in some of the top school administrators in the country focusing on a quality and unbiased education based on facts

We also have to focus on school safety and have plans in place that give our children and educators a fighting chance in case of a horrific situation

This campaign has one simple stance on social issues. All citizens will be treated equally and fairly under my administration. Your rights will always be upheld

My administration will not be involved in your personal medical choices

Alabama has all of the tools to be a great state, but we are lacking in leadership

As a 33-year working Alabama businessman, I feel like I can offer innovative and productive lea

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Economic Development- top earning jobs with benefits. This is my strongest attribute growing industryRestoring community pride back into our schools and providing crucial leadership that is needed to move us from the bottom of the listSupporting decriminalization of all natural medical products

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Reversing HB 445 Hemp Bill basically shutting down and destroying the hemp industry

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Nick Saban because of his business leadership abilities

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Calm headed and non-divisive. Allowing everyone a seat at the table for open respectful and productive dialogue

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am in contact with the people and connected

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Hardwork, being forthright, innovative and actually completing goals that are set

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would love to leave the state with more citizens having healthcare and our children attending better schools

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Elvis Presley death

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Electrolux Vaccuum Cleaners Outside Salesman 6 months

What is your favorite book? Why?

Hardy Boys Mysteries, the book made me use my imagination

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Hank Hill

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Dont Back Down

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Losing family members

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

Open communications and dialogue with our citizens. Listening to solutions from our citizens. Giving them a voice

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

The Governor always has to know the financial status of the state in order to be effective

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

I would have used this veto power on HB 445 banning hemp

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Open door and non-partisan

What do you love most about your state?

Born and raised in Alabama. We have all of the resources to be a wonderful state just simply no leadership to take advantage of these resources

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Providing affordable healthcare, improving education, revamping mental health programs, passing an education lottery, creating gaming zones throughout the state, decriminalizing natural medicines, improving Veteran Affairs

Tell us your favorite joke.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

When violence erupts putting citizens in harm's way or natural disasters

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Individual Citizens endorse the campaign, about 40 so far

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in being fully transparent on all matters to our citizens

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

Good

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean to you?

I believe in turning power back over to the people and out of the hands of special interest

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a 53 year old single businessman from Southeastern Alabama. I was born in Enterprise, Al. in 1968. I have one daughter Anna Marie Martin who is 27 years old. I am the owner operator of Martin Mobile Home Park, Thunder Industrial Supply and Honeysuckle Hemp Co.. I am a Christian. I am an Independent voter

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I believe in rebuilding the core of our state starting with business development and industry recruitment. I will personally oversee the recruitment of high tech industry to Alabama. I will advocate for jobs that have better than average pay with benefits to employeesI want to serve as a mediator between a defunct government that seems unable to work together. I will use my 30 years of business experience to persuade elected leaders to work together to implement plans that help Alabama families have a better quality of lifeI will advocate for the legality of the lotto, natural medicine, casino gaming, improved mental health, Veteran programs, world class public education and affordable healthcare for Alabama citizens

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I would like to lower the state income tax for citizens. I would like to offset this reduction of state tax money by stimulating the business environment here in Alabama. As Governor, I would personally oversee a team of the top industry recruiters and be actively involved in bringing job growth to Alabama. I would advocate for legislation to enact a state lottery to help our strapped educational system. I would push for a statewide vote to let citizens decide on the legality of natural medicine in Alabama. I would stand behind homeowners that are faced with tough choices of protecting their homes and family. I will support our first responders in the state of Alabama by providing the tools and training needed for them to succeed. I will always fight for affordable healthcare for citizens by taking matters into our own hands by gainful employment opportunities with benefits. I will fight for Veterans and the assistance that many need such as medical and employment opportunities. I believe in separation of church and state and will always protect every citizens Constitutional rights . As Governor, I will always be accessible to Alabama citizens

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my mom and dad. My dad had a high school education and my mom did not finish high school but through hard work, honesty and integrity were able to be successful Alabama based small business owners

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

First, I think elected officials should always respond directly to citizens and not hide in an office. I think a Governor should be publicly visible in all areas of the state. The only way citizens can build trust is by having a Governor that is active and involved

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe that my personal communication skills with all types of people and business professionals is my strongest trait I love interacting and working with people. I enjoy developing and more importantly implementing plans and seeing them through to fruition. I love people and business

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities of a Governor is to always strive to make the quality of life better for citizens

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to rebuild the core of the State of Alabama and eventually point Alabama into a much more user friendly state for citizens and for businesses to set up shop. I would love for citizens to feel that their overall quality of them and their families lives was improved under my guidance

