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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JT,
You missed them two weeks ago in Montgomery, and then this past Tuesday in Anadulsia at a Candidate Forum. All had a good showing. As far as I know the next Candidate Forum is next Friday in the WSFA studio.
Comment by LB-22 — April 12, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
MH I agree that the developer calls it charitable bingo so how can the project be relying on such for its stimulus. But, that is exactly what Ronnie Gilley, the developer, has said - without electronic bingo the project is dead. Yes, this is a hornet’s nest. I rather hear the candidates for Congress talk about the federal issues in this race. But as of now this issue comes up and I guess some folks can use it to judge how a candidate handles certain policy decisions - federal or not. I do hope we get to the point, before June 3, where all the candidates debate and show us some substance on the major issues we face like the war on terror, reliance on foreign oil, government spending, taxes, immigration, etc. That will be their chance to show some conviction on issues related to this race.
Comment by JT — April 12, 2008 @ 11:49 am
I don’t know who Watson is, so I can’t address any comments about him/her. I do know that Smith is a strong person who, in the past, has not let herself be ‘played’…as in the senatorial pay raise. I doubt seriously if anyone is telling her how to think or act on any issue.
If it is charitable bingo, then how can it enrich the pockets of the developer and make the project a go/no go? IMHO, a family entertainment venue would be a major draw in this area…but again, I am not sure that with the current economic recession, it is a good time to build anything that relies on expendable income…..with or without gambling.
As for Troy King saying that bingo is bingo, I disagree with him. When bingo was passed in 1993, it was the type played with paper cards in a social environment. It was less about gambling than about a place for people to gather and socialize (at least, the ladies I know who play bingo, do so for the socialization…I’m sure there are those who go to bingo and don’t talk to anyone and are there simply to gamble, but they are in the minority.)
I agree that Smith has stepped into a hornet’s nest on this issue. Obviously if I can’t make the intelligent people on this board (for the most part)understand the statements she has made to the press, nor the difference between social bingo and eletrconic bingo, I don’t know how she is ever going to make the general public understand it.
Comment by MH — April 12, 2008 @ 9:37 am
Dear Seriously: A lot of what you said is true but Watson is not a bad guy. The attacks on him lack merit. But in terms of Senator Smith losing all credibility on this issue by saying she is for the project but against bingo…you are correct. Also correct that if she handles “big” or controversial issues in this way - by trying to play both sides - then she is NOT what we need in Congress. MH, this is a losing battle on this issue - you should just leave it alone. You make good points normally…but with the bingo issue, there is not a way you can play both sides for Smith. She has made her position known - so let it be.
Comment by BBB — April 12, 2008 @ 9:16 am
MH, the project proposed for Houston County includes charitable bingo. The developer has said clearly the project must include charitable bingo to make the economics of the project work. Smith can’t keep saying she is for the project but opposed to bingo. The project includes bingo so she has to make a decision whether she supports the overall project or not. Based on her statements and actions she DOES NOT. My suggestion to you as a major supporter of Smith is to encourage her to revisit her position. She still has time to right the ship on this if she comes clean with the people but if she keeps up this crazy “I support the project but not casinos” stuff she is going to go down in flames in the election. MH, in all due respect, you have to understand people are seeing right through Smith. She has lot essentially all credibility on this. Smith will get eaten alive in Congress if this is how she is going to handle controversial issues. She has made a rookie mistake by getting in the mix on this issue. All she had to do was point to the long-standing policy with the county commission on local legislation and stand firm to Watson. Watson told her to jump and she said how high and how long do you want me to stay in mid-air Mr. Waton, Sir! It is shameful how much influence he has on her. What is really shameful is Watson is ready to throw Smith to the wolves on this issue for the sake of his own ego and whatever financial dealings his has with Milton McGregor. Perhaps Watson is trying to get the CC project folks to come visit him and pay him off to silence him. It is always about a dollar with Watson sad to say.
Comment by Seriously — April 12, 2008 @ 8:31 am
MH,
Your first three sentences were right on target. The rest of the three paragraphs about your son, food, beer, and sex toys was simple nonsense used as a distracter.
Harri Anne is for CC as long as she has input to the development regarding bingo.
Bingo was voted and approved by Houston County in 1993.
AG Troy King has ruled that electronic bingo is bingo.
Houston County Commission approved CC with electronic bingo.
Harri Anne submitted a bill to prohibit electronic bingo in Houston County, plus making it more restrictive in who can get a permit and how the funds are used.
Your third sentence is absolutely correct. She alone, has decided to change the law in Houston County. She alone, is responsible.
Comment by LB-22 — April 12, 2008 @ 8:16 am
You can’t be for the project and against the gambling part of it because without electronic bingo the project is a non starter. That has clearly been said by the developer.
Comment by JBoner — April 12, 2008 @ 8:13 am
Seriously,
I think your comment about Smith being ‘against’ Country Crossings needs to be addressed…again. Smith is for the project. It is having a gambling entity in Houston County that she has a problem with. It’s like the way my son loves lasagna, but he can’t stand ricotta cheese; so when I make lasagna, I have to make a small pan for him without ricotta. Just because he he can’t stand ricotta chesse, doesn’t mean that he hates lasagna (in fact, it is his favorite food)….it is simply that one ingredient that he has a hard time swallowing.
As far as having photos of her gambling, I have no idea if she has ever been in a casino or not, nor do I give a darn about it. However, I can say that a lot of the people who vote ‘no’ to Geneva County being dry, drive to Dothan or the Florida line to buy a bottle of wine or beer. It isn’t that Geneva County residents are all teetotalers, it is that they don’t want bars and liquor stores in their communities.
