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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LB-22,
Are you aware that electronic bingo is prohibited in Florida, as well as just about every other state that has ’soft’ gambling like lotteries and charitable bingo?
Seems to me that if the backers want to pull out of Houston County simply because there is a bill being proposed to bring the gaming question up for a popular vote, they are going to run into the same problem, or worse, elsewhere.
Houston Couty is hungry for the venue. I doubt if Floridians are as hungry, and, therefor, would be less likely to make concessions and provide incentives in order to bring the project to fruition. And we won’t even discuss the difference in the value of real estate in Florida as opposed to Houston County….nor the property taxes and insurance rates.
I suspect that if the backers, and the people of Houston County, show a little patience, the project will go through as planned…and hopefully everyone will at least walk away from it feeling that they at least had some say in the matter.
Comment by MH — April 9, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Speaking for myself on the issue…and only speaking for myself…I would like to point out that there is a big difference between a group of people socilaizing at a charitable bingo hall, and someone sitting by themselves in front of a machine in a gamblers trance.
Old fashioned card bingo is a social event (although, not my cup of tea). Electronic bingo is gambling in its purest form…with no social interaction at all (even less my cup of tea!)Gambling is addictive, and it destroys the gambler and his or her family…just like alcohol and drug addictions. Las Vegas has the highest suicide rate in the US because of that.
But, this particular thread is not about gambling… it is about who will represent us in Congress. The way I read the bill that Senator Smith is sponsoring, it is simply a way to let the people of the county decide for themselves if they wish to allow gambling in the guise of electronic bingo…and as I said before, I really don’t see why it is a bad thing to let the voters decide for themselves if they want it.
William, you’re right, I sure could use some help on here! Sometimes my logic gets a bit fuzzy and I have a hard time making myself understood. Good thing I’m not a teacher!
Comment by MH — April 9, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
MH and all who defend Senator Smith, lets be clear she is NOT for the Country Crossings project! If she were she would support the county commission and the voters who have already approved charitable bingo. She wants to get the benefit of saying she is for the project but simply wants to have a vote affirming it. I guess she favors a re-vote on her last election or would propose we have a re-vote of the last county commission election. If the financial backers that are pushing Smith believe the majority of people in the area don’t support the project then I would assume the people would vote the county commission out of office next time. However, they know the overwhelming majority of citizens support the project. This is about two strange bedfellows coming together - John Watson and his crew and Milton McGregor who doesn’t want anything to happen with bingo unless he has his greedy hands in it. Harri Anne can’t even pass the local bill she introduced. How in the world is she going to be effective in Congress? Also, we should all ask the question if she so easily disregards the overwhelming majority on this issue what issue will be next where Smith says no to her constituents and yes to Mr. Watson and his crew again. The people of Houston County are not dumb. They see right through shallow Harri Anne on this one. What is really sad is Harri Anne just put alot of votes in the camp of her challengers (many of whom are from Montgomery and could care less about the Wiregrass). Read the local bill she introduced folks. It all but reads “Screw the Gilley Project and the People of Houston County.
Comment by B. I. N. G. O. BINGO — April 9, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
I wasn’t saying MH was doing bad, I was just saying it has to get tiring batting 1-9 in the batting order, she needs some more teammates.
And I doubt that Jay’s consultants have so little to do that they come on this post and go after Smith. They are getting paid to run a campaign, not bicker with unnamed people that may or may not live in the district. I know if I was paying a consultant and they were getting on here instead of getting me to the public they would not be my consultant for much longer.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 9, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
Here we go again - anything mentioned about Smith and a slap at Love comes on board. You guys that do that need to get a new strategy going. MH is better than that, so I know she didn’t write the last comment. All that has been said here in the last few posts is that Smith did in fact take a position on the gambling issue in Houston County. I am glad that she did - it is better to know where she stands than not.
Comment by JT — April 9, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
MH is doing fine. I think her arguments have a factual basis and make more sense than the stuff Love’s consultants are throwing out on this board. I shudder to think how it will be when Woods’ or Grimes consultants get involved . . .
Comment by MH is smarter than you, Dax — April 9, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
MH you might want to bring in some teammates. Kinda hard to hit everything thrown at you (appears you are stuck being the DH for Senator Smith).
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 9, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
I saw the same interview with Gilley. Yet another wasted opportunity for the Wiregrass.All we talk about is when is economic development going to come to Dothan. Then when we get an opportunity for the biggest project to ever come to our area that might make us a tourist destination. Then along comes our State senator Harri Anne Smith who could blow the whole deal on an issue Houston County voters have already spoken on.
Not very smart!
Comment by Dothan County peanut — April 9, 2008 @ 11:18 am
JT,
I saw an interview with Ronnie Gilley on WTVY yesterday. If the electronic bingo is not allowed in Hoston County per the bill introduced by Harri Anne, then he will move it to one of the neighboring counties in Florida. He is determined to build it.
As gas approaches $4/gallon, Alabama residents will have to drive a little farther to enjoy the Country Music theme park. At least it’ll be closer than Six Flags, Wild Advenures, or Biloxi but once again, Alabama will be supporting the economy of another state.
I wonder how many young residents of Alabama will be enticed to move to Florida to get a job at Country Crossings? Ten years from now how many Alabama residents will drive to Florida to see their new Grandchildren?
