Dothan Eagle on AL-02
The Dothan Eagle had an article in Sunday’s paper about Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District that did not show up on its web page. An interested reader sent it in to me, and I thought you might be interested.
Money, name recognition crucial to winning District 2
Lance Griffin
While Alabama’s District 2 Congressional seat will be decided in the old-fashioned democratic way - by voters at the polls - the political maneuvering, fundraising strategies and search for big-money backers started moments after 15-year incumbent Terry Everett announced his upcoming retirement.
Almost immediately, a handful of people interested in the office began making appointments with Washington-based consultants and placing phone calls to those influential in the political scene, looking for ways to gain frontrunner status before their official candidacy announcement.
Several potential Wiregrass candidates are well into the process, hoping to gain enough support to fund a campaign that may take $5 million to wage, despite the party primaries being only eight months away.
For the past 15 years, the Wiregrass has enjoyed the comfort of Rehobeth resident Terry Everett filling the district seat. Everett made agriculture and military affairs his major issues, waging brutal political battles in an attempt to stave off politicos hoping to swipe a mission or two from Fort Rucker and bring it to their district.
But District 2 stretches beyond the Wiregrass, all the way into the population centers of Montgomery and Elmore Counties. Several Montgomery candidates have already expressed interest in running for the seat. Meanwhile, some of Dothan’s heavy business hitters have been holding private meetings, hoping to come to an agreement on the one local candidate that gives the Wiregrass the best chance of holding onto the seat.
But currently, the list is long.
State Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb, and Dothan businessman Charles Nailen say they are seriously considering a run for the seat. Also expressing interest are State Sen. Jimmy Holley, D-Elba; State Reps. Terry Spicer, D-Elba and Steve Clouse, R-Ozark and Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell.
Dr. Richard Martin, professor of Political Science at Troy University-Dothan, said Wiregrass candidates hoping to win the seat must be able to raise a lot of money in a short amount of time, and must have a name recognition that extends beyond the Wiregrass.
Martin said Smith may have the highest name recognition here, but must work quickly to make a name for herself in Montgomery.
“If she wants to be a serious candidate, she needs a full court press on what she’s been doing in Montgomery - how she’s benefiting the district,” Martin said. “She’s going to have to establish some good connections with the Montgomery commercial factions.”
Nailen, who said he will run as a Republican if he decides to enter the race, has enough of his own money to jump-start a campaign. He has strong business ties in the area, but his experience lobbying Congress during the recent Base Realignment and Closure round as the chairman of the Friends of Fort Rucker has given him a front-row seat to Washington political hardball.
Martin said potential candidates Spicer and Holley may have a difficult time gaining enough votes in a district that has voted overwhelmingly Republican over the past decade.
“One of the things we learned in politics, there is no such thing as impossible,” Martin said. “But based on past voting patterns, it may be possible but it’s less probable.”
Spicer is believed to be getting a strong look from big-money Democrats looking to add this seat into the Democrat majority. He has alread met with consultants to gauge his chances of winning the seat.
Holley has been rumored to be considering a run as a Republican. He has been a maverick Democrat in the state Senate, gaining kudos from Senate Republicans but often putting him at odds with powerful Democrats, who make up the majority in the Alabama legislature.
Boswell and Clouse, meanwhile, have said they are thinking about entering the race. Boswell said he did not know if he would run as a Democrat or Republican. Clouse has said little, other than he was flattered to be considered a potential candidate.
State Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, is the only person to officially announce a candidacy. Love is considered a bulldog campaigner, and is very popular in his district. Another state representative, Republican Greg Wren of Montgomery, has formed an exploratory committee and is considering a run. State Rep. David Grimes, R-Montgomery, has formed an exploratory committee as well, and State Rep. Barry Mask, R-Wetumpka, has expressed a strong interest in running.
Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, a registered independent, is rumored to be considering a run. Other names mentioned throughout the district are State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks (Democrat), Greenville businessman Tim James, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2002 and Alabama Christian Coalition head John Giles.
Although the primary is eight months away, Martin said the campaign will be a sprint, not a marathon.
“With this short term its going to be real intense, real tight,” Martin said. “All bets are off because this is an unusual situation.”
Finis.
Related Articles:
Harri Anne is not running - she’s already cutting deals to support Nailen to position her to run for governor in 2010.
