Hammett speaks softly,
carries big wallet
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
'Speak softly and carry a big wallet,' as a policy in Alabama politics, will generally serve you well.
A perusal of Seth Hammett's recent campaign financial disclosures offers an eloquent explanation of the Speaker of the House's popularity among his Democratic colleagues.
They are not green with envy at Hammett's charm, but green with Hammett's money, more than $1 million's worth.
The speaker doled out thousands and thousands of dollars to favored candidates throughout the state in last year's election cycle. As a result, Hammett remains the hub around which the House wheels and deals.
Longtime GOP loyalists are left to sputter and explain the party's inability to translate Alabama's rock solid status as a 'red state' into corresponding representation in the state Legislature.
How is it that Alabama votes Republican in presidential elections, boasts both U.S. senators, most of the state's congressmen and most of the constitutional offices at the state level? How does this seemingly broad appeal collapse into marked GOP minorities in both the state House and Senate?
An unfathomable mystery, except that it can be fathomed.
Veteran Republican legislators stew, hem and haw with a deflecting politesse in public. But later, with the cameras and microphones and pencils and pads safely stored away, they shoot straight.
The various interests that are typically more philosophically in line with the GOP -- insurance, retailers, real estate, forestry, medical professionals, manufacturing -- generously back Republican challenges to Democratic incumbents.
But -- and a big but it is -- many then turn around and hedge their commitment to altering the state's political landscape, and ultimately its culture, with contributions to Hammett. The Andalusian serves as a middle man in Montgomery, giving where others dare not openly give, after reaping staggering support from an array of PAC's.
So the party in power commands the process and the cash which tends to keep it in charge, "making those lines curve," be they roads on a map or boundaries establishing legislative districts, as the now late, but then beaming Coy Smith used to laughingly refer to as "the fun part of governing."
The Hammett campaign's cumulative assets during 2006 exceeded $1.6 million, allowing him to spend more than $1.4 million. Very little of that was spent in securing his own District 92 House seat.
According to documents on file with the Alabama Secretary of State, candidates who benefited from Hammett's largesse, via other, more shy original sources, include:
Bobby Payne of Tallassee, $8,000 total -- $1,000, Jan. 19; $1,000, Jan. 23, $1,000, Feb. 6; $5,000, Feb. 17;
George Bandy of Opelika, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Thomas Jackson of Thomasville, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Billy Beasley of Clayton, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Alan Boothe of Troy, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
James Buskey of Mobile, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Allen Layson of Reform, $9,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Thad McClammy of Montgomery, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 9; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Sue Schmitz of Toney, $21,500 total -- $1,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10; $2,000, Aug. 15; $2,000, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $1,500; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Yusuf Salaam of Selma, $11,500 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26, $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10; $1,500, Sept. 1;
Albert Hall (deceased) of Gurley, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Laura Hall of Huntsville, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 9; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Betty Carol Graham of Alex City, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Marika Coleman of Midfield, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Bill Dukes of Decatur, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Priscilla Dunn of Bessemer, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Johnny Mack Morrow of Red Bay, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Mary Moore of Birmingham, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Joseph Mitchell of Mobile, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, July 17;
Bryant Melton of Tuscaloosa, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
John Robinson of Scottsboro, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Oliver Robinson of Birmingham, $14,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10; $1,000, Aug. 15; $1,000, Sept 1; $1,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Oct. 2;
William Thigpen of Fayette, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
James Thomas of Selma, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000 April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10;
Pebblin Warren of Shorter, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
John Rogers of Birmingham, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Yvonne Kennedy of Mobile, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, August 10;
