AL-05 Big List
Welcome to the AL-05 Big List.
Similar to our 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 5th Congressional District after Rep. Bud Cramer (D - Huntsville) announced that he will not run for re-election.
Both parties’ qualifying period ended April 4, 2008. Two 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
Parker Griffith, State Senator OUT Mike Blakely, Limestone Co. Sheriff |
IN
George Barry, Sales Manager OUT Mo Brooks, Madison Co. Commissioner |
How conservative is Cheryl Baswell-Gutherie?
From her radio and TV spots, Cheryl takes strong conservative
positions?
Can Cheryl Baswell-Gutherie prove she is a conservative?
In 2006, she ran against Dr. Parker Griffith for State Senate Dist 34,
in the Huntsville area. While running an honorable race, her
advertisements were plain marketing of her name, with little substance
of promoting the conservative agenda.
Can Cheryl Baswell-Gutherie prove she is a conservative from her
personal life?
Cheryl Baswell Guthrie grew up in Huntsville
Her mother, Grace deGraffenried Baswell taught in the Huntsville Public School System for more than twenty years.
Cheryl attended Mountain Gap Elementary School and graduated from Grissom High School in 1978.
Cheryl and her family are members of a moderate Baptist Church, Willowbrook Baptist Church in Huntsville.
Cheryl the political family history is not very conservative.
Her grandfather, Edward deGraffenried , represented Alabama in the
United States Congress in the 1950s, and was known as a Roosevelt New
Deal Democrat, not a conservative.
Uncle Ryan degraffenried, a member of the Alabama State Seance, headed
up the moderate Alabama New South movement in the
1960s, opposing Wallace for Governor in 1962, and was running against
Lurleen Wallace in 1966, when he his life was tragically ended by an
airplane crash. Ryan degraffenried ran as a progressive liberal
Democrat with great emphasis of increasing spending for public schools. He
was supported the the education groups. Ryan Sr.’s was known as a
moderate “New South” Democratic, opposing the conservative traditional
Dixiecrat movement.
In 1966 he ran again as a moderate, supporting racial integration,
sought to succeed George Wallace, who was prohibited from running for a second term. However, one day after qualifying for
run for governor, he died in a plane crash while campaigning in northeast Alabama.
Nomination and governorship then went to Wallace’s wife, Lurleen Wallace.
Ryan degraffenried, Jr, also served in the Alabama State Senate. He
supported more government spending for public schools and higher
taxes. After Governor H. Guy Hunt was removed from office due to criminal conviction, the Lieutenant Governor, Jim
Folsom, Jr.
became the new governor. deGraffenried, as the President Pro Tempore
of the state Senate, became the acting Lt. Governor. The Tax Payers
Defense Funds rated as a high tax liberal, voting for tax increases
70.1% of the time. Ryan degraffenried, Jr was rated 15 out of 36 for
voting for more government spending, therefore rating him in the more
liberal than his colleagues.
Cheryl Baswell Guthrie and her political family deGraffenried have an
interesting family history, but her relatives were on the liberal
side of the fence, reducing her claim to the title of being a
“conservative”.
Cheryl Baswell Guthrie was unknown in conservative circles or in
Republican circles, prior to our announcement for Alabama State
Senate in 2006.
Cheryl Baswell Guthrie may be a “Conservative”, but she does not have a
past reputation, resume, or family history to prove it.
Comment by Jessie Clyde — June 12, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Correction: Mancuso is not listed on the Democratic Party Directory web site - for now anyway.
Comment by mogul1 — June 4, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Wayne is a moron. The guy’s never even had a job other than those his family connections have been able to secure for him. His ads running here in Huntsville are an insult to one’s intelligence. We can do better than this. A lot better.
Comment by JohnInHuntsville — June 3, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
Well, Deepthroat, it must be a veeerrry recent change of heart. Mancuso gave Bud Cramer $1,000 on 3/19/01 then he gave the State Democratic Exec Cmte of Alabama $750 on 4/20/06, and most recently in the last election he gave Jim Folsom Jr. $2,500 (11/07/2006) for the Lieutenant Governor’s race. Don’t try telling me he’s a Republican.
Comment by Barb — June 2, 2008 @ 10:24 am
I think Wayne Parker is still the most qualified candidate.His platform is strong and consistent.Republicans need to stick with Wayne.I think Wayne has a stronger desire to help this district more than all the other candidates combined !
Comment by Tim R. — May 25, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
A comment on Angelo Mancuso. Someone told me his name is still on the State Democrat Executive Committee list on their website. That is hilarious. He probably ought to think about asking them to take his name off.
Comment by Daisy — May 24, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
What ever happened to Papucci? he was suppose to be the next heavy hitter.
