Gubernatorial candidate Tim James, got to know some of the lunch crowd at Sisters’ Restaurant Friday during a meet and greet session.

In what Campaign Coordinator John Schremser called, “Grass Roots Day,” James and his staff squeezed in a lunch in Pike County before continuing the campaign to Elba, and finally Enterprise to conclude the day.

“We heard this is the best restaurant in Troy,” Schremser said.

James shook hands and spoke with several people in the Sisters’ dining room and discussed some current issues.

James expressed his feeling on the importance of lowering taxes, taking care of small businesses, scaling back government regulation and bringing back industry.

“We have got to rebuild our manufacturing base in this country,” he said.

James said many Pike County residents were concerned with economic issues.

“We talked about jobs,” he said.

James said it all starts with education though.

“When you talk to people it always circles back to public education,” he said, citing a 40 percent dropout rate in Alabama Public Schools.

“We’ve got to do better.”

Additionally James suggested as a program for students who don’t want to go to college. He proposed the installation of a program where those students study for a half-day, then go to jobs and learn professional skills the next half.

James also addressed some of the flak he has received for what many have called some controversial advertisements.

One of those ads centered on removing foreign languages from drivers license tests.

“We passed a constitutional amendment back in the early 90’s that we’re an English-only speaking state,” James said.

“I came under attack from the far left. This is nothing but the political correct crowd out of control.”

James said that language assimilation is economically beneficial to the involved parties.

“One-third to one-half of non-English speaking people earn one-third to one-half less than their English speaking counterparts,” he said.

“According to Zogby, 70 percent of Latino Americans agree with me (on the need for forced assimilation). This is about common sense and putting common sense back in the government.”

James said he enjoyed his lunch and he enjoyed meeting local residents.

“It’s just good to be here in Pike County in Troy,” he said.

“I’d like to ask every person here to vote for me to help me win this election. I’m a businessman. Lets put some common sense back in the government.”