Gov. Kay Ivey and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox issued a news release and video Friday about their participation in the Disagree Better Initiative of the National Governors Association, which the NGA called an effort “to reduce partisan animosity and foster healthy debate by modeling a more positive and optimistic way of working through policy problems.”

Maddox was the Democratic nominee who lost to Ivey, the Republican incumbent, in the 2018 governor’s race.

The new call for more discussion of policy differences stands in contrast to Ivey’s stance during the campaign six years ago, when she declined calls to debate from Maddox and others.

The governor and mayor have since worked together on some key issues, such as the 2019 plan to raise Alabama’s gas tax to pay for road and bridge projects, called the Rebuild Alabama Act. Maddox, in his fifth term as Tuscaloosa’s mayor, has also taken public stances that differ from Ivey’s, including his support for Medicaid expansion.

The friendly one-minute video released Friday includes a “Roll Tide” from Maddox and a “War Eagle” from Ivey as an example of how Alabamians disagree. The message is that the exchange of ideas is important to find common ground on issues like public education.

“Alabamians are some of the best people in the world, and that is because we treat everyone with respect, even if that person votes differently than us or cheers for the rival team,” Ivey said in the news release. “Even though Mayor Maddox and I once opposed each other on the ballot and maybe do not agree on every single issue out there, we do agree that the people of Alabama deserve our hardest work – and that means coming together to ensure our Sweet Home is the best place to live, work and raise a family for generations to come.”

Maddox praised Ivey as a governor who has listened and worked to build consensus.

“When it comes to solutions to serious issues, Alabamians are not looking for red or blue decisions. They just want the best decision for themselves, their children and their grandchildren,” Maddox said in the news release. “To do this, we must all work to disagree better. Even when it’s not easy, respecting each other’s perspectives, understanding unique life experiences and working to find the truth will ensure that what unites us is infinitely stronger than what divides us. Governor Ivey has achieved so much for our state and a great deal of her success is grounded in her ability to listen and build consensus.”

Read more: Walt Maddox calls for debate on state’s pressing problems

Gov. Kay Ivey again says she has no plans to debate