Comment by Anonymous — October 16, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Ignore the previous post by “anoynymous.” It is absolute unmitigated garbage. Harri Anne Smith IS running for congress. For the record, Smith has a consultant and is running actively, and there is no way on earth she will ever support Nailen. Those are facts. The previous post is fantasy and/or wishful thinkin.
Comment by Garbage — October 16, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Did Terry Spicer hit the publisher’s kid with his car? I understand being idealogically opposed to someone, but they blasted him like 3 places in the same paper…smacks to me of worry.
Also, Rucker is going to be the big issue in the wiregrass, but I doubt that translates to the northern end of the district…what issues will be prevalent there?
Comment by Anonymous — October 16, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Worried about double-dipping, 51% in his district Spicer??????????????????????
HAHAHAHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man that is a good one!!! Tell us another howler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Garbage — October 16, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
The lady doth protest much.
I am sure you think Harri Anne will make a fine successor to Everett — neither of them do anything of note.
Comment by Anonymous — October 16, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Dothan Eagle - [Reps. Terry Spicer, D-Elba]
Work logs, House votes overlap for one Wiregrass legislator
http://www.dothaneagle.com:80/gulfcoasteast/dea/local_news.apx.-content-articles-DEA-2007-10-03-0004.html
Reader Reaction:
Posted October 08, 2007 @ 12:50 PM by RT
I HOPE THE PEOPLE WHO PUT SPICER BACK IN OFFICE ARE HAPPY HE HAS GOT CAUGHT WITH HIS HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR AGAIN
Posted October 08, 2007 @ 09:46 AM by Anonymous
Why has this article been brought to Aviation Campus versus Enterprise Campus? We all need to come TOGETHER as ONE Institution! The college has suffered enough and the only way we will see our fruits of labor is to be as ONE. We’re all adults, please act like it!
Posted October 05, 2007 @ 03:00 PM by Anonymous
You are not getting it. The students were not moved from one location to another. The aviation campus in Ozark, for example, was under the administration of Wallace College. Thus, when you looked at Wallace’s enrollment numbers, the students at the avition campus were included. A couple of years back, the aviation campus was moved from being a part of Wallace College, to being under the administration of EOCC. Thus, an increase in EOCC enrollment numbers. Easy facts if you just look.
Posted October 05, 2007 @ 06:37 AM by Anonymous
I would love to know were you are getting your facts! I did not know that you actually move students and that EOCC has control of them. Do these students know that you claim to have control of them?
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 10:39 PM by Anonymous
facts are facts. is enrollment at EOCC main campus up or down? DOWN. Is enrollment increase at all of EOCC up due to aviation campus at Ozark and Mobile? YES Is that increase due to moving them from other schools and placing them under EOCC’s control? YES Did Spicer aid in that? NO Face it - he is doing virtually nothing for 90 - 100,000 a year.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 10:20 PM by Anonymous
Bradley Byrne states “You can’t do two jobs at one time,” he said. “It’s not humanly possible”. Well I would like for Mr. Byrne to start implementing that policy into his two year colleges. Many employees in the two year college system are required to perform multiple jobs and some even have multiple job descriptions and are not compensated for these extra duties! Sounds like the two year college system is the one who is double dipping if you ask me.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 10:09 PM by Anonymous
I can not believe so many of you have allowed Bob Riley, Bradley Byrne, and the rest of the Republican Party to fool you! Representative Terry Spicer has done great things for the people of Coffee County as well as the rest of the state. If I remember correctly who was there fighting in the legislature to get the funding for Enterprise High School and Hillcrest Elementary? Terry Spicer has worked diligently to bring new industry to south Alabama were Bob Riley only cares about north Alabama!
