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Sen. Ben Brooks (R – Mobile) is being considered for a Circuit Court judgeship, according to Montgomery scuttlebutt, and may be appointed by Governor Bob Riley to such a seat. Brooks had sought a Circuit Court judgeship before his 2006 campaign and narrow victory for the Senate District 35 seat over Democratic incumbent Gary Tanner. Reportedly, Brooks would still trade the Senator’s role for a judge’s robes, given the opportunity.
On the face of it, the whole story sounds unlikely. Brooks was the only challenger to defeat a Senate incumbent, and Democrats would probably be very competitive in a race for a replacement. The GOP would presumably be reluctant to lose one of its allies in a Senate where the Democrats have a narrow one vote majority.
However, diverse sources such as a legislator, a lobbyist, and one well placed in the executive branch confirm that this story is making the rounds.
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Don’t forget Benefield, she beat an incumbent too. Just ask ol’ Skeletor Dial.
Brooks was the only challenger to beat an incumbent of a different party. In fact, I think he was the only Republican to beat a Democrat in a state Senate in the entire country.
I believe Susan is correct, I distinctly remember reading a release from the Alabama GOP following the election saying Alabama had the only legislature in the nation to see an increase (albeit by one seat) in the Republican membershop after the mid-terms.
Hard to see how that is possible when the Republicans in Montana took control of the MT State House. Looks like more fuzzy math from AL GOP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1746131/posts
[...] Thomas’s resignation or removal from the bench has been a key component of the simmering story that Republican Ben Brooks of Mobile may leave his Senate District 35 seat to become a Circuit Court judge. Other key pieces are, of course, does Brooks want the position, and would Governor Riley appoint him? [...]