I could probably say the same thing about the state of Alabama’s archaic laws on marital aids, but as I have never gone snooping around in anyone’s nightstand or lingerie drawers, I have no way of knowing how many people are harboring such ‘evil devices’. I thik it is safe to say that Alabama residents are not opposed to the possesion of these devices, since it is not illegal to own one; but rather thay they are opposed to the sale of them on the grounds that they don’t want those kinds of stores in the state.
It is amazing to me that so many seemingly intelligent people cannot see these parallels and apply them to similar issues.
And, finally, as for references to ‘Marilyn Monroe type photos’, I’ve never seen a single photo of Smith that made me think of Norma Jean. Then again, we all have filters that we view the world through that are influenced by our own experiences in the world. Some people look at a meadow and see wild flowers, others see weeds. Personally, I see wild flowers. Yeah, I’m naive and optomist…but I prefer the way I see the world, to the way some people see it…filled with shadow consipiracies and assuming the worst about everyone. I imagine a psychologist would have a field day analayzing all of us on here. LOL!
Comment by MH — April 12, 2008 @ 12:42 am
I apologize for calling Seriously “Dax”. I assumed that was his/her name since others were referring to the poster as Dax, and no comment had been made negating it. In my defense, I would like to say, I had no idea who ‘Dax’ was. I’m not a poltical insider. I had no idea I was insulting anyone. I really thought that was the posters name. I apologize profusely to Seriously and the readers of this blog…as well as to Danny.
Now, if you will excuse me, I think I have some egg to wipe off of my face…..
Comment by MH — April 12, 2008 @ 12:07 am
MH, you know better.
Comment by Jboner — April 11, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Dax Swatek has confirmed to me that he is not the one on here that others are calling Dax.
It seems like an obvious mistake to assume that someone who stands up for a candidate could be one and only one person. Happened very recently that another commenter was also mistaken about the identity of our commenter MH. Then MH does it to someone else. :)
Seems best to refer to what we know, not to what is only a guess or assumption.
Comment by Danny — April 11, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
MH, let me help set the record straight. I am not Dax Swatek. I think he is a boob. This is probably one of the few things you and I can agree on. As for Harri Anne the most positive thing I can say about her is she was smart enough not to hire Dax as her lead consultant. However, I think even he would have been smart enough to know Harri Anne is stepping into a hornet’s nest on opposing the CC project. Say bye bye to Congress HAS. She had a good shot before she screwed up big time on getting in the mix in opposing the CC project. By the way please tell HAS to quit wearing the sunglasses in her political pics and for goodness sakes quite posting those Marilyn Monroe type photos. They are not becoming of a Congressional candidate who opposes economic development. Looking forward to posting some photos of her soon gambling at Victoryland in Macon County. Also in a Mississippi casino. Ask her about it. Will be posted soon in a very prominent place since she wants to be such a goody too shoes.
Comment by Seriously — April 11, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
I don’t like having to go between two pages to watch the fight.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 11, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
DAX,
As I’ve said before, I’m not a professional anythng, and have not been for a long time. I do, however, have a respectable IQ, when my lupus and migraines don’t interfere with my cognition. OTOH, when my brain is firing on all cylinders, I learn….which is more than I can say for a lot of people.
Comment by MH — April 11, 2008 @ 6:29 am
MH, you are an electronic bingo expert now as well as a professional stooge for a lightweight congressional candidate. Next you will tell us you are a professional neurosurgeon. What are you going to have to talk about when Smith gets creamed in the congressional election? I guess you’ll be back on here running her for Governor or Vice-President. She might make a great Gov or VP but one thing is for certain she can’t pass anything significant in the Senate. The same pollster who told us months ago Harri Anne was so far ahead of the field must be the same one counting the supporters and opponents to Country Crossing. No wonder Smith can’t see folks in the Houston County area support the project 3 to 1. Apparently Smith did not excel in math. On second thought she may be perfect for Congress.
Comment by Seriously — April 10, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
LB,
I’m thinking a little clearer today. In reference to the bill you quoted, it clearly states that electronic gaming is only to be allowed at ‘licensed pari-mutuel gaming locations’. In other words, it is allowed at dog tracks and horse racing tracks. Even if electronic bingo is one of the approved electronic gaming devices (which, I don’t think it is), it would still have to go through the same process in florida to be approved for a venue such as Country Crossings…ergo, my point stands that the backers would still face the same obstacles they are facing here.
I still don’t have a clue as to what you were trying to insinuate with the last part of your comment, though. If you want to cast aspersions that I will ‘get’, you will have to be specific and not resort to veiled innuendo.
Comment by MH — April 10, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
MH please excuse Dax - he is having a very bad day.
Comment by Anonymous — April 10, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
No MH you are not tired. You just don’t have a clue.
Comment by Seriously — April 10, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
LB,
Maybe I’m just tired and my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders, but I don’t have a clue what you are trying to say.
Comment by MH — April 10, 2008 @ 12:02 am
MH,
I was refering to a news article from an interview with the developer published by a news organization.
Perhaps he was referring to Florida Bill, S1380 GENERAL BILL/CS/CS by Finance and Tax; Regulated Industries; Jones; (CO-INTRODUCERS) King, Electronic Gaming Machines; Provides that any electronic gaming machine licensee may possess and operate electronic gaming machines at an eligible facility where the licensee is authorized to conduct pari-mutuel wagering activities pursuant to pari-mutuel provisions. Prohibits a person who has not attained 21 years of age from operating or playing an electronic gaming machine or having access to the designated machine area, etc.
I don’t know. I’m not in the leagal arena, but as an average person in the Wiregrass, this seems to be more of a power play than politics and it’s sad to see the pawn being played. I had hoped for better.
Comment by LB-22 — April 9, 2008 @ 11:26 pm