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 understand she had a family emergency. Perhaps the issue came up for vote at that time.
Comment by MH — February 26, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
Does anyone know why Harri Anne did not vote for or against the pac to pac bill? All of the other Senate Republicans voted against it.
Comment by Anonymous — February 26, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Smart move on Bobby’s part…and what great timing.
Comment by JT — February 24, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
Just so everyone knows, Bobby Bright does live in the 2nd District
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/NEWS/802230337/1001
Comment by bubbadem — February 23, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Just a note on Bobby Bright running…all I can say is I will not vote for someone that doesn’t even live in the district. He lives in District 3 - not 2. It may not matter to folks in Montgomery, but I can assure you it will matter to those in the Wiregrass. Residency isn’t required - but I assure you that it sticks in voters minds and Bright will be hit on this issue time and time again. Let me guess, if he loses this race he will run for Mayor of Wetumpka? Oh wait, he lives in Montgomery. But I guess that doesn’t matter to him…
Comment by PikeCountyguy — February 19, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
Why don’t you fill us in DonnaJ?
Comment by Anonymous — February 18, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
MH, since you think Senator Smith is such a moral and ethical candidate, maybe you should inquire of her what happened with the National Guard Armory in Ashford and the involvement of her (as Senator) and her family. Interesting story that we will all likely hear more about.
Comment by DonnaJ — February 18, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
MH, first of all our collective point is not that you should not be for Smith. Our point is you have to have some basis for your opinion if you expect to convince others to support her (as you attempt to do essentially on every post you make). Your rationale for supporting Smith is laughable. You are basically saying that because you really don’t know any of Smith’s accomplishments and since you don’t know any of Love’s or any of the other folks accomplishments on the scene then you should just go with whomever you have a personal preference for based on some unknown internal criteria you have. Secondly, it is not our job here to do your homework. However, I’ll be glad to post some accomplishments of all the folks you mentioned for assistance purposes for you when you finally provide us a list of Smith accomplishments. Once again you have had months now to do that. Nothing meaningful to date. As for Spicer you can take him off your list. He is not running. He issued a release a week or more ago stating he was not. For whatever reason the release did not get much attention so many people think he is still in the mix. He is not. Lastly, I have not been on this blog pushing a candidate (like you have) as if they were a breakfast cereal or a brand of beer you have to market thus it is not my responsibility to waste my time doing your research. If you have perfectly comfortable supporting Smith based on the unbelievable little you know about her then that is your choice but my goodness it is embarassing that you are willing to vote for someone knowing no more than you do about them. You strike me as one of the voters who votes for people because you like the color suits they wear, you like the way they style their hair, etc. Are you sure you are not Smith’s pollster? You guys seem to have a lot in common (such as completely disregarding the facts and for your willingness to make up whatever numbers you need to make a point). By the way MH has Smith claimed to be sole legislator who got the Enterprise school relief money and has she put this on her campaign literature yet? MH if you want to be taken seriously you need to actually get some information together to support your position.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — February 18, 2008 @ 7:22 am
You guys think I should stop showing ‘blind loyalty’ to Smith. OK. Convince me.
What are Jay Love’s accomplishments? Why should I vote/campaign for him? What about Terry Spicer or Bobby Bright.
Seriously, I have not seen anything from any of these folks tht would make me change my loyalty. If you guys know something about these candidates that I don’t, please inform me.
As y’all have seen, when I feel passionately about a candidate, I go all out for them. If y’all can persuade me that any one of these folks would be a better candidate for this area, I will seriously consider changing my allegiance.
So far, I haven’t seen anything to get me whipped into a lather about any of these candidates. Prove to me why any one of these candidates deserves my loyalty. I’m open. Go for it.
Comment by MH — February 17, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
The points on Senator Smith, while harsh, and the reality. She is not the candidate we need to elect in district 2. She is a hollow candidate that has doen nothing thus far to show us why, or even that she really wants, the job of U.S. Representative. A little effort and a lot more information about what she stands for would be helpful. Leave the pollster at home Senator Smith and get out and tell people you want the job and why you are the best person to vote for. MH, I respect your opinion and your zest for Senator Smith…too bad she does not put forth the same effort.
