Doc's Political Parlor

Susan Parker for Governor? Not in 2010

Danny — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:48:47 +0000

I have been hearing talk that some Democrats have been encouraging PSC Commissioner Susan Parker to run for governor in 2010. (At least one reader has been hearing something similar and left comments here and here.)

In response to my inquiry, Commissioner Parker tells the Parlor, “I have had a number of people mention it to me. At this time, it is not something I am considering.”

“I am very focused on my work at the Public Service Commission. I have been selected as president of the Regional, I am very involved in the national [the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners] on the Executive Committee. I feel what happens the next few years in energy on the national scene and in Alabama is very important. That where’s my focus is, my passion.” Parker was elected at the end of June to the presidency of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. SEARUC members are utility regulators in 11 states.

“As far as I know right now we have at least two good candidates for governor,” she said, referring to Democrats Artur Davis and Ron Sparks. She added that she plans “in a few months” to make a formal announcement to run for re-election to the PSC.

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Link Between U.S. Attorney’s Office and Birmingham News?

Danny — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:05:30 +0000

From a circulating email (reprinted here with permission):

Dear Friends of Justice:
I wanted to let you know that our organization has decided to take drastic steps to seek accountability on the part of the Government and the media in their pursuit of Jefferson County officials and their associates. Attached are two Freedom of Information requests Citizens for Equality sent to the US Attorney’s office in Birmingham and the FBI. We believe that the information sought in these requests will shed light upon the highly conspicuous relationship between the US Attorneys office in Birmingham and various media outlets. We contend that their actions have resulted in an impediment to the guarantee of due process in the Northern District US Attorneys office.
Tracie Allen Citizens for Equality

I have heard, perhaps you have too, grumblings over the years about information supposedly leaked from the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Northern District to media outlets especially including the Birmingham News. The FOIA request seeks information on communications between the Birmingham News and the Northern District U.S. Attorney’s office related to the prosecutions of Al LaPierre, Larry Langford, and Bill Blount.

I don’t have much to add to what Tim Lennox has already said about this, except that I received the okay to post the FOIA requests here:

Northern District FOIA Request.pdf

FBI FOIA Request.pdf

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I Got Yer Press Releases Right Here

Danny — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:44:44 +0000

An approaching election year means more candidates mean more press releases. I’m glad to pass them along in posts as I can, but now I have one stop shopping for you.

I’ll put appropriate press releases here (with a link in the sidebar) for you and you can peruse as you wish. Sort alphabetically or by date. If you want information on how to submit releases, it’s there too.

Enjoy. Or not. But somebodies put those releases together hoping you’d get the info.

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‘Vote for Birmingham’ Community Forums

Danny — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:35:23 +0000

Birmingham forums intended to “connect candidates and community members and provide a place to share ideas, questions and comments” are happening tonight and next week in city Districts 3 and 7 respectively. Members of the community are invited along with city council and school board candidates.

Tonight’s District 3 forum is at 6:30 at Beloved Community Church, and Tuesday’s District 7 forum is at 6 o’clock at the Five Points West Library. You’ll find more details in a .pdf file here for District 3 and here for District 7.

Everybody wants better representation. Who’s willing to do something about it?

The forums are sponsored by Greater Birmingham Ministries.

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Daily Headlines, Thursday, 7/9/2009

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:05:01 +0000

Birmingham News - Jefferson County officials to lay off 207 laborers as it cuts expenses to make payroll

Birmingham News - Birmingham City Council committee agrees to amend bingo rules

Birmingham News - Bally asks to participate in Alabama electronic bingo case

Birmingham News - Budget case sent to Birmingham

Birmingham News - Lipscomb police chief fired; council broke open meetings law

Birmingham News - Sen. Jeff Sessions’ amendment would require federal contractors to verify employees are legal residents

Birmingham News - 4 candidates have applied for Homewood, Alabama council seat

Birmingham News - Jefferson County repeals sales tax holiday to save jobs, money

Press-Register - Police hunt slaying suspect who’d been freed by Herman Thomas in earlier case

Press-Register - ThyssenKrupp says no further delays for stainless melt shop

Press-Register - Baldwin officials seek accounting of how tax money spent at Fort Morgan

Press-Register - Prichard Housing Authority sues builder over Chinese drywall

Press-Register - Alabama’s public oyster reefs remain closed

Press-Register - In Prichard, at least talk

Press-Register - What will the state do about benefit costs?

