Maddox criticizes plan to divert education tech funds for school security

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, a Democratic hopeful for governor this year, criticized Thursday a plan that would divert money from a state education technology fund for school security.

Maddox, during comments to AL.com at a campaign stop in Mobile, became the first gubernatorial candidate to criticize a legislative proposal that includes “security” as among the items that can be funded with money accumulated in the Advancement and Technology Fund.

“We have to find a way to provide more school security,” said Maddox, the four-term mayor of Alabama’s fifth-largest city. “Robbing technology funds to do so, it’s not a pathway to success.”