Comment by PikeCountyguy — February 17, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
Pookie,
Nice point. All I’ve seen from Senator Smith is well, I haven’t really ever seen anything from Senator Smith. I guess MH considers that one time she considered running for governor an accoomplishment. Wishful thinking.
You know I forgot that the Wiregrass Braintrust of Medival Fiefdom got together and endorsed her. I loan that endorsement about a squirt down my left leg personally, but I guess MH will certainly highlight that one.
As you noted earlier, Senator Smith was a no show for Enterprise last year save smiling for the cameras at the press conference. If Representative Spicer hadn’t basically babysat Smith and Holley through that ordeal, Enterprise students would be home-schooling in porta-toilets for the next thirty years.
Senator Smith is a nice lady and purportedly a good listener. That’s all well and good, but she’s not the candidate for the 2nd. Check Terry Spicer or Bobby Bright for accomplished leadership. Even Jay Love stands on a sturdier foundation than Harri Anne.
Go Dale Jr.
Comment by Gunney Highway — February 17, 2008 @ 11:24 am
MH my dear, I have no obligation to you or anyone else to treat you fairly or be sure I respond to everyone on this blog in a proportionate manner. What I do have is an obligation to my self and intelligent people in the 2nd district to call out hollow politicians and their supporters who want to profess all things great about someone and then have nothing more than generalalities to back it up. As for attacking, I guess that is what I prefer to do when people like you think everyone has a brain of cardboard. I am trying to do you and all the Smith followers a favor. My point in essence is you better get her strategy reworked quick or her campaign is going down in flames faster than the Hindenburg (sp?). You’ve been all over this blog cheerleading for Smith. Give us something hard and concrete or just leave your comments to say “Please vote for her because I (MH) like her. The fact of the matter is you have been posting Smith stuff on this blog for months and you still have yet to identify any real accomplishments other than Smith jumping on the bandwagon of the Enterprise school bill. Harri Anne had nothing to do with that except show up for a press conference and take credit for what the House of Reps passed which was $70 million plus of relief. Harri Anne and her new repubican Jimmy Holley took a 50% cut in funding and could not get it restored in the Senate. I don’t even recall Smith going to the mike on the senate floor and pushing for the money to be restored. I suggest you quit wasting your time posting on this website and get us and start knocking on doors for Smith, raising money, and so forth. Your time would be better spent because as a pro-Smith blogger you have nothing to offer but hollow information.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — February 17, 2008 @ 9:34 am
Round and round it goes, where it stops….
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802160371
Comment by Scott Ninesling — February 17, 2008 @ 9:18 am
Pookie,
The only time you bother to post is when I mention Senator Smith’s name. Her very name must leave you seeing red, because I doubt if she has ever worn anything red in her life (except maybe an Alabama or Troy T-shirt in her college days).
Do you just sit around waiting for me to mention her name? Because as far as I can tell, your only purpose on this blog seems to be to try to aggravate me, since you don’t give any other of Smith’s supporters a hard time.
If you had been following the thread lately, you would know that the only reason I even mentioned her name, was because someone else slurred her in reference to a post of mine bringing up an important issue (and in which I did not mention Smith’s name).
I guess if you can’t provide a reasonable response to a valid comment on a very important issue, all you can do is to attack. Sad….
Comment by MH — February 16, 2008 @ 10:51 am
Sorry…my last comment should gave read “She likely doesn’t know HER position unless she runs a poll or requests the opinion of her consultant….”
Comment by BRAVO POOKIE! — February 16, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Bravo Pookie. I could not have said it better myself. MH, you are not alone in not knowing Senator Smith’s positions on important issues…NO ONE DOES. NOR WILL WE. She likely doesn’t know your position unless she runs a poll or requests the opinion of her consultant. And that is an ethical and principal based politician?
