Considering Mac Gipson’s Retirement
Rep. Mac Gipson (R - Prattville) is one of the only members of the Alabama legislature to which the label of “maverick” can genuinely be applied. Gipson started off his career as a Democrat, but switched parties in the mid 90s at the same time as many other local office holders in his Autagua County district. Gipson said he wasn’t quite comfortable serving in the legislature as a Democrat — although many would tell you that he wasn’t all that comfortable on the other side of the aisle either. Gipson would alternately infuriate AEA in advocating a move toward “school choice” and ALFA with his support of Amendment One and annual tax appraisals. Gipson, who started his own local chain of tire and auto body shops, usually (but not always) ended up on the side of business groups.
In his two most recent elections, Gipson received primary challenges predicated on the premise that he wasn’t a loyal enough Republican. While Mac dispactched his 2002 challenger with ease, his 2006 race was much closer. Challenged by Bill Harris (a military veteran and Republican staffer/operative) in 2006, Mac ended up on ALFA’s target list for not being sufficiently anti-tax. With deeper district roots (and some help from the business community) Mac defeated Harris, but perhaps saw that his brand of maverick politics might not figure into Autauga County’s Republican future.
While Gipson’s district has a small portion of Elmore County (over Gipson’s objections), it is primarily an Autuaga / Prattville district. Autauga has leaned Republican for as long as Republicans have been contesting Alabama elections, but with Prattville booming in the last decade, Autagua County looks likely to follow the path blazed by Baldwin and Shelby Counties as rock solid suburban Republican turf. However, as in other GOP dominant areas, it will be interesting to see what type of Republican emerges to replace Mac. Will we see an anti-tax Republican in the ALFA mold? A progressive, pro-growth conservative Republican to represent the booming suburb? Bill Harris could certainly figure into the 2010 race, but his roots in the district were always shallow. Others like city councilmen Dean Argo and Tom Miller are well thought of and potentially ambitious and no doubt others will emerge as June 2010 approaches.
Though Autagua County was carried by Ron Sparks and State Senator Wendell Mitchell, it would take quite a recruiting coup for Democrats to keep this race competitive. Instead, it is expected that next state rep will be determined in the Republican primary. And whether or not the next State Representative from District 88 votes the way Mac would have, let’s hope Mac’s successor will have at least a little of the gumption, courage, and common sense that made Mac Gipson one of the few remaining mavericks, in a place that all too often places politics over principle.
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4 words:
Jeremy Walker. Done Deal.
Comment by Al Czervik — November 16, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Who’s he?
Comment by Anonymous — November 16, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Republicans gain a seat
Comment by JD — November 16, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
jd, republicans already have this seat
Comment by phyllis from mulga — November 16, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
I think a lot of us understand what JD meant.
Comment by Anonymous — November 16, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Republicans gain a seat. Honor, morality, and rationality lose one.
Best Wishes Mac! You’re one of the good guys.
Comment by Cassady — November 16, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Anyonymous, explain it to me like i’m a 4 year old because i obviously do not follow.
I fail to follow the logic that “Republicans gain a seat.”
How do Republicans gain a seat if the seat is currently held by a Republican and is widely predicted to be easily won by whomever wins the Republican primary?
I’m having a hard time following. Thanks in advance.
Comment by phyllis from mulga — November 16, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Hi Phyllis,
I think the point they are trying to make is that they don’t consider Rep. Gipson a “real” Republican. Their idea is that when another Republican is elected to the seat, then the GOP will have gained a Republican seat, meaning that the seat is not Republican now, at least not enough to their liking.
Danny
Comment by Danny — November 16, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Be honest Cassady you like him because he caves into the liberals. I wonder how long it will be before the Democrats start blaming Rove for Mac announcing his retirement. After all we know what the Alabama democrats motto is: when in doubt blame it on Karl Rove!
Comment by north stater — November 16, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
Jeremy Walker as in the former football player that just graduated law school?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 16, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Jeremy Walker is not well thought of. He’s a jerk who just trades on his joxploits. Lots of good solid Republicans to choose from without that guy.
Comment by Anonymous — November 16, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
I’ve heard a lot of people with money are snooping for a replacement and Walker’s name hasn’t come up once. I have heard Gipson’s son Hootie is eyeing the spot.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 16, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Name some names WWW.