Huntsville Times - Athens to discuss sewer

Huntsville Times - Hopeful Sparks to meet voters

Huntsville Times - Jail inches toward the $80M mark

Huntsville Times - Madison eyes $40M loan

Montgomery Advertiser - Alabama’s ‘ghost trail’ may scare up tourism dollars

Montgomery Advertiser - Alabama’s drug price lawsuit in hands of jury

Montgomery Advertiser - Judge asks Montgomery County Commission to reconsider vote on Elections Center travel request

Montgomery Advertiser - Montgomery County commissioners, Riley want right fit for open seat

Montgomery Advertiser - Hard to tell who gets gambling funds in Alabama

Tuscaloosa News - BFGoodrich lost radioactive material, fined

Tuscaloosa News - Gambling interests gave $2.6M in ‘06 elections

Florence TimesDaily - Biosolid facility closes its doors

Florence TimesDaily - Denton honored for state infection reporting law

Florence TimesDaily - Stimulus funds grant to help out-of-work Alabamians retrain

Anniston Star - Want to check on the stimulus? Now’s your chance

Anniston Star - Shine a light on critical report: Public records and Oxford’s hill

Decatur Daily - Morgan Corrections working

Decatur Daily - Franken victory gives Dems heavy responsibility

Gadsden Times - Mountainboro becomes part of Boaz Aug. 14

Opelika-Auburn News - City of Notasulga celebrates opening of long-awaited bridge

Opelika-Auburn News - 105 -year-old volunteer continues to be a blessing to others

Opelika-Auburn News - Auburn man’s anti-military statements draw reaction

Opelika-Auburn News - Alabama prison lifer gets pardon after turnaround

Opelika-Auburn News - Cleanup of massive Alabama tire dump complete

Senate Sketches - Sen. Hank Sanders writes a weekly column for his constituents.

New York Times - Justice Dept. Whistle-Blower in Alabama Case Is Fired

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Small Town Political Gazette

waltm — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:01:38 +0000

Cullman Times - Hanceville Water Board fires City Council member after audit

Troy Messenger - Final verdict awaited in District Six election case

BaldwinCountyNow - Power struggle continues between Daphne’s mayor and council

Daily Mountain Eagle - Jasper adjusts budget after drop in sales tax revenue

Atmore Advance - TEA party held as ‘peaceful demonstration’ - people are not happy

Selma Times-Journal - Take care with bond items - lets hope so

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Bobby Bright, Spokesmodel

Danny — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:55:06 +0000

At a July 4 celebration, freshman Congressman Bobby Bright (D - Montgomery) holds up a t-shirt with the words, “Fire Congress” this weekend. Politico has the story along with this key sentence, “Apparently, [his constituents] are pleased with the job he’s doing — just not the job that Congress as a whole is doing.”

That’s fairly universal, isn’t it? Most folks districts keep sending their own elected officials back, it’s the others that are the problem.

It’s a good bet that we will see this picture again come election time.

Reminds me of the time when someone got Karl Rove with a “Free Don Siegelman Banner.”

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More Are Talking about Siegelman Prosecution

Daily Headlines, Wednesday, 7/8/2009

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:35:02 +0000

Birmingham News - Birmingham lawyer Martha Bozeman joins race for Artur Davis’ District 7 congressional seat

Birmingham News - Alabama Air Guard unit from Montgomery preparing for three-month mission in Iraq

Birmingham News - Applications taken for trustee board

Birmingham News - Jefferson County judge dismisses misdemeanor charges against abortion clinic protester

Birmingham News - Moody, Hanceville among state pre-K sites

Birmingham News - Federal audit cites problems with popular Mobile nonprofit

Birmingham News - OUR VIEW: Alabama campaigns fueled by gambling money, but PAC-to-PAC transfers make it impossible to say who got what

Birmingham News - SCOTT STANTIS: Dr. Bronner has the answer

Birmingham News - OUR VIEW: Alabama gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks shouldn’t resurrect lottery platform