In terms of her making her positions known once the race heats up….well, the vote in the primary is less than 4 months away and no one knows anything about her as it relates to serving District 2 in the U.S. Congress. She can smile and talk about being against Amendment 1 all she wants…that tells us nothing. I have a feeling she will lose the primary and not even make it to a run off due to her lack of effort and positions thus far. MH I respect your opinions adn you are well spoken. Maybe you should be the candidate and not Senator Smith. If you jump into the race, please leave your pollster at home…he will be busy with Senator Smith anyway.
Comment by BRAVO POOKIE! — February 16, 2008 @ 8:47 am
MH your lack of knowledge about your own self-professed candidate is a bit embarassing. It is quite obvious the Harri Anne strategy is going to be show up at the usual red events, wear a red dress, tell everyone how conservative you are, smile alot, and don’t talk too much or you risk letting the electorate actually know how uninformed you are on federal issues that affect our country and the 2nd district. Now that I think about it this has been and is her current state senator strategy as well. For someone who is as articulate as you I would have thought you would be more informed about your candidate before you threw yourself all over this blog in support of her. I guess you simply like the color of her hair or the way she carries herself. Smith has been in the legislature several years now and has no meaningful accomplishments. You have been following her so closely so you should know this. However,I’d like to issue you a homework assignment. Why don’t you take her accomplishments (from the legislature) and tell us why those define Harri Anne as conservative…the reason being she has not done or said anything else to define what your “conservative” definition really means. MH your starting to sound like the mother who has the “ugly duckling” in the beauty contest. Maybe you really do have really thick blinders on when it comes to Harri Anne. I admire your loyalty and passion but you have got to do better if you want to be taken seriously as a well-informed advocate. It is time to step it up. Congress is for big boys and big girls. Harri Anne has never really shown she knows how to play or fight hard. If you don’t have that capability in DC we all lose.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — February 16, 2008 @ 6:58 am
JT,
I neglected to comment on the last paragraph of your statement. For some reason my brain didn’t even acknowledge it at the time. I guess I was reading your response to my comment, and your unwarranted slam against Senator Smith was just background noise, since I made no reference to the good senator in that post, or any recent post.Not that I have changed my loyalty to Senator Smith, it just hasn’t seemed to be a hot topic on the board lately.
To the best of my knowledge, Sentor Smith has not made any statements as to how she stands on these federal issues yet. I’m sure tht when her campagn gets into full swing, she will make her stance on Federal Issues clear.
However, based on the fact that she is the most conservative senator in one of the most conservative states in the nation (if not the most conservative state!), her position on those issues should be self evident.
Her political stances seem to be based on her strong moral compass. An ethical politician (I know, it sounds like an oxymoron, but that isn’t always the case, particularly where Senator Smith is concerned)can no more change their moral compass, than I could become a Yankee. It just isn’t possible.
Comment by MH — February 15, 2008 @ 10:17 pm
Good point on the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case. I am confident they will rule the gun law in DC is un constitutional.
Comment by Jaker — February 15, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
Excellent points made by MH and JT. I am a strong advocate of the right of citizens to bear arms. In my 23 years in the Army I was qualified as an Expert Marksman. I have fired weapons from a .38 caliber pistol up to a 30mm cannon and a 155mm Howitzer. My current favorite is a CZ-75, 9mm I bought in Prague, Czech Republic in 1993.
The Second Amendment says, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” It is clear that our founders did not use the term “militia” to suggest that gun rights could be used only in an organized army.
Next month, for the first time since 1939, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the issue of Second Amendment rights when it hears arguments in District of Columbia v. Heller. The court’s decision will have major implications for all Americans. I trust they will rule for the Constitution and the rights of law abiding citizens.
JT, click on my name to go to my web site to see where I stand on other issues that we face on a national front.
Comment by Kahuna — February 15, 2008 @ 3:32 pm