Alabama’s next governor must be able to end the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, battle state unemployment, end public corruption and deal with the state’s budget shortfalls, according to gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne.

Byrne, a Republican, held an outdoor campaign rally May 25 at the Central State Bank near the Shelby County Airport.

During the stop, Byrne thanked a group of 17 Shelby County officials who recently signed on to endorse him.

Shelby County Commission President Lindsey Allison, county commissioners Rick Shepherd and Joel Bearden, state Reps. Cam Ward and Jim McClendon and Shelby County District Attorney Robby Owens recently declared their support for Byrne.

Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos, Calera Mayor Jon Graham, Pelham Mayor Don Murphy, Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven, Montevallo Mayor Ben McCrory, Columbiana Mayor Allan Lowe, Westover Mayor Mark McLaughlin and Shelby County Republican Party officials Matt Fridy, Andrew Plaster, Susan Todt and Jeff Vreeland have also pledged their support for Byrne.

“I am very proud to have this group from Shelby County supporting me,” Byrne said. “I have always promised I would be a phone call away from anyone in Shelby County who needs my help.”

During the rally, Byrne said he would work to bring a stop to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, lower the state’s unemployment, fight public corruption and work with the state’s budget.

“The federal government has failed us, and BP is running around like they don’t know what’s going on,” Byrne said of the oil spill. “We need someone as governor who will stand up and make BP pay the bill for this disaster.”

Byrne said, if elected governor, he would listen to Shelby County residents’ concerns.

“The wisdom is not in Montgomery. It’s in Calera, Montevallo and all across Shelby County,” Byrne said. “We need to elect a governor who will stand up to the powerful special interests like AEA, who have been running an attack campaign against me.

“We need someone with a proven track record,” Byrne added. “I feel that candidate is me.”