See also the AL - 05 Big List.
Welcome to the AL - 02 Big List.
This list has been an attempt to keep up with everyone in either political party who has been credibly mentioned (in public or private) as a potential candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District since Rep. Terry Everett (R - Rehobeth) announced that he will not run for re-election.
Both parties’ qualifying period ended April 4, 2008. Three Democrats and six Republicans qualified for the primary race, and they are listed below. The primary is June 3.
The Political Parlor will update the Alabama Line (found in the sidebar) for the race, though perhaps not as fast as you like since input from a wide array of people is sought.
| Democrats |
Republicans |
IN
Bobby Bright, Montgomery Mayor
Cendie Crawley, Dentist, Troy native
Cheryl Sabel, Alabama NOW President
OUT
William Boyd, Montgomery Mayoral Candidate
Seth Hammett, Speaker of the House
Jimmy Holley, State Senator
Jimmy Lunsford, Troy Mayor
Gary McAliley, Pike/Coffee Co. DA
Wendell Mitchell, State Senator
Scott Ninesling
James Perdue, Crenshaw Co Probate Judge
Cooper Rutland, Union Springs Atty
Ron Sparks, Agricultural Commissioner
Terry Spicer, State Representative
Glen Zorn, former Florala Mayor
|
IN
David Grimes, State Representative
Jay Love, State Representative
John W. Martin, Retired Army (Dothan)
Craig Schmidtke, Dothan oral surgeon
Harri Anne Smith, State Senator
David Woods, President, WCOV-TV (Montgomery)
OUT
Greg Albritton, former state Representative
Wes Allen, former candidate for Auditor
Kenneth Boswell, Enterprise Mayor
Bobby Bright, Montgomery Mayor
Terry Butts, former Supreme Court Justice
Jim Byard, Prattville Mayor
Steve Clouse, State Representative
Mark Culver, Houston County Commissioner
Larry Dixon, State Senator
John Giles, former Christian Coalition of AL President
Jack Hawkins, Troy Univ. Chancellor
Jimmy Holley, State Senator
Tim James, Greenville businessman
Troy King, Attorney General
Ben Lewis, State Representative
Barry Mask, State Representative
Charles Nailen, Dothan businessman
Steve Pelham, former Everett staffer
Jim Sullivan, PSC President
George Wallace, Jr., former PSC Commissioner
Dot Waller, Autauga County Bd. of Ed.
Greg Wren, State Representative
|
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I mention that about the bank as I don;t think it shows a pattern of working hard to get where she is in the business world. Just my opinion…
Comment by Jamie — November 15, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
She works at the bank her family started. She does not take positions on issues. I would say the exact same if she was male and not female as I am sure the other bloggers would. As for your comments about Greg Wren. I tend to agree with you that thus far he seems a pretty good candidate.
Comment by Jamie — November 15, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
So what’s the deal with ganging up on Sen. Smith? Yes I’m not really sure if she is going to win this thing but what gives any of you the right to say all she cares about is a toothy grin for the camera? Now I’m a man and a staunch Republican, but this reminds me a lot of what I saw last year in the gubernatorial race with Lucy Baxley. Lt. Governor Baxley was hard to pin down on several issues, but her detractors made it out like she was a photogenic do-nothing who deserved to be in a bridge club rather than President of the Senate or our governor.
I’m leaning towards supporting Greg Wren at this point because I think he would be the best rep for the district in Congress, but the comments I’ve seen on here aimed at Smith are decidedly sexist and without merit. Grow up, guys. She’s a state senator and a successful businesswoman, and a capable candidate for this seat.
Comment by Terry — November 15, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
That’s all you will find WWW.
Comment by JT — November 15, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Now that everybody is being nice again, can we get back to searching for an accomplishment, besides getting her smiling face in the press, of Smith?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 15, 2007 @ 10:50 am
No problem, Pookie.
Comment by MH — November 14, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
My apologies MH.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — November 14, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
MH, if only that about Harri Anne was true. All I can say is don’t get between her and a tv camera, you might get hurt as she runs toward it to give a comment and smile. I do hope you are right that she will fight for the nomination and that she wants it. Otherwise she will not do well. As Pookie said, we will see if she can come up with some accomplishments from her senate service but more importantly be able to address some pressing issues this country faces and tell us how she feels about them. I doubt either will happen.
Comment by Stephen — November 14, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Thanks, folks. Sometimes the rhetoric gets so hot in here, we tend to be blind to the fact that we are all neighbors and good people. (At least I hope we are!)
I DO think Smith will stick with the race and fight like a bulldog for it. I don’t think she would run if she didn’t want it badly enough to go the distance. Like I said before (in a diffent way): That is a heck of a lot of money to spend if you aren’t serious and don’t think you have a good shot at it.