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember when Elvis Presley and Bear Bryant died as a child. I remember the first Gulf War when I started college

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Outside Salesman- sold photocopiers for 5 years

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Foxfire book. Because I am frugal and love learning to do things with out spending a lot of money. I love using what God provided to accomplish common tasks

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Rocky Balboa

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I Want Back Down by Tom Petty

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I love to eat and have to always keep that in check. We have good food in Alabama. I have to learn how to push away from the table a little quicker

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

A Governor has to know how to unite and not divide. A Governor has to know how to work with people and other elected officials always offering a "give and take" type of attitude. A Governor should always listen to all sides and participate in positive as well as critical dialogue in order to find the true middle ground. A Governor should always keep citizens involved on all things related to state government whether it be a good or if it happens to be bad. A Governor cannot bow down to political pressure and groups that are screaming loud. All decisions have to be made for the "the greater good of the state and it's families".

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

Providing gainful employment opportunities for our citizens that include health care. Supporting our teachers and students so that a world class education can be accomplished. Citizens should be benefiting from the monies from a state lotto.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

I think the Governor should have an oversite role at minimum of the state budget. As an elected officer of the people a certain degree of trust has already been placed upon you by the people so an oversite of the budget should be in place to possibly curb unnecessary pork belly spending.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

I will always support special voting sessions by the citizens to decide important life changing matters pertaining to state government

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

I think a Governor should be fair and balanced and work with both sides of the aisle with one common goal of making the quality of life better for Alabama families

What do you love most about your state?

I love the working class people of the State of Alabama. I love our southern culture. I love environment from the mountains to the the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. I love the pride that our citizens take as citizens of our state. I love our distinct southern accents

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our people are hurting as comes with the territory of being one of the lowest ranked overall states in America and nearly last in poverty. I want to provide opportunities to improve quality of lives for families. I want citizens to have the healthcare that every American deserves. I want to educate our children while also growing high tech industry in our state. When this children graduate, I want them to have opportunities to stay right here in Alabama

Tell us your favorite joke.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

I think any situation that affects public safety should allow a Governor to use emergency powers

Campaign website

Martin's campaign website stated the following:

Alabama Needs The Lottery

Chad Chig Martin fully supports an educational lottery in Alabama. He believes that our teachers should not be responsible for basic classroom supplies. How can we expect our teachers to provide a world class education for our children if they don't have the basic supplies needed for their classrooms? Chig will work productively with both sides of the aisle to get the lottery passed through legislation once and for all. With 46 out of 50 states already running a lottery it is a necessity and not an option any longer. We are losing money every single minute of the day to neighboring states. This will be a main focus of his administration

Job Growth and Creation

This will be a passion for Chig's administration. He wants to not only have a world class group of industry recruiters working for our state but Chig wants to be the lead on negotiating and closing deals to bring top companies to Alabama. Chig will take the assembling and retail jobs but his focus will be on high tech jobs that pay above average wages and come with benefits such as healthcare and 401k type retirement programs. He wants these jobs to be strategically located throughout the state so that hardship areas have opportunities. Chig will negotiate deals that are good for the companies and the state of Alabama

Healthcare and Disease Prevention

Chig will start a medical task force made of eight regions across the state. A doctor and nurse that has a minimum of ten years in that region will be its representatives. The doctors and nurses will be doing this voluntarily with no pay as to keep special interest and politics out of healthcare decisions. These regions will meet via teleconference weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on the magnitude of illness in our state. They will share best practices and discuss the state of affairs from a hea;thcare standpoint in their respective regions. An elected leader of this group by their peers will then report directly to the Governor after each meeting. This group will meet a minimum of two times per year in a face to face with the Governor in Montgomery and advise the Governor from a practical medical standpoint. Chad Chig will govern based off of science based advice from Alabama doctors and nurses. Although Chig has had all Covid vaccines shots he does not believe the federal government has the right to tell Alabamians what to put in their body. He will lead by example and encourage Alabamians to get vaccinated though

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Natural Medicine

As the owner of Alabama's Original Hemp Dispensary and CBD store Honeysuckle Hemp Co in Dothan, Al. it should come as no surprise that he supports natural medicine. Chig would love to see full decriminalization of Cannabis in Alabama. He believes that alcohol is much more dangerous and addictive. This would not only help people suffering with a variety of illnesses it will help clear a congested court system and ease the burden of overcrowded prisons. Chig wants to allow citizens to grow six plants at one time without fear of being arrested. A small permit fee may apply. He wants the free market opened up for the sale of Cannabis in Alabama with a special Cannabis tax being applied at the register to citizens. This money will help our cash strapped state as well as help citizens stay safe by not having back alley deals to acquire natural medicine

