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State Senator Harri Anne Smith (R – Slocomb) was kind enough to stop by for a few words in the Political Parlor.
The word we hear is that you are running for governor.
Well, you know, I was very interested last time. I am definitely interested this time. But, I have not made a final decision yet.
I understand that you have hired people to help with you this.
I have a consultant, yes.
For the 2010 governor’s race?
Well, it’s the same consultant that I used in my Senate race. But I am not ready to commit [to the governor's race] yet. I mean, I would love to do it. I would make a great governor.
What other names do you expect to see in the governor’s race on the Republican side?
You probably hear the same names I do. No one is saying that they will commit yet. No one is making a decision, and so I would hate to speculate.
You have been mentioned as a possible candidate for state treasurer.
Treasurer is also something I would consider. People say, “You know you could do that because of your background.” And I could. I could do that because of my banking experience. I think my choice would be to stay in the Senate as opposed to run for Treasurer, if I decided not to run for governor.
I enjoy the Senate. You know this is my third term. The first time I beat an incumbent [Chip Bailey] that had been there over 20 years. The second time I ran unopposed. This time I won with about 76% of the vote [over Democrat Ronnie Helms]. So I think and hope people believe I’m doing a good job for them.
Would you run for Terry Everett’s seat [representing Alabama's 2nd Congressional District in Washington] if he retired?
You know, that is just not my interest. I love Alabama. I love being here. I don’t think I would.
I think Everett will run again. I think he is not ready to retire. He hasn’t talked about about retiring.
In the course of the conversation about the governor’s race, she said that she expected she would need 4 to 7 million dollars for the primary race.
Nice to have her in the Parlor.
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I have heard that she is doing a great job in the State
Senate.
Whatever she decides. We need to keep honest people like
her in government.
She is using the same consultant she used before??? Her consultant is Mike Swinehart who lost all of his Alabama races in 2006 (including Gary White, Joan Reynolds, John McMillan and Democrat Joe Carrothers). But it did get paid well both Reynolds and McMillan spend over $1Million each and managed to get a whopping 38% and 45% respectively… good luck Harri Anne… might think about running for something more reasonable like Treasurer!
Err . . .may want to re-check some of your figures Bob – McMillan spent about $700,000 . . .that is a nice amount, but being off by $300,000 (as you are) calls your credibility into account. I also think McMillan got about 47% per SOS records – not that different from your numbers but you were wrong 2-ou-of-2.
Harri Anne Smith has had very few accomplishments during her last 9 years as a State Senator and is
rarely heard from on the Senate floor.
She also
is known for not being very smart and can be difficult to work with. Having said that, I would love
for her to run for Governor in 2010 so she will be out of Alabama Politics.
I hope she keeps that senior-citizen-cum-sorority-girl shot on the front page as her campaign shots
At least she flosses her teeth!!
Tuff Crowd
I don’t think Bob was criticizing John McMillan. I think he was just pointing out that Swineheart makes a lot of money on races and doesn’t win that many.
I’m with Skeptic on this one. Tough crowd. Harri Anne Smith could not have been nicer, more gracious, or more generous with her time in giving the Political Parlor’s readers a little insight into her political future. :)
This is all testing the waters. On the GOP side Kay Ivey will be the most formidable candidate. She is known state wide, she won more votes than any Republican in 2006
I find it extremely hard to believe that Kay Ivey will be an even remotely formidable candidate for Governor. She had no competition in 2006, explaining her large margin of victory. Further, I see very few getting excited about such a candidacy. Where would her constituency lie, both relating to votes and donations?
“Harri Anne Smith could not have been nicer, more gracious, or more generous with her time”–Danny
Harri Anne, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Honest, hard working, and approachable. She never embarrassed the people of the wiregrass. And she is not collecting “two” taxpayer checks. She not only voted against the 62% pay increase, she didn’t accept it. That’s being a good and honest public servant. She has a very bright future.
Harri Anne vs.Kay Ivey would be a fun GOP primary. My bet would be that Ivey is better known statewide and would find
support among the business community. Her ethics filing indicates she has plenty of disposable income to make the race, so money is not a problem.
“Harri Anne Smith vs.Kay Ivey”
That would be a real good match up!
Steve Segrest who ran against Kay last year had a great line. He would pull out a bottle of calamine lotion and say he was gonna rub that on Kay on election day. Nothing personal against Kay but she wouldnt be someone Id like to rub anything on.
Just the number of comments on this subject lets me know that the 2010 race is already shaping up to be a wild and wooley ride. I respect all your opinions, but I still like the idea of a SOUTH Alabama Gov.
“I respect all your opinions, but I still like the idea of a SOUTH Alabama Gov.”
I agree with you on that.
What SOUTH Alabama area we talking about? The last governor we had from South Alabama is today sitting in prison.
Wiregrass area!
Harri Anne just wants to act smart and doesn’t really know how.Can’t say she has done very much!!Except to try to look PRETTY.Now wasn’t that naughty of me?
its so sad to see the big turnaround Smith did about the houston county gambling bit.It made me lose all the respect i ever had for alabama politics and of course the end of my voting and can say nothing about the way the governments run but no good it does anyway.They gonna do no matter what the public says.I am a veteran also a big impression it did make yes.
hello, are we about to lose the best thing that could ever happen to dothan, are we going to just let mc.graeger rule the money, and the politions?? as badly as our own econemy is sufferinghere in dothan