The Political Round-Up
Elections not so special anymore;
The Black House? Copeland rides again;
Tanner out?; Run, Ron, Run; Duck, duck, goose!;
Sparks at library; McRae on mend;
Erwin saddles up with James;
Whetstone on the move; Untaught history's allure
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
Quick hitters from the political scene.
A few more & elections won't be special
A few prospects to run for the House District 65 seat are Angie Williams, who has announced, and Chatom Mayor Harold Crouch, Jackson pharmacist Ovel Hubert and Gloria Dolbare, whose prospective candidacies were merely rumored. The seat came open when Marc Keahey trounced GOP nominee Greg Albritton to win a special election for state Senate District 22 left vacant with the Jan. 11 death of Pat Lindsey. Crouch was unavailable this week, according to a spokesperson at Chatom City Hall. District 65 includes all of Washington County and parts of Clarke and Choctaw counties. Sources suggest Gov. Bob Riley will not rush to set the special election while the GOP scours the field for a solid entrant.
The Black House?
State Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, is considered the front-runner to succeed retiring state Rep. Seth Hammett as Speaker of the House, but Speaker Pro Tem Demetrius Newton, D-Birmingham, may mount a challenge.
Copeland gang rides again
Mobile City Council President Reggie Copeland had a re-election reception at Wintzell's downtown last week. Reggie Copeland Jr., who organized the event, estimated contributions of $10,000 even though the gathering was not billed as a fundraiser. As yet, Copeland has no announced opposition in city elections in August. Donations will be returned if Copeland has no foe, young Copeland indicated.
Among those attending Copeland's reception were Circuit Judges John Lockett and Rick Stout, both former attorneys for the city, former mayoral candidates Ann Bedsole and Bess Rich, developers Greg Saad and Dan Elcan, state Sen. Ben Brooks, City Attorney Larry Wettermark, Jim Laier, Mayor Sam Jones, Bob and Buffy Donlon, former county commission candidate Ralph Buffkin, Probate Judge Don Davis, Jim McGuire of McGuire Oil, city council attorney Jim Rossler, Don Kelly of The Mitchell Company, Mobile County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Callaghan, GMAC Bowl maestro Jerry Silverstein and local real estate executive Richard Weavil.
Tanner out?
Ex-state Sen. Gary Tanner is not expected to challenge state Sen. Ben Brooks in 2010. The Republican toppled the veteran Democratic office-holder in a District 35 barnburner in 2006. Tanner did not immediately return a call, but the word in political circles among his longtime supporters and allies was not encouraging for another go at Brooks. However, if a circuit judge were to retire, allowing Gov. Bob Riley to appoint his replacement, possibly Brooks, then Tanner and his camp may reconsider a race. Brooks was in the running a few years ago when Riley appointed Circuit Judge Robert Smith to an opening on the bench here. Jim Wood, a Democrat, will be age-barred from seeking re-election in the next election cycle, but he isn't expected to step down before completing his full term.
Send 'em a message
Mobile police detective Ron Wallace reported a fine turnout at a rally in behalf of his Mobile City Council District 3 campaign at Ladd Stadium Saturday. The event attracted fellow council challenger Yasmin Coker, who is opposing District 1 incumbent Fred Richardson. Wallace is seeking to defeat 24-year incumbent City Councilman Clinton Johnson.
"I even saw vehicles with Jermaine Burrell signs on them checking out the rally," Wallace noted. "I plan to have another rally very soon, possibly this month."
Burrell is also running for the District 3 seat on the city council.
Duck, duck, goose!
Mobile City Councilwoman Gina Gregory urges District 7 motorists to "please watch for families of ducks and other wildlife crossing streets especially on Museum Drive and Zeigler Boulevard. There are a lot now and they can be hard to see in the evening hours."
Gregory is running for re-election this year without opposition as yet.
Sparks in Mobile on Cuba
Democratic candidate for governor Ron Sparks, currently the state's commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, will speak to the Society Mobile-La Habana Tuesday, June 9 at 7 p.m. in Bernheim Hall at the Ben May Public Library in downtown Mobile, according to SMLH's Jay Higginbotham. Sparks has served in his present office since 2002. He has traveled to Cuba and encouraged trade agreements through the Port of Mobile. Higginbotham said Sparks' talk will recount past efforts but also will disclose new opportunities in Cuba for Alabama business interests to develop.
The public is welcome and there is no charge for admission.
McRae on mend
Longtime Mobile County Circuit Judge Ferrill McRae, now retired, is recovering at Mercy Medical from recent surgery. He is expected to be released in the next week or so to continue rehabilitation from his home, according to recent visitors, whose number includes fellow former Judge Herman Thomas. Thomas faces a 58-count indictment on charges alleging a variety misconduct as a judge. He has plead not guilty and a trial date is expected this fall.
Erwin joins James campaign
Mobile attorney and former county GOP chairman Mark Erwin has joined the governor's campaign of Tim James as its county coordinator.
Previously, James named former Jefferson County Republican Party Chair David Wheeler as his county coordinator there, and longtime GOP activist Becky Vasko of Silverhill as his Baldwin County coordinator.
“The past four years, Mark Erwin has worked tirelessly to build a strong Republican Party in Mobile County. I look forward to working with Mark as we move forward with building a strong campaign organization,” James said.
Erwin is charged with building a grass-roots campaign organization in Mobile County, Alabama’s second largest in voter turnout.
“Tim James has demonstrated his leadership abilities as a moving force for leaner, more responsive state government," said Erwin. "He’s the kind of conservative Republican governor we need for Alabama.”
A member of Mobile County’s Republican Executive Committee and the Alabama GOP Executive Committee for 10 years, Erwin served two terms as county GOP chair until this past January when Kyle Callaghan took the reins.
Erwin has been a practicing attorney in Mobile County, since 1998, clerking for Circuit Judge Joseph S. “Rusty” Johnston of Mobile County for a year following graduation from University of Alabama School of Law. He’s a graduate from Freed-Hardeman University. Erwin is a native of Mobile and graduate of Mobile Christian High School.
He and partner Harry Satterwhite formed Satterwhite and Erwin LLC in June 2001. Erwin is a member of the Alabama Association of Municipal Attorneys. He served two years as Special Judge of Probate under Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis. Erwin is now serving as a temporary Judge for the City of Saraland.
Erwin is married to Silvia Sargent Erwin. They have three children, Emma Dixon, Sargent and Barton.
Erwin reportedly is backing off a campaign for district attorney in 2010, in light of incumbent Democratic District Attorney John Tyson Jr.'s announcement that he would seek re-election rather than bid again for attorney general in 2010.
However, some sources suggest, Tyson who has qualified for state retirement, may reconsider as qualifying time draws near. As with many officeholders, Tyson understands the practicality of maintaining his political viability as long as possible both as a safeguard against a change of mind and to maximize his ability to influence who succeeds him in office.
Whetstone on the move
Former Baldwin County District Attorney David Whetstone has left the Adams Reese firm where he was based in Foley. Whetstone has joined with Andrew Harrell's law practice in Gulf Shores.
Bagwell resurrects untaught history
Fairhope lawyer David Bagwell will address the Sunrise Rotary Club at the Country Club of Mobile Wednesday morning on “Alabama History Your Teachers Didn’t Teach You: The Frenchman Louis LeClerc Milfort as War General of the Creeks Under Alexander McGillivray’s Chieftanship."
