Bentley: Next governor must not dictate policy

montgomery - No matter what skills the state's next governor brings to the job, that person will never get anything accomplished without knowing how to work with the Legislature.

That's the belief of at least one 2010 candidate.

"We need leadership in the governor's office and I do know that if a governor cannot work with the Legislature, that governor will never get anything accomplished," said Dr. Robert J. Bentley.

Now in his second term as a Republican House member from Tuscaloosa, Bentley, 66, retired from his Tuscaloosa dermatology practice in May with plans to run for governor. He said a governor needs to know how to work with both political sides in the Legislature.

Whether Republicans take over or don't take over the Legislature, the governor must do that, Bentley said.

"I can think of candidates who will have trouble doing that," Bentley said. "Sometimes Gov. Riley takes us for granted."

Bentley used the administration of the late Gov. Guy Hunt as an example of an approach he likes.

Hunt, the first Republican governor since reconstruction, faced a Legislature made up almost entirely of Democrats. He got to know members individually and had success with legislation that few people expected to pass because "he respected them as human beings," Bentley said.

Bentley kicked off his campaign with a bus tour going to large and small cities throughout the state, saying he loves visiting voters in diners and restaurants along the way. He said he never shies away from a question and likes forums "where there are no prepared questions," so he can give real answers to real voter questions.

Early in his political career, Bentley vowed not to take political contributions from sources that he could not identify. He even turned back a few contributions in his campaigns for the House.

Bentley said he will continue that practice in the governor's race, but will take contributions through political action committees if he is confident about the source of the money.