Alabama Agriculture Commission candidate Dorman Grace made a choice, he told the Pike County Republican Women Wednesday.

“I made a choice to get into politics because we need something different,” Grace said.

Grace, a Republican candidate and lifelong farmer, told the group Wednesday he’d be that different choice.

His Republican opponents are Dale Peterson and John McMillan. The victor of the primary will face Democrat Glen Zorn.

Originally from Jasper, Grace married a Pike County woman Susan Davis, and the two reside on his family’s farm started in 1950, where they raise poultry, cattle and timber.

Grace said the agriculture commission role is one that impacts the state’s residents probably more than most realize.

“Today, when you sat down for lunch, you didn’t ask if your food was safe because you knew it was,” Grace said.

And from food safety to weights and measures, Grace said the role plays a key part in the lives of Alabamians.

As a farmer himself, Grace said he is the prime candidate for the job.

“The Agriculture Commission office has a $39 million budget, and we will lose $2 million of that this year. As a farmer, I’ll be able to deal with that because we are used to tightening our belts,” Grace said. “You spend less and work more.”

Grace, who has been referenced in his opponent Peterson’s well-known advertising campaign, as “bragging on his Facebook page about receiving contributions from industries he would regulate.” Further, he’s referred to as a “dummy” by Peterson in the advertisement that has gained national attention.

But, Grace said he has vowed to run a clean campaign and will continue to deny response.

“I decided to keep my campaign clean because the people of Alabama deserve better,” Grace said. “We need a good, safe food supply in Alabama…and I’m not going to respond to people calling me names.”

Several other Republican candidates addressed the GOP crowd Wednesday.

They were Attorney General Troy King, candidate for Supreme Court Place 3 James Houts, State Senate candidate Ken Barnett, circuit judge candidate Clif Hastings and Pike County District Attorney candidate Gary Bradshaw.

Other candidates had representatives at the meeting: Earl Ellis on behalf of Bradley Byrne for governor; Lacey Phillips, representing Tim James for governor; Meagan Stringer, representing Martha Roby for congress; Jessica Taylor, on behalf of Bryan Taylor for state senate; and Jack Anderson, representing Tom Anderson for Pike County District Attorney.