The Alabama Forestry Association has thrown its support to Gov. Robert Bentley's re-election campaign.
Bentley said Thursday the forestry group was the first major organization to endorse him in 2010 and now it's the first for the 2014 election. But there's a big difference. It didn't endorse him in 2010 until after he won the Republican primary.
Executive Vice President Chris Issacson said the organization normally waits until after a contested primary like it did in 2010, but endorsing Bentley early for 2014 was a no-brainer. He said Bentley has developed the largest road-building program since Gov. James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, and rural Alabama will be better for it.
Bentley said the endorsement is special because he used to load pulpwood at his father's small sawmill near Columbiana.