Smith reminds me a lot of her dad, which may be why I am such a devoted fan..he didn’t like the limelight, but he loved politics. He worked his tail off behind the scenes to get stuff done for his home. I think Smith learned politics at her daddy’s knee..and I suspect that she busts her tail behind the scenes and lets her peers take credit for a lot of things. As long as it gets done, who cares who takes the credit?
Being raised as a Southern woman, myself, THAT is how I was brought up….’don’t make scene, don’t make a spectacle of yourself….work hard, get the job done, but don’t let anyone know your good works’. I don’t know if we were taught that as being the ladylike thing to do, or if it has more to do with our Bible study background. It’s just the way we were taught to be.
Comment by MH — November 14, 2007 @ 9:11 am
I agree, MH was being sincere. I don’t agree with her on harri Anne at all, I think she will be weak if the race gets tight. But she was trying to show some compassion. But, let’s get back to Harri Anne actually taking this race, and the issues, by the horns. Is that going to happen or will she melt away?
Comment by JT — November 14, 2007 @ 7:22 am
MH misread and thought you said you lost your mother, she was attempting to be sincere about it. She was trying to be a nice person. Pookie I agree with your thoughts on Smith, but come on be a civil person about all this at least MH is trying.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 13, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
OzarkObserver,
The ad hock committee (which were businessmen, not politicos, as I understand it)backed Smith because they know she has the greatest chance of winning out of any of the area’s potential candidates. I’ve not heard of any of the committee having second thoughts. Do you have any proof that any of the members are having second thoughts, or are you just trying to start a rumor? Second, if any of them ARE having ’second thoughts’, were they behind her to begin with, or were they just going along with the majority vote?
Comment by MH — November 13, 2007 @ 9:12 am
I was being sincere, Pookie.
Comment by MH — November 13, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Pookie, you will not find any accomplishments other than handing out community grant checks. And that identifies her whole problem in this race and why many around Dothan and in the very group that decided to “endorse” her are having second thoughts. She will not be able to list accomplishments but more importantly she will be absent when it comes time to take positions on key issues relevant to the nation and the district. Can you really imagine Smith debating the War in Iraq, immigration, energy policy, hoe we should deal with Iran, and the list goes on and on. I can answer how you can imagine her taking on those issues…you can’t. Nor can anyone else around here and that is why the Dothan politicos are wondering why they “endorsed” her candidacy.
Comment by OzarkObserve — November 13, 2007 @ 7:07 am
MH, not sure what you are referring to here. My father has not passed. Guess I am missing some kind of swipe at me or something or is this an effort to unearth an identity here. Still looking for those HAS accomplishments. While not a legislative accomplishment she clearly has a great ability to entertain interest in more political races than most politicos. I hear she has also expressed her interest in being Ambassador to Pakistan.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — November 13, 2007 @ 5:44 am
Pookie,
Just a note to let you know how sorry I was to hear about your recent loss. I lost my dad a few years ago and I know how difficult it can be. Sorry if my comments about your momma were hitting too close to the bone. I didn’t realize what was going on in your life. I apologize. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Comment by MH — November 12, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
Are you one of those gals who think we guys should go easy on you because you are a girl? Lost cause! No my “momma” raised me to be an independent thinker and call a spade a spade. Volunteer all you want. Harri Anne will get some of the vote but not enough. By the way, have you come up with any legitimate accomplishments yet MH “darling”? You have only had a couple of months now to come up with something half way worthwhile.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — November 12, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Sorry, Pookie Darlin’, I’m not going anywhere till the election is over. If you think I’m on Senator Smith’s payroll, why don’t you call her and ask her yourself? Like I said, I’d be more than willing to do volunteer work for her as my health allows, if it is something that she thinks I can do to help; but I don’t work for her, or anyone else. What part of ‘retired’ don’t you understand?
And I still say that I KNOW your momma raised you better than that….
Comment by MH — November 11, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
You are like the kid in class who wants to tell everyone how smart they are. Yet, when someone questions you they are picking on you. Grow up MH or get off this blog. You have more to offer, I think, than this lame picking on me and bad upbrining line. Now that I think of it, you are supporting someone with no record. So, on second thought it looks like you do not have more to offer. Still think you are on the HAS payroll.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — November 11, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
First, I knew nothing about the poll till it was over (otherwise, don’t you think I would have mentioned it?), so how could I have responded to it?
Second, I have no intetnion of working for the Senator or anyone else, except maybe as a part time volunteer in the upcoming campaign if I can be of help to the Senator. I am retired. Period.
Do not question MY integrity, Pookie. I KNOW your momma didn’t raise you to make personal attacks like that. You may not agree with what I say, but you should not impune my character. Remember what the Bible says about casting stones…. Shame on you!
Comment by MH — November 11, 2007 @ 9:27 am