Don Cotton announced Tuesday his intentions to seek the office of state representative for District 92.

Cotton, who is running as an independent, said his candidacy has not yet been certified by the Secretary of State. Independents must collect signatures of qualified voters on a petition that states a candidate’s name should be on the ballot. The number of signatures required is 2 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the most recent presidential election. In Covington County, that number is approximately 360.

“The first sets of signatures have already been sent to the Secretary of State’s office,” Cotton said Tuesday. “I have until June to get the required signatures.”

Cotton, 54, owns a turf business. He is a former member of the Andalusia City Council.

Cotton said he has always voted for the person he thought would be best for the job.

“I believe most voters in District 92 are independent voters,” he said. “As we look at the role our government has taken on in the past few years, the partisanship that exists between parties many times keeps our elected officials from serving and doing what’s best for those that elected them.

“As an independent I want to be in a position that I can choose from the best legislation and more effectively represent the voters of District 92.”

Cotton said the most important challenge before the state is getting the Alabama economy and the local economy moving.

“We need to stop wasteful spending, practice responsible budgeting and hold state agencies accountable,” he said. “Job creation will come from staying off the backs of existing businesses and industries so they can expand and grow their operations.”

State agencies must manage their affairs in the same way that families do, he said.

Cotton said he is a strong advocate of early intervention education programs like Head Start and Bright Beginnings.

“We must re-look at mandates handed down from Washington and the state and allow our administration and teachers to decide how best to budget for their needs,” he said.

He said agriculture represents the state’s largest manufacturing base and is the state’s largest employer.

“We must do whatever it takes to protect family farms,” he said. “Agriculture is one answer to turning our economy around.”

Cotton said he is pro-life and anti-gambling.

“Gambling will not solve the financial condition of the state,” he said. “We cannot lay our hopes on gambling or the lottery.”

“We have let things go that should have been taken care of a long time ago,” he said. “My daddy always had a saying – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

“Our government is broke and it needs fixing,” he said. “We can’t be satisfied with the direction we are headed.”

Cotton and his wife, the former Cheryl Spaulding, have two adults sons and two grandchildren.

Independent candidates are subject to the Nov. 2 General Election.