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 08:43 PM by Anonymous
It is very unfortunate that many of you do not see the value that Mr. Spicer has added to your House District, as well as to your community college. Mr. Spicer is, without a doubt, one of the hardest working persons I have ever known. He loves the people he serves and he has a passion for improving the qualilty of life for ALL. It is very unfortunate that there are those of you out there who cannot stop thinking about your own agendas long enough realize the facts.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 08:31 PM by Anonymous
Oh Yes, Voters, you must remember for next election that “your governor” took a pay reduction. What!! You are kidding me!? How many idoits are there out there who actually believe this bull___? He may have taken a pay reduction in the eyes of the voters, but there is NO DOUBT he is making up for in payoffs. Don’t be foolish! He, “your governor”, knows how to play you for a fool and he is doing a GREAT job.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 08:25 PM by Anonymous
Wow, so you think Mr. Spicer is double-dipping do ya? Do you actually think that your “governor” and the “chancellor of the two-year college system” is not doing the same thing in some form or fashion? How many of you readers can meet your finacial obiligations with just one or two incomes. What you seemingly do not understand, is that your “governor” and your “chancellor” have only one official title/job but are working the system well enough that they need only one official job.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 08:15 PM by Anonymous
It is very unfortunate that someone from the Aviation campus thinks that EOCC’s enrollment increase is from the Aviation Campus of EOCC. Just how many AP-mechanics does it take to increase increase enrollment from 1300 to 2200? If I am not mistaken, the EOCC Aviation Campus only generates about 90 AP mechanics a year. That is well below the demand of 300 per year. It seems that some of you EOCC employees need to repeat your math courses. Your numbers just do not add up.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 08:11 PM by Anonymous
Unfortunately for some readers, it is obvious that you do not know the difference between being THE RECRUITER vs. being administratively responsible for recruting. Mr. Spicer is NOT EOCC’s recruiter.
Posted October 04, 2007 @ 08:23 AM by Anonymous
I thought that Mr. Joey Holley, brother of Senator Jimmy Holley was the EOCC recruiter. How did Rep. Terry Spicer suddenly become the recruiter?
Posted October 03, 2007 @ 08:32 PM by Anonymous
My comment is in regards to Rep. Spicer taking credit for the increase in enrollment at EOCC. The majority of increase in enrollment has occurred at the aviation campus in Ozark. As an instructor at the aviation campus for the past seven years, I have never seen Rep. Spicer on the aviation campus. Come to think-of-it, I’ve never seen him at all. He is collecting $100,000 a year? You would think an education system would be smarter than this.
Posted October 03, 2007 @ 07:40 PM by Anonymous
“EEOC” in the comments below, should be “EOCC”, of course.
Posted October 03, 2007 @ 07:28 PM by Anonymous
EEOC enrollment has increased over the years due to reorganization in the Alabama 2 year college system. ESJC became EEOC by the aviation campus in Ozark being taken from Wallace College and put under the re named EOCC so they would have a technical education portion. They also had a school in Mobile added to their control. Spicer had nothing to do with this thus his claim of an increase in enrollment due to his action is false. Enrollment at EOCC main campus is actually down I believe.
Posted October 03, 2007 @ 09:38 AM by Anonymous
Typical Alabama politics. Things will never change as long as educator-politicians like Spicer have their hand in the pocket of the all-powerful AEA. It’s plain to see where his loyalty lies. Sad and embarrassing.
Posted October 03, 2007 @ 08:57 AM by Anonymous
Yes, this is double-dipping at its best! Mr. Spicer is paid approximately $50,000 more per year, by the State of Alabama, than the Governor; who, by the way, took a self-imposed pay reduction when he took office. Voters, remember this story next election.
* * * *
[Dothan Eagle Sunday’s Editorial]
State Rep. Terry Spicer defies physics
http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoasteast/dea/opinion.apx.-content-articles-DEA-2007-10-14-0003.html
Reader Reaction:
Posted October 15, 2007 @ 06:56 PM by Anonymous
For Spicer to think he has a chance at being elected to the US Congress defies all reason. So I guess he not only defies physics, but also reason. You don’t barely win re election in your own state house seat, make $90 - 100,000 double dipping, take credit for enrollment numbers you had nothing to do with, then act as if you are the world’s best legislator by getting an approp. for Enterprise City Schools that any rep in that position would and could have ushered through.
Comment by Pookie — October 16, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
There seems to be a great deal of worry about the possible campaign of Terry Spicer. Why does this state rep have so many people up in arms? Are the
republicans who have taken the congress district for granted for years worried about having to mount a fight against a candidate who will actually
work and combat the republican money? Seems so.
Comment by Wilson — October 16, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
“Garbage” note harris an IS running and would NEVER support Nailen. Get yourt facts straight instead of typing such “garbage” She has made no decision and she very well could opt out of running. And believe me, if she does not, she WILL support the republican candidate from the Wiregrass. Mark my words.
Comment by John D — October 17, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Spicer lovers need to stop slamming everyone like Everett and Smith and realize that Spicer is the very type of elected official that we don’t need.
Comment by Wiregrass Voter — October 17, 2007 @ 7:20 am
Harri Anne is running. She has been working Montgomery and DC already. She is definitely in this race.
Comment by Zortag! — October 17, 2007 @ 8:11 am