The Political Round-Up
Keahey/Albritton showdown; Don't tread on me; James builds team in Baldwin;
Old Shell's summertime blues; Full force;
Sparks on the trail; Mobile mad for moonpies; Rally for change (but dollars welcome, too)
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
The Republican/Democrat struggle for political control of Alabama is no where more fierce than in the pit that is the state Senate.
The battle resumes Tuesday in southwest Alabama's senate District 22 special election between Democratic nominee and state Rep. Marc Keahey of Grove Hill and the Republican nominee, former legislator Greg Albritton of Atmore.
It is an uphill battle for Albritton, but reports suggest he's got a chance heading into the home stretch.
Keahey has some apparent advantages:
- he's an incumbent elected official within the District;
- a member of the party in power when the vacancy came about;
- endorsed by the children of the late Pat Lindsey, whose unexpected death in January created the opening in the District 22 seat;
- the National Rifle Association endorsed the Democrat Keahey in an area where the rights of gun owners are sacred;
- a Tombigbee Republican Club (perhaps more hat than cattle) endorsed Keahey;
- Albritton failed to gain the endorsement of one of his two GOP opponents, Judy McCain Belk, who was still reportedly smarting over the Albritton campaign's emphasis on her Democratic past. Belk did not respond to an attempt to contact her for comment.;
- and lastly and perhaps most importantly, a campaign budget that will approach if not exceed $500,000.
Nevertheless an Albritton supporter reports that polls show the GOP nominee anywhere from four points down to two points up.
"It's all about turn out," he said. "(Got a) big group going door to door this weekend. Special elections are all about the ground game."
Major contributors to Keahey include:
- Eagle PAC, $5,000; GA PAC, $16,000; Please PAC, $9,000; EN PAC, $2,500; Mann, Coward and Potter, $1,500; Southern Strategy Group PAC, $5,000;
- Alabama Poultry Trust, $2,000; Tree PAC, $4,000; Sound Economy PAC, $1,000; A PAC, $1,200; I & C PAC, $3,000; POLL PAC, $5,000;
- D.W. Grimsley Jr., $2,000; Clarke County Democratic Exec. Com., $1,500; Washington County Democratic Exec. Com., $5,000; J. Rudolph Davidson, $,2,500;
- A Vote, $10,000; Alabama Power Company Employees PAC, $2,500; Alaba PAC, $1,500; FGA PAC, $10,000; Telpac, $5,000; SAVE PAC, $5,000;
- James Buskey Campaign Fund, $2,000; Alabama Realtors PAC, $5,000; A. Senate Democratic Caucus PAC, $1,000; RACE PAC, $8,500; Brother PAC, $11,500;
- FAIR PAC, $10,000; Tommy Chapman, $1,000; FGA PAC, $5,000; FUTURE PAC, $4,000; CARE PAC, $3,500; GUMBO PAC, $1,000;
- AG PAC, $27,000; High Street PAC, $4,000; CAPITAL PAC, $6,000; Lyons & Crane Attorneys, $1,000; Richard B. Jones, $1,000;
- Billy Jones, $1,000; Royal Street PAC, $1,000; Senate Majority PAC, $5,000; and AG PAC, $23,000.
Although many political action committees contributed to Keahey's campaign, much of the money originated at fewer addresses:
- 441 High St., Suite 103, Montgomery, $65,500;
- 801 Adams Ave., Montgomery, $6,500;
- P.O. Box 230035, Montgomery, $11,000;
- P.O. Box 138, Montgomery, $20,000;
- P.O. Box 240, Montgomery, $52,000;
On the GOP side of the ballot, it appeared Albritton would fall short of $200,000 in expenditures on the race.
Going into the race's final days, he had spent about $160,000.
Major contributors to Albritton included:
- Jabo Waggoner for Senate Committee, $2,000; Friends of Trip Pittman, $2,000; (Del) Marsh for Senate, $2,000; Harris Morrissette, $1,000;
- Alabama Republican Party, $30,000; William H. Stimpson, $1,000; 21 Century Leadership Project, $1,000;
- Timothy E. James, $1,000; (Steve) French for Senate, $2,000; ALPAC, $2,000; Good Government Political Action Committee, $2,500; NetPac, $2,500; Progress PAC, $70,000;
- Farm PAC, $15,000; Brewton Iron Works, $1,000;Jo Bonner for Congress Committee, $1,000; Baldwin County Republican Party Executive Committee, $2,000;
- William W. Lamar, $1,000; Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Parham, II, $1,000; Association of General Contractors of America, $6,000, GUMBO PAC, $1,000; Benjamin Lewis Campaign Fund, $1,000.
One unusual aspect of Albritton's campaign was the amount of "in-kind" contributions. The state Republican Party contributed more than $70,000 with most of it designated for advertising. Farm Pac gave in-kind contributions totaling $12,000 and it was classified under "other."
The election is Tuesday, June 2. The district includes all or part of Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.