Ralph Howard of Greensboro, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
John Knight of Montgomery, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 10; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Demetrius Newton of Birmingham, $5,000 total -- $1,000, April 12; $1,000, May 9; $1,000, June 10; $1,000, July 10; $1,000, Aug. 10;
Eric Major of Fairfield, $14,000 total -- $2,000, April 12; $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10; $2,000, June 26; $2,000, July 3;
Alvin Holmes of Montgomery, $10,000 total -- $2,000, April 19; $2,000, April 26; $2,000, May 3; $2,000, May 10; $2,000, June 10;
Mack Roberts of Collinsville, $1,000 total -- $1,000, June 26;
Mike Curtis of Florence, $19,500 total -- $2,000, Aug.15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $12,000, Oct. 2;
Jody Letson of Hillsboro, $12,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Tommy Sherer of Jasper, $12,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Jack Page of Gadsden, $10,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Richard Laird of Roanoke, $23,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 15 (apparently a typo and intended to be recorded for Sept. 25); $17,000, Sept. 29;
Pat Sewell of Leeds, $25,000 total -- $5,000, Aug. 15; $5,000, Sept. 1; $5,000, Sept. 15; $5,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Terry Spicer of Elba, $129,550 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $2,000, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $15,000, Oct. 2; $15,000, Oct. 16; $92,550, Oct. 25;
Lesley Vance of Phenix City, $10,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Skippy White of Pollard, $70,000 total -- $5,000, Aug. 15; $5,000, Sept. 1; $5,000, Sept. 15; $5,000, Sept. 25; $15,000, Oct. 2; $10,000, Oct. 11; $25,000, Oct. 25;
Rod Scott of Fairfield, $5,000 total -- $1,000, Aug. 15; $1,000, Sept. 1; $1,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $1,000, Oct. 2;
Lea Fite of Jacksonville, $19,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $12,000, Sept. 28;
Craig Ford of Gadsden, $12,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Locy Baker of Abbeville, $16,500 total -- $3,000, Aug. 15; $2,500, Sept. 1; $3,000, Sept. 15; $3,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Barbara Boyd of Anniston, $5,000 total -- $1,000, Aug. 15; $1,000, Sept. 1; $1,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $1,000, Oct. 2;
Tammy Irons of Florence, $12,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Joe Carothers of Dothan, $74,500 total -- $5,000, Aug. 15; $4,500, Sept. 1; $5,000, Sept. 15; $5,000, Oct. 2; $20,000 (Conservatives for Joe Carothers), Oct. 11; $35,000, Oct. 24;
Randy Hinshaw of Meridianville, $37,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $20,000, Oct. 2; $10,000, Oct. 16;
Steve Hurst of Munford, $18,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $12,000, Oct. 2;
Earl Hilliard Jr. of Birmingham, $3,000 total -- $1,000, Aug. 15; $1,000, Sept. 1; $1,000, Sept. 25;
A.J. McCampbell of Demopolis, $5,000 total -- $1,000; Aug. 15; $1,000, Sept. 1; $1,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $1,000, Oct. 2;
Ron Grantland of Hartselle, $52,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $20,000, Oct. 2; $10,000, Oct. 16; $15,000, Oct. 18;
Alan Harper of Aliceville, $20,000 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $2,000, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $12,000, Oct. 2;
Jimmy Martin of Clanton, $24,500 total -- $5,000, Aug. 15; $4,500, Sept. 1; $5,000. Sept. 15 ; $5,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Mike Millican of Hamilton, $11,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Frank McDaniel of Albertville, $11,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $1,500, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2;
Henry White of Athens, $30,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $2,000, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $2,000, Sept. 25; $5,000, Oct. 2; $7,500, Oct. 3; $10,000, Oct. 11;
Neal Morrison of Cullman, $22,500 total -- $2,000, Aug. 15; $2,000, Sept. 1; $2,000, Sept. 15; $16,500, Sept. 29;
Carolyn Ellis of Auburn, $2,000 total -- $1,000, Sept. 1; $1,000, Sept. 25;
Chris England of Tuscaloosa, $2,500 total -- $1,000, Sept. 1; $1,500, Sept. 25;
Marc Keahey of Grove Hill, $70,262 total -- $1,000, Sept. 15; $1,000, Sept. 25; $68,262, Oct. 25;
Sue Mitchell of Athens, $1,000 total -- $1,000, Sept. 15;
Hammett's campaign also spent the following amounts on political consultants during 2006:
- Silver Bullet Strategies of Washington, D.C.: $5,000, Aug. 22; $956.31, Sept. 21; $10,000.62, Sept. 28; $9,666.37, Oct. 4; $6,714.60, Oct. 4; $9,666.37, Oct. 11; $9,326.87, Oct. 16; $6,714.60, Oct. 25; $3,746.87, Oct. 25;
- Results of Montgomery: $32,000, Aug. 17; $14,420, Oct. 5; $17,000, Oct. 11;
- Sheinkopf Communications of Madison Avenue, New York, NY: $9,495, Oct. 8; $5,000, Oct. 12; $1,751, Oct. 12;
- Frederick Polls of Arlington, VA: $10,000, Oct. 10; $7,000, Oct. 16; $26,500, Oct. 25;
- Matrix of Montgomery, AL: $2,500, Oct. 10;
Other dispersements from Hammett's coffers included $4,855 on March 12 to the U.S. Treasury, Department of the Internal Revenue Service, and $586 on March 12 to the Alabama Department of Revenue.
