Rick Neighbors (D-AL-4)

Rick Neighbors Congressional Candidate Alabama District 4

Biography of Rick Neighbors from comment of the candidate.

I grew up in North Carolina as the son of a share cropper. My father was a veteran of both WWII and the Korean War and retired from the Army in 1963. During WWII my mother made ammunition and afterwards worked graveyard shift in spinning mills. I quit high school after my junior year and joined the Army. I received my GED and wishfully began taking correspondence courses in nuclear engineering. I became airborne qualified and served three tours in the Republic of South Vietnam. In 1973 I received a ministerial scholarship from the Southern Baptist Association and began studies at Campbell College in Buies Creek, N.C. I transferred to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1976, completing undergraduate studies in Political Science, earning a B.A. in 1979.

After graduation, I went to work with Blue Bell (Wrangler) in 1979. I was eventually transferred to Hackleburg, Alabama in 1980. There I met my wife of over thirty years, the former Judy Kennemur. I have one step-daughter, Tammy, two step-sons, Todd and Shane, six grandchildren, Thomas, Ashley, Kendra, Sarah, Hannah, and Colten, and one great granddaughter, Lexi. I am presently employed by Pilgrims Pride in Russellville, Alabama and attend the University of North Alabama as a part-time graduate student.

Most of my adult life has been in the apparel/textile industry. I witnessed this industry flourish in our country. After NAFTA, most of the labor moved to Mexico but the textiles stayed here. Another trade deal was made with China in 2005 and we lost the textiles and Mexico lost most of the labor. Also in 2005, CAFTA was passed and we lost the sock industry. Trade agreements have consequences that impact each of us. The execution of these deals can wipe out a whole industry and a way of life in almost the blink of an eye. Change is inevitable but our agreements should be in the best interest of all the people and not just a few. We need to think differently about decisions made by political incumbents who seemingly know not what they do.