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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: February 13, 2006 |
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Vestavia Hills cabinetmaker Hilbun Adams fulfilled one career goal when he went to Israel and served in the military. Now he's got another goal: getting elected lieutenant governor of Alabama.
Adams, one of four Republicans seeking his party's nomination, knows he's not well-known - even in his own party. When the State Republican Executive Committee met last month in Mobile, the moderator introduced him as "Hilton Adams."
But Adams, 53, said he feels called by God to run and won't be dissuaded by his lack of name recognition or campaign funds.
"I've got a truck, the Internet and a phone, and I use what I have," Adams said.
He's also got an attention-grabbing bumper sticker copied after President George W. Bush's "W" sticker. Hilbun Adams' sticker says "HA."
Adams said his interest in the lieutenant governor's race developed after disease took the sight in his right eye and affected his depth perception. He worried if he could safely continue in his life's work as a carpenter and cabinetmaker.
"I asked the Lord, 'Can I have something else to do?' He said, 'Why don't you run for lieutenant governor?"' Adams said.
Adams, whose one brush with politics had been as freshman class president at Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama, signed up with the state Republican Party to run.
He faces Public Service Commission member George Wallace Jr., Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks, and Birmingham attorney Luther Strange in the Republican primary on June 6.
Adams spent part of his childhood in central Florida and part in the Birmingham area. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School, Adams was - by his own admission - more interested in good times than good grades.
He attended Western Carolina University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Texas at Arlington, but did not graduate. He spent a couple of months in the Peace Corps, but decided that wasn't for him.
After a brief period of "living in the bushes" on Birmingham's Southside, he entered Southeastern Bible College, with the hope of becoming a preacher. In his junior year, he decided to go to Israel and become a soldier on "the front line of God."
He quickly found out the Israeli military didn't take every warm body.
He entered a kibbutz, learned Hebrew, converted to Judaism, and then spent two years in the Israeli Defense Force.
"Our main job was to keep the roads open for the settlers in the West Bank," Adams said. "I got a good taste of battle and shooting at people."
Adams returned to Birmingham in 1990, and after trying other occupations, including selling cars and vacuum cleaners, he returned to his carpentry and cabinetmaking trade. He also started attending a non-denominational Christian church again.
Last month, Adams' 16-year-old daughter followed Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley as part of a career day program. Adams joined her in Montgomery and, after watching the Senate in action, decided that bringing more professionalism to the Legislature would be one of his campaign goals.
He said the legislative chambers look like ant hills, with few people paying attention to the official business.
"You couldn't go into a corporate board room and see that," he said.
He said he's also been amazed to see legislators explain their votes on some controversial bills by saying that they didn't have time to read the bill before they voted on it.
"Well, idiot, read the bill. That's what you are paid to do," he said.
If elected lieutenant governor, Adams said he would study every bill. And even though the lieutenant governor serves as the presiding officer in the Senate, Adams said he wouldn't be muzzled by the role.
"That doesn't mean I can't scrutinize things around me," he said.
In talking about his campaign, Adams repeatedly refers to his faith. But he said he is not aligned with any other candidate on the ballot.
His calling, he said, came solo.
"The Lord said, 'Hilbun, step out of the boat and trust me.' That's very difficult to do, but I've reached the point in my life where I can." |
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