Comment by LB-22 — April 9, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Hey MH, thanks for your opinion. I have read the bill, not sure about GOPer or other folks. The bill does prohibit the type of bingo (electronic bingo) that the County Crossing development is trying to secure. Without the electronic bingo the developers are seeking, the project is dead. I do agree that allowing a vote is a good idea. I don’t agree, however, that Harri Anne Smith has not taken a position though. I think her introduction of a bill that if passed by the legislature and approved by voters will prohibit electronic bingo…shows her position.
Comment by JT — April 9, 2008 @ 9:01 am
GOPer,
I don’t believe you understand the bill as written. Nor do I see allowing the voters to have a say on gaming in their backyards as being ‘weak’. We allow counties to decide if they want to be wet or dry, why not have the same option with gaming?
I don’t know how other people feel, but I am sick and tired of the government telling me what is good for me or bad for me; what I can and cannot do. I’m an adult, I ought to be allowed to make my own decisions, as long as they do not affect the rights of others or impinge on the safety and security of the country.
I don’t feel I have the right to tell people whether or not they can gamble. OTOH, if someone wanted to open a gaming house near my home, I would feel it would be an infringement on my rights for it to be opened near my residence, without me having a say in the matter. My neighbors might disagree with me and vote for it, and that would make it a little easier to swallow, because the majority of the neighbors would have spoken. But at least I would not have had it forced on me by someone who’s interests were less about how it would affect my neighborhood, than on how it might enrich their pockets.
I also believe that anytime the government promotes an enterprise with a strong potential for creating addictive behaviors in people, the same governement ought to be equally responsible for providing free services to the people who become addicted to the behavior. If the government were to push the gambling through without a vote, IMHO, they should be responsible for providing that counseling and care. However, if the people approve the enterprise, then the onus is not on the government to provide for the rehabilitation of the addictive disorder.
But, as I stated that is my opinion. I have no clue if it is the senator’s opinion.
As for Country Crossings, I think it is a brilliant idea and would love to see it come to fruition. But, I have to wonder about the backers’ timing. The economy is in really bad shape right now, and the first thing to go during lean times, is entertainment
…especially with gas prices creeping up to the $4 mark. I can’t help but wonder if the venue will be successful in this current economy, or if it would be better for the backers to wait til the economy levels out.
But, once again, that is my opinion…and we all know about opinions, don’t we?
Comment by MH — April 9, 2008 @ 8:04 am
William,
Good question about William Boyd. He was talking up a race but didn’t qualify in the end. I never was sure what party he was going to run under, though somewhere along the way I rightly or wrongly picked up that he would have run as a Dem.
Danny
Comment by Danny — April 9, 2008 @ 7:50 am
The bill Semator Smith introduced does allow a vote and that is fine. But the bill, if passed, does not allow electronic bingo and thus kills the Country Crossing project. Smith cannot have it both ways and she has taken her position. She is against electronic bingo and thus against the project. Don’t sugar coat it MH, there is no need to. In fact, when you do, you make Senator Smith look like she is afraid to take any sort of position at all…which makes her look very weak. So, I suggest you lay low on this one MH.
Comment by GOPer — April 9, 2008 @ 7:12 am
Smith isn’t against Country Crossings. In fact, she has said that she would love to see the venue become a reality (or words to that effect). All she has done is to submit a bill allowing the voters to decide whether or not they want Electronic Bingo. Every other area in the state that allows electronic bingo has put it to a local vote. I don’t see why the people of Houston County should be opposed to having a say in the matter.
Comment by MH — April 8, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
Whatever happened to William Boyd? He was talking a big game, but appearantly got lost on the way to the arena when it came time to step up.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 8, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
“Houston County Peanut”, you are a little off base. I am not a supporter of Harri Anne but the fact is, her financial supporters encouraged her to introduce the bill. I agree with you though, that she has a problem on her hands with this one…it’s like holding a rattlesnake.
Comment by JacobB — April 8, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Gulf War veteran John W. Martin is looking better to me. I heard him on the radio last week. He has no big money backers, and he campaigns to people, not donors. He appeals to the veterans instead of the PACs. He has posted a great article about the bingo issue on www.rickystokesnews.com
Comment by LB-22 — April 8, 2008 @ 11:32 am
From what I hear Sen Smith has stepped in some deep doo doo. Many of her supporters are actively looking for someone else to support. Country Crossing is being actively supported by the movers and shakers down here and many are off her bandwagon because of the bill she introduced. Don’t know if anyone will capitalize but now I am not sure she will even make the runoff.
Comment by Houston County Peanut — April 8, 2008 @ 11:01 am
“candidates who GET the money are willing to lie and cheat” ????????? again, a blanket statement with no foundation … doesn’t make sense at all .. there is no natural order to the summation … first of all, on a federal election, the only “BIG” money is a cap on contributions at 2300.00. that’s it … sure, there may be some candidates who may raise money unethically with a little arm twisting and promises .. but there will be those who raise money through many hours on the phone and much hard work … both which indicate a strong desire to serve .. not a willingness to lie and cheat
Comment by slim pickins — April 8, 2008 @ 9:45 am
Pike County, I tend to agree that the legislature is a corrupting influence. The tricks they learn about pac-to-pac transfers and fooling voters into believing they are someone other than who they really are is disgusting. I don’t think Grimes has played that game - I know Love has (flagrantly) and would guess Smith has as well. People on here keep saying Grimes can’t win because he cannot raise the money. That seems to suggest that the candidates who GET the money are willing to lie and cheat. Maybe voters should make a point of voting for candidates who do NOT get the big donations.
Comment by Early speaking opportunity — April 8, 2008 @ 9:29 am