Pollution

Chig will put a stop to Alabama being America's corporate dumping ground. We have many residents that cannot even drink or shower with water from their tap due to chemical runoff from big corporations. These same areas have high rates of cancer. In many parts of the state fish cannot even be eaten from the waters. Chig cares about the environment and our people and no amount of special interest money can quiet him down. Alabama families deserve better

Womens Rights

Chig personally believes in life but he also respects the rights of others to be in control of their own bodies. He believes that all decisions such as rape or incest resulting in pregnancy should be decided by the respective families and/or their medical team. The government should not have involvement in sensitive matters such as this. He also believes in encouraging prospective young mothers that do not want children to consider adopting the unborn child out to loving homes. We need to provide counseling to people that are having to make difficult decisions in their lives so that they do not feel on an island alone

Fair and Equal Treatment of Citizens

First and foremost Chig believes that all Alabamians be granted a fair and equal chance on all opportunities including employment. He believes that the most qualified candidate should always get whatever opportunity is in front of them. He is firmly against bigotry and racism and will not tolerate any minority or woman not being given fair opportunities. Alabama has a black eye because of our 1950's style politics and this still hinders our state moving forward with quality-oriented employers. Chig will have people from all ethnicities and genders working within his administration. He wants every Alabamian to know that they have representation in Montgomery. Chig will always encourage all Alabamians to a "help thy neighbor" style attitude and move our state forward in a positive direction

Animal Abuse and Neglect

Alabama has major problems with animal abuse and neglect. We have problems with breeders not doing things the correct way. We have animals short tied with chains. We have cock and dog fighting. We have inadequate shelters in many counties. We have huge overpopulation problems. Chad Chig Martin will have no tolerance for people that violate the law and torment animals. This has been a category overlooked for many years due to special interest groups fighting against animal rights because they think that domestic animal rights will affect livestock operations. A Chad Chig Martin administration will give these defenseless animals a voice in Alabama

Mental Health

Mental healthcare is basically non-existent in our state. Plain and simple we need resources. My hope is that the revenue platforms in my agenda such as lotto, natural medicine and industry recruitment will help sustain a quality mental healthcare system in Alabama. We need beds for many patients in state hospitals so that they can receive the treatment needed. It is not right for a government to turn a blind eye to those that are incapable of helping themselves

Voting Rights

Our state has to make certain that all Alabamians have adequate access to voting locations. There is no if's, and's or but's about it. Every citizen regardless of socio-economic status or geographical location within the state has to have fair and adequate access to the polls. I will make sure that every Alabamian has local access to cast their vote[3]

—Chad Chig Martin's campaign website (2022)[4]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

I want to allow the citizens of Alabama to vote on lottery, casino gambling and medical marijuana

I want to stop teachers from having to buy basic classroom supplies

I want to negotitate better deals when bringing new business to Alabama where these companies pay at least a portion of taxes[6][3]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

I want to always protect our citizen's constitutional rights and make sure that all citizens are always treated equally and fairlyCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Chig Martin answered the following:

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

We need elected officials that are not backed by special interest money and that make decisions based off of the people's needs without any outside influence present[3]

What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?

I am small business owner that started my company out of the bedroom of my house. Now thirteen years later this same company does business in over forty states. I understand the work ethic and commitment it takes to get a company or state going in the right direction[3]

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Elected officials should always answer to the people and not parties or special interest groups. This should never be forgotten by an elected official[3]

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave Alabama in better shape than I found her. I want to move our state up in the rankings. We currently average 49th in most categories. I would love to get us in the 20s.[3]

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was bagging groceries at the Winn Dixie grocery store in Enterprise, Al.[3]

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Veterans Day[3]

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My collectible fishing reels and hat collection[3]

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Wont Back Down by Tom Petty[3]

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

It was a struggle losing my father a few months ago. My mother has had a rare disease and has been be ridden for almost seven years in a nursing home. I understand the struggles that a family can go through.[3]

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

It means that I have to set the example of work ethic, ingenuity and lead by example. I also would have to have thick skin and overlook many things while always putting the state's best interest in mind[3]

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

I think the most important thing that will need to take place is conquering the division of the two party system and convincing everyone that we have to for once work together to fix our broken state[3]

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

I would be responsible for convincing law makers that we are in this for the people and that now is the time to put all differences aside so that our state can prosper[3]

What do you love most about your state?

Alabama is a beautiful state with Gulf front footage to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. We have a hard working people with a great attitude. The only thing lacking is leadership[3]

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our states greatest challenge is generating revenue to help fund our school system, mental health department along with many other underfunded departments[3]