After launching the tour from Byrne’s Birmingham headquarters, the former chancellor of the Alabama Community College System will appear at Walker Baptist Medical Center from 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.
“We’re excited that he’s going to be here,” said Renae McKinney, the hospital’s director of marketing, who will lead a tour of the facility for Byrne and his entourage today. “We’re going to show him around the hospital and show him what a nice facility we have.”
McKinney said the Women’s Center will be a focal point of the tour. If time permits, McKinney said she plans to show Byrne “the Jesus Door,” a portal at the hospital in which some say they see a Christ-like image in the grain of the wooden door.
After leaving the 267-bed hospital, Byrne’s bus will roll on to B&D Industrial and Mining in Jasper where he will speak from 11 to 11:15 a.m.
Other stops scheduled for the first day of the tour will be in Double Springs, Hartselle and Huntsville.
“They’re going to be on a very tight schedule,” said Linda Ensor, the chairman of the Republican Party of Walker County. “They only spend a few minutes in each location so if you’re late, you probably missed it.”
Ensor said she plans to attend the campaign stop at B&D Industrial and Mining.
Byrne could not be reached for comment by press time Wednesday.
In the June 1 Republican Primary, Byrne captured almost 28 percent of votes cast in the gubernatorial contest. Bentley finished with just over 25 percent of the votes.