Comment by Anonymous — November 16, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Well I can tell you that I have known Mac for only about 5 years now but he and his wife a truly some great people. As you mentioned in your article above he has made both sides mad at some point and many times made them mad at the same time so he must be doing something right. He has never really liked being told he “had to vote” a certain way, he just voted like he wanted to and let the cards fall where they fell. We need more people like Mac in the Alabama Legislature.
Comment by Cam Ward — November 16, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Be honest Cassady you like him because he caves into the liberals. I wonder how long it will be before the Democrats start blaming Rove for Mac announcing his retirement. After all we know what the Alabama democrats motto is: when in doubt blame it on Karl Rove!
Did someone seriously write this?
Comment by Cassady — November 16, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Hootie Gipson, Dean Argo (Prattville City Council President), Dr. Tom Miller (Prattville council Pro-Tem), Nathan Fank (First Term Prattville Councilman) Clyde Chambliss (County Commission President), and heard Bill Harris wants to give it a try again but don’t think his financial backers want to give him another try. Thats all I got right now that have been tossed around. Danny want to check into any of those?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 16, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
And just to throw out two possibles that I came up with on my own, Gene Hall and George Walthall. Hall was a three-term (I think) city councilman that lost to Fank. Walthall is a former city councilman and city judge who has had a few run-ins with the city council and especially the mayor. This is just speculation on my part, I have heard from multiple sources that they are both itching to get back into politics and will probably target the Prattville City Elections next summer. But just throwing out those two long shots.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 16, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Mac was one of the “Jeffer’s Eleven” Republicans who worked with Paul Hubbert to reapportion the state to suit his needs. When the teachers Union, State Employees Union are your backers, you earn that title of RINO. Republican in Name Only
Comment by JD — November 17, 2007 @ 12:54 am
If 70 is the time to go, two house members will be over 80 in 2010, 8 House and 7 Senators over 70. List is made up of 2 Rep and 15 dems,
Comment by JD — November 17, 2007 @ 1:02 am
I would have thought that someone might mention Prattville’s mayor, Jim Byard, as a possible candidate to replace Gipson. Is he considered to be a Dem, Rep, or independent?
Comment by Don — November 17, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Independent. He could be suggested but in reality Mayor of Prattville to House District 88 would be a step down.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 17, 2007 @ 9:52 am
I think Cassady is describing a bunch of the Democratic State Senators in #6.
Comment by Margaret — November 17, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
#9 - northstater- cave to liberals…have you ever met him? I believe his platform was - is “let the people decide”…Is that the definition of a liberal?
Comment by Mary — November 19, 2007 @ 8:05 am
“Jeremy Walker is not well thought of. He’s a jerk who just trades on his joxploits. Lots of good solid Republicans to choose from without that guy.”
Nice post, Mr. Anonymous. Probably best you stay anonymous making comments like that. Incurring the M^2 wrath is a good way to talk a long walk off a short pier.
Comment by Al Czervik — November 19, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Jeremy Walker would be a great selection, despite the fact that William Wyatt Wallace wants to wank Walthall. Didn’t Walthall just lose his bar license?
Comment by Jack Torrance — November 19, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Nice alliteration Jack Torrance. I like to trade on my joxploits as well. I won the Bushwood Country Club Caddy Tournament you know. Dave Stewart even spoke to me at Bud’s. He told me how very, very important he is. He reports directly to the governor! WOW! Can you believe how important he is?
Comment by Danny Noonan — November 19, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Jack, did I ever say Walthall would make a good candidate? I believe the answer is no. I was just saying I have heard Walthall’s name a lot recently like he might be gearing up for an election. And he did not lose his bar license. I believe he is on probation for financial problems stemming from a former employee embezzling money for a drug habit.
What makes Jeremy such a great choice? I have heard nothing of him besides he was a great high school football player, then he was on to do great things at Alabama, then he had a neck injury, disappears for a few years and reappears with a law degree at a party congratulating him for his graduation and hosted by his family and Mike Dubose. Unless you show me differently I am going to agree with the first part of Anon. 11.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 19, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Do y’all realize he is a member of the M^2?
I’d be extremely careful making derogatory comments.
Walker already has the big monied power brokes lined up behind him.
As I said before, DONE. DEAL.
Comment by Al Czervik — November 19, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
M^2?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — November 19, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Gene Hall is a Dem, I believe WWW. Hard for me to see a Dem keeping this one close, but he might be the best the Dems have for this seat.
Comment by Anonymous — November 19, 2007 @ 2:42 pm