Steven Cameron believes the time has come for a Christian revival in the community. That’s why he’s running for the District 7 U.S. representative seat.

“Not a black revival or a white revival,” Cameron said. “A real Christian revival. We’re at a point today where we work together, play together and dine together. We’re beginning to worship together. We need to vote together.”

Cameron, who is running as a Republican, said he made his decision to run while watching Tavis Smiley on television. According to Cameron, Smiley said that Tavis claimed Democrats had taken black voters for granted and Republicans weren’t reaching out to blacks. “At that point, I knew I had to run and reach out to them,” Cameron said.

Cameron spoke on several issues as he declared his candidacy, including school vouchers, prayer in schools and crime. “I’ll fight for school choice,” Cameron said. “I think it should be a national policy.”

Concerning prayer in school, Cameron said students should have the right to a moment of silent reflection. “I don’t believe in school led prayer, but silent prayer must occur,” he said.

Cameron said he focused on schools because children were the country’s future. “They are our single most important resource,” Cameron said. “The education they get determines their quality of life in the future.”

If elected, Cameron would work on legislation allowing school vouchers, which would give parents a choice in what public school they attend. “It’s not going to be new money,” Cameron said. “It’s going to be existing money. People complain about poor schools. Vouchers will give that to them.”

Cameron also addressed the crime issue. He said he would contact mayors and police chiefs in his district and ask what their opinions were on solving the crime problem.

In addition, Cameron said the court system needed an overhaul. “When you put a non-violent property criminal in jail, you’re wasting bed space,” Cameron said. “Surely there is something they can do on the outside to make room for more violent offenders that need to be detained.”

According to Cameron, the quality of education affected juvenile crime. “It goes back to the home, to a lack of discipline and love,” Cameron said. “When there is no love at home, they’ll go to find their attention elsewhere. Gangs give them attention, but not love.”

Cameron noted that prospective industries look at an area’s crime level before choosing where to locate. “They look at the quality of life,” he added. “I want to keep suppliers in District 7.”

Cameron said people should vote for him because he believes he can mediate the district’s problems. “It goes back to the Christian revival,” he added. “There’s a bigger enemy, and that’s terrorism. I’m going to do the best with what God gives me.”

Republicans often talk about smaller government and cutting wasteful spending, Cameron said. If elected, Cameron plans on leading by example. “I’d start by cutting my salary from $150,000 to $60,000.

Cameron is a three-year veteran of the Army. He gained his degree in criminal justice from Troy State University at Montgomery. He’s served in law enforcement in Marion and Perry County, and is currently self-employed as a mobile home appraiser.

He is the son of Ruth Cameron and the late Frank Cameron. “Some have said that I don’t have a chance because the area is mainly Democrat,” Cameron said. “It’s sad that Republicans don’t reach out to blacks and that’s why I’m here. It’s time to get off the ‘economy stupid’ attitude and back on a Christian path.”