Comment by Jason — May 23, 2008 @ 4:33 am
what questions are Baswell-Gutherie poll asking?
Comment by Deepthroat — May 18, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
Cheryl Baswell-Guthrie’s campaign is doing some really negative push polling today (Sunday). I am not surprised at these tactics, but I am not sure they are going to be effective. This is a pretty serious form of mud slinging in the guise of a poll. Plus the stuff they are slinging is completely fabricated. I am not sure this is the same kind of integrity she speaks of in her ads about our Founding Fathers.
Comment by Daisy — May 18, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
Look for a big final push for Mancuso who is a dark horse in the race for the republican nominee for congress. Capstone poll show Parker Griffith beating Wayne Parker 48 - 32. Republicans are starting to look at Mancuso strongly.
P.S. What the hell is Cheryl Baswell Gutherie’s campaign consultants thinking? What a joke.
Comment by Deepthroat — May 16, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
David Maker: How can I contact David Maker? I have a GREEN IDEA to share with David Maker. Please help me contact David Maker. Carroll D. Killingsworth my email:
Comment by Carroll D. Killingsworth — May 13, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
The ‘Republican Women of Madison’ held a forum for House District 5 GOP candidates on April 29. All six primary candidates (George Barry, Cheryl Baswell-Guthrie, Mark Huff, Angelo Mancuso, Ray McKee, Wayne Parker) were allowed ten minutes, followed by Q&A.
Highlights here:
http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/04/30/republican-women-of-madison-forum/
Comment by Reactionary — April 30, 2008 @ 12:14 am
Heard all six GOP candidates speak this morning (each got to speak for four minutes) - this is what I remember:
George Barry - doesn’t like parts of NAFTA, GATT, Patriot Act, REAL ID Act. Noted that many countries refund taxes on exports but that US taxes put US companies at a disadvantage. National debt is bad. Close Border, stop anchor babies, deport illegals.
Cheryl Baswell-Guthrie - quoted Reagan, ‘GOP loves July 4, Dems love taxes’. Recalls life as military wife, recalls her grandfather’s service in Congress. Bring back moral values. Illegals, ID theft, border unprotected against terrorists, “silent invasion”.
Mark Huff - Fair Tax, Enforce Immigration Laws, Term limits. Says that both Democratic Presidential candidates are Socialists. Need to “stop socialism and push back hard”.
Doc Mancuso - optimistic, economic development, immigration / border security. Soldiers should “never be outgunned or outmanned”. Soldiers should be honored for service - no more Vietnams. Notes his Health Care Policy Fellowship, no universal health care, need affordable health care, protect Medicare.
Ray McKee - ‘take power away from Washington, return it to the people’ through Fair Tax and Term Limits. War - “swift and decisive victory”. Need Govt R&D for Energy alternatives to oil. World peace. ‘No foreign aid until every man, woman, and child in the US is fed and housed’.
Wayne Parker - said his first run in 1994 caused Bud Cramer to become more conservative. Believes in free enterprise, individual responsibility, limited government, strong national defense, and values. Secure borders, employer verification, enforce laws.
Comment by Reactionary — April 19, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
He dropped the democrat party after the State Senate race because the way he was treated by members of the party and the attacks they used on him during the campaign.
Comment by deepthroat — April 17, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Unfortunate incident?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 16, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
When did he switch parties? Did he run as a Democrat in 2006 against Bobby Day for the Alabama Senate?
Comment by Anonymous — April 16, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Mancuso had an unfortuante incident with his wife when she had cancer and wasnt herself. He took the blame and suffered for it. He served in the legislature as a Democrat, but just liked Richard Shelby, Ronald Reagan and Bob Riley, he saw the light and switched parties.
Comment by deepthroat — April 16, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
Deepthroat
Do you know anything about Mancuso’s personal life? It is not pretty. Plus isn’t he a Democrat? Not sure how that will play in a Republican primary.
Comment by Anonymous — April 9, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
Mancuso has a good base in Limestone County and Madison City where he has always won. Wayne Parker may have money but the Republican Party insiders are not excited about Wayne and his inability to articulate the issues. Look for Mancuso to do well in debates with him and to spend enough money to get into run off. Mancuso is the best bet for Republicans to win in the fall. Doctor vs. Doctor. Don’t count Mancuso out.
Comment by deepthroat — April 9, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
Well, Deepthroat, it looks like your sources hit this one on the head. I am still amazed that Mancuso thinks he can win as a Republican.
With six candidates on the Republican side, I think this all but guarantees a runoff. I still think Parker heads up the ticket, and I would say Guthrie will get second based solely on Name ID.
Comment by The Sandman — April 4, 2008 @ 11:42 pm