No grass growing under Youngpeter's robe
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
A campaign kickoff rally for recently-installed Mobile County Circuit Judge Michael Youngpeter's election is set for Thursday, Jan. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at Wintzell's Oyster House in downtown Mobile at 605 Dauphin St.
Youngpeter, whose investiture was conducted just last Friday, was appointed to a vacancy on the circuit bench created when Judge Herman Thomas resigned amid a Judicial Inquiry Commission investigation into his ethical conduct.
Gov. Bob Riley recently selected Youngpeter from a list of three finalists that the local Judicial Selection Committee submitted for his consideration. Others on the short list were Randy Crane and E.J. Saad.
Local attorney Michael Druhan is chairman of Youngpeter's campaign committee.
Youngpeter will seek election to a full term on the bench as a Republican. He has no known opponents as yet, either in the GOP primary or among Democrats, although ex-District Attorney and former Circuit Judge Chris Galanos, a longtime Democrat, is reported to be eyeing the seat. Veteran political consultant Steve Raby has been linked to a putative Galanos bid as well. Galanos declined to comment on the matter.
Hosts for the Youngpeter kickoff event include:
- Jack Edwards, Jim Barton, Kathy Miller, Cooper Thurber, Preston Bolt, Celia Collins, Chuck Miller, Michael Upchurch, Jeffrey Hartley, Fred Helmsing;
- Ken Nixon, Forrest Latta, Doug Anderson, Beth Rouse, Ben Rowe, Jay McDonald, Helen Alford, Shirley Justice, Julian Motes, Marshall Gardner;
- Lisa Hansen, George Walker, Ben Brooks, Steve Windom, E.B. Peebles, Ed Sledge, Paul Myrick, Ed Dean, Reggie Copeland Jr., Win Stuardi, Warren Butler;
- John McCall, Harris Morrissette, Henry Callaway, Dan Cushing, Michael Knight, Walt Gilmer, Danner Frazer, John Leach, Bill Wasden, David Boyette;
- Tom Benton, Christian Hines, Bill Lancaster, Vic Lott, Reggie Copeland Sr., David Broome, Donald Stewart, Sandy Robinson, Stuart Luckie, Greg Carwie;
- Mark Spear, Randy Spear, Cecily Kaffer, Cliff Brady, Charlie Fleming, Stoney Chavers, Larry Voit, Joe Steadman, Jim Newman;
- Robert Rouse, Jannen Rogers, Connie Armbrecht, Jim Johnston, Walter Honeycutt and Andy Clausen.
