Baldwin the reddest county
in the red state of Alabama
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
Baldwin County is perhaps the reddest county in the rosy red state of Alabama, so the special election this summer to fill the state senate seat vacated with Bradley Byrne's appointment as chancellor of the two-year college system should amount to a GOP hoedown.
The phone lines were no doubt burning over the weekend as a plethora of prospective candidates in District 32 lined up support and assessed their chances.
With that in mind, the Mobile Bay Times turned to a number of Republican and/or Baldwin County sources to get an early glimpse of the situation.
WBG: "(State School Board member Randy) McKinney is probably the favorite followed by (state Rep. Randy) Davis."
TDP: "Here are the names I’ve heard from reliable sources as of mid-afternoon today:
Randy McKinney—Being supported by the GUMBO folks at the Beach, but lacks money.
David Ed Bishop—Incumbent County Commissioner from Fairhope.
(Veteran GOP figure) Don McGriff—Don’t know much about him.
Randy Davis—Probably has the inside track both in money and with the influential folks in Montgomery. If he gets the endorsement from ALFA and/or the Business Council, he’ll be hard to beat.
(Former state Sen.) Albert Lipscomb—No money and little ability to raise any.
(Businessman) Trip Pittman—New to politics, but Trip has personal financial strength the others lack. He’s also a popular guy around the Eastern Shore area.
FNT: "My guess would be Randy McKinney will run and be elected. He ran a very good and close campaign against Bradley the first go-round and, I believe, impressed folks all over the county with his viewpoints, etc. Of course, if that happens, we then have an opening for his school board seat, creating somewhat of a domino effect."
RCB: "I've heard Don McGriff, David Ed Bishop, Randy Davis, and maybe Randy McKinney may run. If Ed Bishop wins, I understand Governor (Bob) Riley would then appoint his replacement on the commission."
CCT: "My son told me Trip Pittman was interested. He has no political experience. Ed Bishop, Don McGriff, Chip Brown, Anthony Kaiser, Randy McKinney to name a few. (Brown is presently deployed with the Alabama National Guard in Iraq.)
LBR: "I haven’t heard who is in the race, other than Randy (McKinney) thinking about it. He’s a good man, very conscientious, and honest, hard working ….. Electable? Possibly, hard to say. He is better known since being on the school board; has moved around the county more; he’s bright and ambitious. That’s not a bad thing.
I like Randy. Not sure he's strong enough with a lot of his present district in Mobile and not being a household word. I would like to think Albert will stay put, but he likes political life. I don't think he is electable now.
(Former District Attorney David) Whetstone I had not thought about but that is very likely and he'll be the front runner, my opinion only. You either like him a lot or not at all. Randy McKinney may still be the best choice. Baldwin County is strange with so many different 'ethnic territories.'"
PST: "I think that Randy McKinney will run for Bradley's senate seat. I can't think of any opposition from the Republicans (maybe Rep. Randy Davis). Your guess is as good as mine for Democratic candidates. I know McKinney fairly well and have found him to be competent, fair and likable."
Trip Pittman: "I am running so I would have to pick myself in a runoff. Against I don't know who. I am definitely running. Please let everyone know and I would appreciate whatever help and support (they) can give me."
DDF: "I will be supporting Trip Pittman. He has been a very good friend of mine for about 25 years. Trip runs a successful business, called Pittman Tractor Company, selling new and used heavy equipment world wide. Trip has served on the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Baldwin County Planning Commission and is well known and well respected throughout Baldwin County and the state. He's an impressive public speaker and a dynamic individual. Loves to debate issues and is well-versed in them. His wife, Lynn, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, as are his children."
FTC: "Names mentioned: Trip Pittman; Randy McKinney; David Ed Bishop; Randy Davis; (ex-Foley Mayor) Tim Russell; Sandra deGraffenreid; Robert Kraft (maybe).
Randy McKinney: "Randy McKinney best guy in the race when the seat becomes vacant! No other handicapping necessary."
SPI: "McKinney will be the business candidate. Randy Davis may run and could be the AEA candidate. If not, then Don McGriff. Interesting Sandra de Graffenreid says she is running. She changed her residency this January to Orange Beach where she has a condo and is retiring from the Association of School Boards."
TRC: "Several names are looking into the race. Ones you will know are Randy McKinney, Randy Davis, Don McGriff, state Rep. Steve McMillan and Albert Lipscomb. A newcomer is Trip Pittman, businessman, late 40's and I hear well thought of and well-connected. He has been promoted to me as someone the business element of the Party may prefer. I don't want to be drawn into this since they are all friends and I doubt I will 'help' anyone."
DPR: "I’m hopeful that Trip Pittman will run. I think we need a new face. Great time for a new face. Electorate is disgusted with the incumbents and the same old thing going on, i.e. giving themselves huge pay raise. Trip has all the attributes to make a good senator. I think those that know him will come out strong on his behalf. I think he can raise money. I’ve heard that Steve McMillan won’t run if Trip does."
FSL: "Late summer low turnout, Lipscomb makes the runoff, can the other candidates turn out their supporters and overcome his hard right support? Deja vu."
XCE: "I just sort of assumed Randy Davis would run for and win it. He's awfully popular over there. I suppose McKinney (state school board) would run again."
BEA: "Even money that they (Democratic Party) won't run anyone and, if they do, it will be token opposition for the sole purpose of not leaving the seat uncontested."
MEM: "Trip Pittman, Don McGriff, David Ed Bishop, Randy Davis, and possibly (businessman) Earnest Scarbrough ... are either in or considering getting in. Trip & Randy McK will likely run off."
BDS: "Here is the way it shakes out: McKinney versus Davis. Third place is Russell. Russell has more support than I ever imagined, but he can't beat McKinney or Davis. McGriff doesn't stand a chance.
I don't know if you've ever met McKinney. I talked with him quite a bit a few years ago when he made his first run for office and he is an impressive individual. I would describe him as 'earnest.' He seems, on the surface, to want to be a public servant, and is not an ego-driven guy.
Randy Davis is very much like McKinney, except Randy has more personal charisma and he does have an ego.
Baldwin County is blessed. We have several candidates who would do a good job in the Senate.
If I had to pick a winner today, I wouldn't know which guy would get it: McKinney or Davis."
PIA: "The special election to fill Sen. Bradley Bryne’s senate seat may be the first opportunity we will have to find out how big a factor the pay raise and double-dipping issues will be with voters. My sense is that voters may be close to the tipping point in regard to accountability and independence from the big special interests that dominant Montgomery. Those issues will make it a tough race for House members that may get in the race and for other candidates that are tied to big special interests."
