 Posted by waltm, on February 11th, 2011, at 8:37 am The Alabama Ethics Commission is “closing all files related to the complaint” filed against state Sen. Tripp Trip Pittman by Fairhope resident Paul Ripp. The proximate cause is a complaint filed by Ripp against the commission itself. As you read the correspondence between the Commission and Mr Ripp at Baldwin Watchdog, it is evident the two have gotten cross ways and that the proverb “Revenge is best eaten cold” was not heeded. When seeking official action, detachment is always a good idea as is remembering Sgt. Friday’s, “All we want are the facts”.
In other news, Scott Buzbee has withdrawn from the special election to fill the HD-105 vacancy. Buzbee had run as a Democrat in the 2010 election and was facing a challenge to his ability to run as a Republican candidate. When changing mounts, always assume a break in period before putting it to work.
Posted by waltm, on January 22nd, 2011, at 11:35 am Update: will add a link to the complaint filed in Pittman matter on the bottom.
In Andalusia, a restaurant follows the rural tradition of setting out collection jars to cover the medical expenses of an employee injured in a car accident.
On Weiss Lake, a local citizens group is conducting tests to determine the source of raw sewage pollution.
In Perry County, a citizen’s group has to sue for access to public records and compliance with open meeting laws. Is a delay due to not having a policy for turning over public records acceptable? Its only been a part of state law since more or less since 1923.
Turning to head scratchers, we have Gov. Bentley’s order for the State Health Coordinating Council and Certificate of Need Board to suspend operations while he ponders their operation. Time will tell what his plan is here.
Another head scratcher from the Anniston Star, New tax law may hold surprise for working poor. Seems with the end of one tax credit and a temporary reduction in FICA withholding, workers earning less than $20K a year could an increase in their withheld income taxes. Surely unintended and soon to be fixed.
The last head scratcher is from Lagniappe, which discusses the sentencing of a high society thief. As Chief Justice Cobb and a collection of legislators work on plans to reduce prison over crowding, we will have to examine our thoughts about appropriate punishment of property offenders. (BTW, does this plan exist anywhere in written form?)
Turning to head shakers, former Sen. Kim Benefield has learned what public employees have known for years. If you buy something for work and want to keep it, don’t let it get a green state property tag.
In Ozark, the former CFO for the local school system has been charged with various felonies in connection with missing funds. Of note, was this was detected during a routine audit in 2009.
Mobile County sees an Assistant District Attorney charged with failure to obey a police officer and resisting arrest. He has resigned from the DA’s office. While the article is short, one wonders if the day will come when your identity papers must be examined and your Dang’An updated by any government official for any reason.
Lastly, another ethics complaint (anyone have a copy?) has been filed against Sen. Tripp Pittman. Hopefully, this will get resolved before the regular session starts. Copy available thru Baldwin Watchdog, this is a 47 MB file, dial up users may prefer the smaller (7 MB) abridged version.
Posted by waltm, on November 20th, 2010, at 3:16 pm or hoisted by his own petard?
In todays Press Register, Senator’s company awarded $639,000 while he supervised grants for boom work, is the big deadline. In short, a company owned by Sen. Tripp Pttiman (R-Fairhope) was paid to deploy (and later pickup) oil booms. Sen. Pittman is in the heavy equipment sales and service business and at the time held a contract for disaster clean up with Baldwin County. At question appears to be two different documents submitted thru the local EMA for payment, one naming Pittman’s company, the other the name of an apparently unrelated company. A complaint has been filed with the State Ethics Commission which will hopefully resolve this matter.
In the FWIW category, a link to the City of Fairhope’s Council Minutes (pdf) when the contract was awarded to Pittman, and a letter to the editor of June 28, 2010 from former Daphne Mayor, Harry Brown Jr, questioning Pittman’s contract (among other matters) note Mr Brown’s comment about a lack of response from either the AG or DA.
So, what we got so far? Something that needs some looking into, those with relevant information are encouraged to contact the appropriate authorities and yet another reason why tax payers should be vigilant. Let’s also remember the innocent before proven guilty idea even though that is reversed for partisan politics.
From looking over the latest news on the proposed special session on ethics, no one appears to suggest a flat ban on profiting from public office other than Riley’s proposed ban on double dipping. Maybe this will get addressed in the possible special session, maybe not. However, it should not be unaddressed because those to whom it is important sat on their hands
Posted by Danny, on October 28th, 2010, at 8:44 am  Come Wednesday morning the state GOP hopes to find itself with a Senate majority for the first time in 136 years. I’ve listened carefully enough in the right corners that I can tell you how the GOP believes that can happen.
In the 35 seat Senate, a caucus needs 18 votes to have a majority.
Five Republican incumbents are unopposed: Arthur Orr in SD 3, Jabo Waggoner in SD 16, Jimmy Holley in SD 31, Tripp Pittman in SD 32, and Rusty Glover in SD 34. Two more Republicans will be entering the Senate without any opposition: state Rep. Cam Ward in SD 14 (in the seat Hank Erwin vacated to run for Lt. Gov) and Slade Blackwell in SD 15 (in the seat last held by Republican Steven French).
The GOP feels quite good about its chances in six other races:
- Paul Bussman in SD 4 (against incumbent Zeb Little),
- Greg Reed in SD 5 (against Brett Wadsworth for the seat vacated by Republican Charles Bishop),
- Clay Scofield in SD 9 (against Tim Mitchell for the seat vacated by retiring Democrat Hinton Mitchem),
- Del Marsh in SD 12 (against Wallace Wyatt),
- Scott Beason in SD 17 (against Tommy Hudson),
- Dick Brewbaker in SD 25 (against Doug Smith for the open seat vacated by retiring Republican Larry Dixon).
Only two of those are GOP incumbents (Beason and Marsh) but Republicans have felt quite good about their chances in these elections.
The Republicans believe with only some less confidence than they have in the above races that they are likely to win two more races:
- Bill Holtzclaw who is challenging Dem Tom Butler in SD 2, and
- Incumbent Ben Brooks in SD 35 (against Scott Buzbee)
If you are keeping up, you know that these total 15 seats. If they win those 15, then the keys to winning the Senate lie in three district races that the GOP believes are clearly leaning their way:
- SD 21 where state Rep. Gerald Allen is challenging Democratic incumbent Phil Poole,
- SD 27 where former Dem Tom Whatley is challenging Democratic incumbent Ted Little, and
- SD 30 where Bryan Taylor is challenging Democratic incumbent Walking Wendell Mitchell
Those three Democratic Senators have served a combined 76 years or nineteen terms in the state Senate, and the GOP believes they are poised to send them packing.
Victories in all of the above races would give the GOP 18 votes necessary to claim a Senate majority.
In addition, four other Republicans could provide either a larger majority or a cushion in case the Dems pull surprises in any of the above races. Incumbent Paul Sanford in SD 7 (fighting off a challenge from Jeff Enfinger), Phil Williams in SD 10 (against Dem incumbent Larry Means), Gerald Dial in SD 13 (against Greg Varner for Democrat Kim Benefield‘s old seat), and Danny Joyner in SD 22 (against incumbent Marc Keahey) are in races that the GOP believes are leaning their way.
Other races could go their way as well, but here is the path that the GOP sees to a Senate majority.
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