Press-Register - Mobile City Council fixes zoning problem in annexed areas

Press-Register - Conecuh district attorney declines state attorney general race

Press-Register - Prichard dissolution proposal lacks key political support

Press-Register - Oh, the ironies that lie beneath purchase

Huntsville Times - Culver pushes for more crosswalks

Huntsville Times - Tractors, trucks ready to give their all at pull

Montgomery Advertiser - Former Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley breaks hip in fall

Montgomery Advertiser - Browder fills ‘gaps’ of South, politics in new book

Montgomery Advertiser - DA calls dumping ash in Uniontown ‘tragic’

Montgomery Advertiser - Southern Baptists get creative to halt membership decline

Montgomery Advertiser - OSHA fines Alabama firm $189,000

Montgomery Advertiser - Alabama gets Tennessee coal ash

Tuscaloosa News - Incumbents eager to qualify for Aug. 25 municipal election

Tuscaloosa News - Davis says gambling is no cure-all

Tuscaloosa News - City, state officials meet with HUD

Tuscaloosa News - Remembering a legend from West Alabama

Anniston Star - Seeking a $135,000 salary: Anniston’s decision a good one

Anniston Star - More important than gambling: Talking about the lottery

Anniston Star - Harvey H. Jackson: Keeping watch over the beach

Decatur Daily - ACLU claim makes teachers’ jobs harder

Decatur Daily - Political??Jackson should look at the man in the mirror

Opelika-Auburn News - AU trustee seat up for grabs

Opelika-Auburn News - Riley administration fills $91,000 position

Opelika-Auburn News - Women pulls out of suit claiming racial beating

Associated Press - Questions and answers about health legislation

New York Times - Senators Settling Into New Roles to Weigh Sotomayor Nomination

Los Angeles Times - Former Bush aide Karl Rove testifies before House committee on …

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Small Town Political Gazette

waltm — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:30:22 +0000

The Selma Times-Journal - Pre-K Black Belt kids overlooked

Shelby County Reporter - Money brings favor, controversy

Times-Journal - TEA party shows people will stand up

Shoals Insider - Synagro plant abandoned - curious in light of recent events

St. Clair News-Aegis - With bingo on hold. budget woes for Argo

Jacksonville News - Council listens to pet owners

Dothan Eagle - Endorsements for Council elections and profile of District Five candidates

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2010 Candidate Updates

Danny — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:14:50 +0000

State Rep. Gerald Allen (R - Cottondale) has announced that he will challenge incumbent Phil Poole (D - Moundville) for the Senate District 21 seat in 2010. By my count, House District 62 (Allen’s seat) is the ninth confirmed open seat in the state House. There are four open seats in the Senate, five if you count Larry Dixon’s seat which is widely expected to be open come 2010.

These and other changes have been noted in the 2010 House Elections Directory and the Senate Elections Directory.

Edit: The number of the Senate District has been corrected.

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Let Them Know About Whom?

Danny — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:41:54 +0000

Some amused readers pointed me toward gubernatorial candidate Robert Bentley’s Tell-a-friend page on his campaign site last week. Apparently his campaign liked the site for Jon Huntsman’s winning campaign for governor of Utah, so much so that Bentley’s “Tell-a-friend” page on his own page invited readers to “let them know about the Huntsman for Governor campaign.”

Here is a screenshot taken before the page was corrected (click on it to see a larger version):

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Last Call for Draft Constitution Comments

Danny — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:47:50 +0000

Today is your last opportunity to leave comments on the draft constitution proposed by ACCR’s mock convention.

Comments offered on the draft constitution by midnight tonight will be considered by the delegates to the mock convention as they craft the final version of the document. The final version will be revealed August 27 at the Constitution Village in Huntsville where Alabama wrote its first state constitution.

Reader interest here has been strong, perhaps stronger than I would have guessed. Altogether there have been a few hundred comments offered among the various articles and the introductory post. The first page of the constitution, the preamble, was not actually a post, but it was viewed more times last month than all but the top three posts. The post that invited comments on the draft was the third most viewed post last month.

More details are available here.

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