The Political Round-Up
Dirty Poole, empty Poole?; Going 'two' far: Courthouse security enhanced; circuit clerk expands hours;
Local Dems set annual elections; Struttin' down
Dauphin Street; a mended Mims.
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
Some hollered dirty Poole. Others saw a drained and empty Poole. But in the end the forces of state Sen. Lowell Barron and his allies in the state Senate prevailed again.
With stunning swiftness, two defections popped the balloon of a ballyhooed state Senate coalition that would've reorganized the Senate under less rancorously partisan lines, presumably creating a more hospitable atmosphere for second term GOP Gov. Bob Riley's proposals.
Two Democratic senators -- Roger Smitherman of Birmingham and Phil Poole of Moundville -- abandoned the coalition of 12 Republicans and seven Democrats who sought to defeat the forces of longtime Senate strongmen Barron of Fyffe and Hank Sanders of Selma (Doc's Political Parlor).
By an 18-17 vote, the Democrats held on by their fingertips although Sen. Hinton Mitchem, D-Union Grove, not Barron, will stand as president pro tem of the Senate for half a term with Smitherman next in line for two years in the saddle. As chairman of the rules committee, Barron survives as a major figure, perhaps performing in a side ring, which he may regard as a welcome respite after years as a lightning rod for criticism.
The statehouse corridors and assembly rooms were abuzz with the news.
Amid all the excitement whirling about, a Mobile County legislator said the image that stuck with him was that of a forlorn Poole sitting all alone, looking more "like a lost puppy" than a guy whose game-winning shot had lifted his team to victory.
"I almost felt sorry for him," the legislator said.
Other local Republicans suggested that a coalition with Poole as its linchpin was no coalition at all, just a house of cards and Poole the joker.
Similarly, Democratic Speaker of the House Seth Hammett raised the ire of Republicans with his committee appointments in the House of Representatives.
While many GOP lawmakers screamed foul, state Rep. Spencer Collier, R-Bayou La Batre, said he was not upset at the organization of the Legislature under rules that many of his GOP colleagues regard as offensively punitive.
“The bottom line is: they won,” said Collier. “If we would’ve won, I’d be leading the charge to cut them off committees. We live in a partisan world, a partisan time. They won this time. We’ll win next time. They set a trend we’ll remember. We shouldn’t be crying now and they shouldn’t cry when we take control and I guarantee we will take control.”
Going 'Two' Far: Courthouse security tightened
The new year brings with it enhanced security at the Mobile County Courthouse, which a former U.S. Secret Service agent described as “a tragedy waiting to happen” without certain corrections that have been instituted.
Initial steps have already been implemented to tighten security at the courthouse downtown, moves which prompted some grumbling among court personnel whose comings and goings were altered.
"I think everyone is used to it now," said newly-elected Circuit Clerk Jo Jo Schwarzauer.
Presiding Circuit Judge Charlie Graddick said a seemingly minor, if repulsive, incident proved to be the tipping point in calling for an examination of courthouse security.
“Somebody defecated outside in the hallway," Graddick said. "It was outside Judge (Rick) Stout’s courtroom, in between Judge Stout’s and Judge (Herman) Thomas’ (courtrooms). I had a trial going on to do with rival gangs. We had gangs on one side and the other. It was a murder trial. A lot of terrible looking folks, most of them with criminal records. It was a tense situation as far as emotions between those people. I called in a little extra security and then someone did that in the hallway. Whether it was an accident or something else (a threat or a show of disrespect), I just didn’t know.”
The incident on top of other discomfiting occurrences and the remarks of out-of-town lawyers moved courthouse security up on Graddick’s agenda. Then Graddick learned that the Administrator of Courts for the state had a security consultant on staff at no cost to county. The retired U.S. Secret Service agent conducted a study of the Mobile County Courthouse which led to a number of recommendations.
Graddick said he preferred not to publicize any specific security measures that were adopted because to do so would jeopardize their effectiveness. However, Graddick said the consultant portrayed some chilling scenarios that existing weaknesses in courthouse security almost invited.
