Bob Bush said he decided to seek the District 3 seat on the Andalusia Board of Education for a simple reason.

“I’ve got a dog in that fight,” the Andalusia native and veterinarian quipped.

“I have a child in the system. My son is in the seventh grade at Andalusia Middle School,” Bush said.

The AHS grad said he believes the system must work for both strong academic programs and extra-curricular activities.

“Recently, we’ve had to cut physics in the high school,” he said. “I would love to see a very strong math and science department. It’s important that we build that foundation.”

He’s also supportive of efforts to improve athletic facilities and programs.

“I’d like to see the athletic pride restored,” he said.

Many of those can be added without increasing the school’s financial burden, he said.

“I think soccer could go in the schools,” he said. “But it could start as a club.”

He also said he believes Andalusia residents will support strong schools.

“I personally feel the city of Andalusia wants a good city school system enough that if the parents have to pay a little bit to keep it going, they will,” Bush said.

Bush has a mobile veterinary practice and is an adjunct instructor at LBWCC. He is a past president and current board member of the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Andalusia Kiwanis Club.

He graduated with honors from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. At Andalusia High School, he played football and was all-conference, team captain, won the sportsmanship award, and was named best offensive lineman on the 1972 varsity team.