J. Lee, as he is known to friends, is a heap more comfortable tackling chores around the farm than he is politicking. But then, that’s only natural. He was born and raised on a farm, and he’s never run for office before.

There’s a first time for everything, they say.

Dr. J. Lee Alley is the Republican candidate for commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. He faces Democrat Ron Sparks in the November general election. Tuesday, his campaign brought him to Selma.

Alley served as state veterinarian with the agriculture department for 22 years before retiring in February 2001. He had planned nothing more demanding than spending time with Eleanor, his wife of 35 years, and their two daughters and their families. Maybe get in a little of that fishing he’d been promising himself he’d get around to.

Then came 9/11.

With a little prompting from friends and former colleagues, Alley decided he just might be the man to lead Alabama through these unprecedented times.

Ag commissioner may not be the sexiest race on the ballot this November in terms of voter appeal, but it’s one of the more important. In one way or another the department touches each and every Alabama resident.

The department is charged with such disparate tasks as ensuring that the gasoline pumps are accurate, the food we eat safe and any number of items in between.

When you buy a bag of 13-13-13 fertilizer, for example, you can be sure that’s what you’re getting because the ag department inspected it. When you apply makeup, it’s been tested for safety.

But of all the department’s responsibilities, perhaps none is more important than that of food safety.

After the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe last year, Alley served on a USDA committee that reviewed the quarantine measures in place to prevent infected cattle from being imported to this country.

Historically, he added, that has been accomplished through such decidedly unscientific means as &uot;how it looks, how it feels and how it smells.&uot; Given the times we live in, Alley advocates employing &uot;a higher level&uot; of microbiology techniques to the entire food safety inspection process.

He noted that the department is responsible for both plant and animal health.

Alley brings a wealth of experience to the job. In addition to being state veterinarian for 22 years, he also served as acting assistant commissioner from 1987-1989. He was named Alabama Veterinarian of the Year in 1984. He is a past president of the United States Animal Health Association and is an adjunct professor at both Auburn and Tuskegee universities.