"I’m grateful to have this job. I love what I do. If I had to walk up eight floors to get here, I wouldn’t think anything of it. I believe when a security expert tells me I ought to do something I should take that seriously. If I don’t and something happens, how do you think I would feel? Not to mention liability. All the (circuit) judges met and talked about and agreed with the changes. I didn’t make the changes. We did. I signed off on it so (it’s Graddick’s signature on the directive). These changes were agreed upon by the judges at the recommendation of the security expert."
The changes generally:
- Restrict use of the northwest elevator to persons with an assigned parking space in the basement and the judges' staff, as was originally intended with construction of the elevator; Jurors will also use the basement elevator at the judges' discretion, when for instance a more open access might subject them to an intimidating or hostile atmosphere;
- Provide greater security in the back hallway leading to the judges’ chambers;
- Tighten security to the judges’ offices through the front public entrances to the various courtrooms;
- Assign a full time security officer to each floor.
The revised plan calls for attorneys to receive key cards which will allow them to access the back hallway to the judges’ offices at either end of the public foyer outside the general public's entrances to the courtrooms.
Change is rarely welcomed with open arms, Graddick noted. Whatever criticism is directed his way because of the changes and the resulting inconveniences, Graddick is willing to accept as a small price to pay for a safer courthouse, he said.
“If they can’t see the necessity, that’s sad,” said Graddick, adding that he would rather prevent a tragedy than address one in its aftermath.
Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson, as an elected official with a dedicated parking space in the basement, won't be directly effected, but his assistant prosecutors must now use the northeast elevator.
"It's really just wrestling with the age-old question of courthouse security," Tyson said. "Courthouse security is a very important topic to me and my staff. In this business from time to time, just about every one of us has been threatened. In these days when judges are killed sitting on the bench and people are ambushed (you can't be too careful). Just last year standing there in another county courthouse, my wife and I, there was an incident. These are tough issues, tough issues that we're all trying to resolve."
Like Tyson, Graddick is no stranger to threats stemming from his role in the justice system.
When Graddick was the state’s attorney general, a contract was taken out on his life in Shelby County, he recalled.
“It was real,” he said. “They had video of the guy with the gun and the money in the trunk.”
On tape, the gunman explained that he planned to first get Graddick's attention with shots to the prosecutor's kneecaps before ultimately finishing him off with a round between the eyes, according to the judge.
The prospective assassin, said Graddick, was a former Shelby County deputy sheriff who was tried, convicted and given the maximum sentence under the law.
Circuit Clerk sets new hours
Effective Tuesday, Jan. 16, the circuit clerk’s office hours will be 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to newly-elected Mobile County Circuit Clerk Jo Jo Schwarzauer. Additionally, attorneys will have unrestricted access to the file area of the clerk’s office, she said.
Local Democratic Party election set Jan. 23
The Mobile Democratic Executive Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at St Luke's Episcopal School on Azalea Road.
Annual elections will be conducted.
Party Chairman Brad Warren, who won a narrow and hotly contested election late last year to fill the remainder of resigning chairman Bob Beckerle's term, will seek election to a full term, he said.
Mobile attorney Vance McCrary, who barely lost to Warren in the special election last year, said he would not run for the position this time around.
Longtime Mobile area Democratic Party stalwart Ed Kahalley recently resigned from the party's executive committee.
Walk About
Dan Burden, an expert on "walkable communities," will speak to a luncheon gathering here Friday, Jan. 19 at 261 Dauphin St.
Burden will conduct an audit of the 'walkability' of downtown Mobile and will present an overview of the importance of creating pedestrian-friendly communities. Downtown Mobile Alliance, Envision Coastal Alabama and the city of Mobile are sponsoring Burden's appearance.
The program will begin at noon. Cost of the lunch is $5 per person. Space is limited, so make reservations by calling Angela at 434-8498.
A mended Mims
Former Mobile Mayor Lambert C. Mims has bounced back from a stroke he suffered on Oct. 31.
Mims reported that friends who saw him not long after he was stricken feared the worst.
"(They) said I looked like a dead man," Mims said. "After 13 days in NICU my neurologist told me I had just missed the 'silver bullet.' My oncologist told me that when she looked into my eyes she 'didn’t think there was anybody home.'"
Mims said he was now "almost 100 percent recovered," and deeply thankful to his friends for their concern and prayers.
"I not only believe in miracles," Mims said, "I am a miracle."