Don't tread on me
With his two-term run as governor winding down, Bob Riley apparently will struggle in the role of spectator looking on as a dozen or so would-be successors battle to fill his boots.
Regardless of the merits of Riley's position, a recent release in response to Democratic candidate for governor Artur Davis' charges over Riley's stance on and Alabama's handling of federal stimulus money conveyed a tone of genuine anger. As the campaign unfolds, the candidates will take positions on issues that won't necessarily track Riley's. Will Riley detect criticism of his administrations and "set the record straight?"
In the past, Riley has flashed a temper when critics aimed their barbs at his children Rob and Minda. Like most accomplished politicians, Riley usually deflected an affront with a mirthless laugh or a subtle comeback in kind, but didn't become angry or argumentative.
Riley's peppering of Davis was attributed to the governor's office, presumably to create an appearance that Riley himself was above such a pointed counterattack.
Granted, Davis' letter was a direct and maybe ill-informed knock on the Riley administration's performance in a specific area. Riley press secretary Jeff Emerson's lengthy rebuttal "calling out" Davis could fairly be interpreted to say that the congressman was an ignorant and lazy liar of spotty honor. The statement further scoffs at Davis' political acumen in taking pride in his own polling numbers that instead should worry the would-be governor. And, if Davis wants to blame a government executive for delaying needed relief for citizens he ought "to scoot on down to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and complain" to "the Obama Administration (that) has paid out less than six percent of the money to the states."
One suspects, at least in this corner, that Riley unloaded on Davis in the manner that he did because Davis didn't first address his concerns to Riley. Behind Riley's heated statement, the message seemed to be "don't rag on somebody in public before you've given him a chance in private to explain himself because you might have a better understanding afterwards."
Or maybe Riley's statement was calculated to help Davis in the Democratic primary. Democratic voters might relish a candidate who gets under the skin of a two-term GOP governor. Maybe Riley thinks Davis is a beatable Democratic nominee, especially if his competence and/or character are questioned, and wants to help him no his way. Or maybe it was just a slow Friday in the land of the lame duck.
James building Baldwin team
Meanwhile on Friday, Tim James, the now not so lonely Republican candidate for governor, named members of his Baldwin County campaign team, representing communities throughout the county.
Bob Wills of Bay Minette serves as the James' campaign's regional director, heading up efforts in a four-county "Baldwin region."
Joining James' efforts are:
- Coleman Bryars – Bay Minette; Alabama Guaranty Title Co.
- Kevin Corcoran – Gulf Shores; Remax Realtors of Gulf Shores.
- Richard Davis – Spanish Fort/Daphne; Davis & Fields Attorneys at Law.
- Allen McElroy – Orange Beach; retiree, member of Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Riley for Governor volunteer.
- David Rauch – Foley; Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch Engineers.
- Clay Swanzy – Fairhope; Sonny Callahan & Associates, former Chief of Staff for former U.S. Rep. Bill Dickinson and former U.S. Rep. Terry Everett.
- Becky Vasco – Baldwin County Coordinator, Republican activist and Riley for Governor volunteer.
- Eddie Woerner – Elberta; farmer, entrepreneur.
- George Woerner – County Finance Chair; The Woerner Companies.
Can't progress without detours
Beginning Monday, June 1 the intersection at Schillinger Road and Old Shell Road will be closed for construction work as the Alabama Department of Transportation begins making improvements there as part of the widening and resurfacing project that is underway, Mobile City Councilwoman Gina Gregory advised her District 7 constituents.
Detours will be set up for motorists to get around the construction. ALDOT erected signs Saturday alerting motorists of the road work. Mobile police officers will direct traffic the first week of work.
For more information on plans to improve the Old Shell Road/McGregor Avenue intersection, a community meeting is planned Monday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Auditorium.
Full force
Mobile Police Chief Phillip Garrett said recently that beginning June 1 the Mobile Police Department will be at its full authorized capacity of 675 for the first time since he became chief of police three years ago.
Sparks on the trail
State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, also a Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, will be the guest speaker at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 when the Society Mobile-La Habana meets at the Ben May main trunk of the Mobile Public Library downtown.
Mobile mad for moonpies
Proclaiming herself “A New Voice for District 1,” Yasmin Coker will announce her candidacy for Mobile City Council District 1 from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at her campaign headquarters, 602 Stanton Road.
After the announcement, there will be a campaign rally with free food and entertainment, including moonpies which will be given away at no taxpayer’s expense. All residents of district 1 are invited to attend.
For more Information, contact Courtney Edwards at 251.463.1649
Rally for change, but dollars welcome, too
Ron Wallace's campaign for Mobile City Council, District 3 will host a community rally from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 6 on the in an outside lot on the southside of Ladd Stadium at Virginia St. and Tuttle Ave.
The event will feature free food and music.
For more information, email or call (251) 463-4839 or visit: www.ronaldwallace.blogspot.com - www.wallacedistrict3.com,
