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Put state Sen. Hank Erwin (R – Montevallo) on your list of candidates for Lt. Governor in 2010.
State Rep. Cam Ward (R – Alabaster) confirms to the Parlor that Erwin is telling his plans around in Montgomery today. Ward is eyeing that Senate seat himself. He tells the Parlor, “If he does make that jump then I will be running for the State Senate for this seat. Currently I’m the only House member who lives in the district besides [Jimmy] Martin who is a Democrat and it is a Republican district. My House district is totally within the Senate district.”
Update: A GOP insider adds that the announcement will be on April 19.
Thanks to Jeff Vreeland
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Good for Mr Ward. I hope he wins! As far as Erwin goes….if he’s the nom then it’ll be four more years of itzy bitzy Jim for sure.
What, Hank Erwin out of the Senate after he loses? OH THANK GOD. Run Hank Run!!!!
Oh my. Cam Ward in place of Hank Erwin. The people of Shelby County must be doing a cheer in the streets!! What a refreshing change.
Hank Erwin as Lt. Gov?? Please pray for our Governor whoever he may be! Go for it Cam Ward, you will be a BIG IMPROVEMENT!
This is the best news ever. I know Folsom must be really worried right now!! Good luck Cam, you’ll do great. We need more like you.
Cam, you should run regardless. Maybe then we could take down that pedophelic… pedophelious…creepy poster on I-65 of Senator Erwin and those high school girls.
Thank you Cam Ward. You’re a class act and I’ll be thrilled to see you in the state senate.
Common sense, I have always felt creeped out by that billboard as well.
I agree, Common Sense. Cam, you should run anyway.
Finally I can get me a decent Senator for Shelby County!
Don’t forget about former Senator Bill Armistead. He may run again.
Anything is better than Hank Erwin. Go for it Cam!!!
Can I get a show of hands for a fundraising committee for Cam Ward to oust Erwin? Cam, get the paypal up on your website and watch your online donations dwarf Obama’s.
Run, Cam, run!
I don’t know Cam but I know Chilton County would be much better than anyone besides Erwin or Armistead. It is long past time we had a real change in our Senate representation.
Cam Ward would be a great addition to the Alabama Senate. This guy is pragmatic and true statesman. I hope he goes further…
Actually, Cam Ward would make a good State Senator. At the same time, Hank Erwin would serve well as LT Gov. We would not see the entire session dominated with gambling legislation if Erwin were LT Gov. At present, Erwin would get my vote.
John Killian,
How would Hank Erwin, as Lt. Gov., stop “gambling legislation” from being debated by the senate?
Didn’t say that he would stop gambling legislation from being debated by the Senate.
However, a presiding officer over the Alabama State Senate could keep the legislation from tying up days and days, as we saw last year.
Obviously, we have an impasse in the Alabama Senate over a number of issues. ’twill be interesting to see how these issues play out in the 2010 election and in the years following, with a new set of State Senators.
We are currently facing three special elections for State Senate seats. Each seat is important.
I agree with John Killian.
The Lt. Governor does not control the flow of legislation. Erwin would just have to sit and watch it because the Lt. Gov’s power was stripped in 1999. But you may think that Erwin’s close relationship with the Democratic Caucus would enable him to get the power back (sarcasm mine)
I am puzzled as to why Erwin would trade a seat in the senate for the powerless office of Lite Gov . . .maybe he thinks a statewide run would increase his chances of winning another constitutional office . .but if he thinks he will ever be Governor he’s out of touch with reality . . . .
Lt Gov is now the easiest constitutional office to hold. Almost no actual power (so you can’t get blamed for much), very few employees to manage and no one expects any results from what you do. However, it brings with it a decent amount of prestige, a paycheck, a driver, people think you are important, and it may help you run for something else. That’s my guess.
[...] Danny reports that state Sen. Hank Erwin (R-Montevallo) is running for Lt. Governor. That would be same Hank Erwin who opined back in September 2005 that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were God’s punishment for the sin and wickedness of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. [...]
Wow- Folsom people already campaigning?
Surely Erwin would not be the Republican nominee
progressive, your sources are inaccurate, strange will most likely run for AG. tell your sources to sober up…
[...] Sen. Hank Erwin (R – Montevallo) has an announcement scheduled for 3 pm on April 19th at the Pelham Civic Center, presumably to announce his candidacy for Lt. Governor. [...]
Since I am not in Hank’s district, I don’t have a dog in this hunt. However, I would like to know the reason for so much vitrol. Is it just because he is not ashamed to admint that, like everyone else on earth, his worldview informs his opinions and decisions, or has he done something specific to hurt the people of his district?
Since I am not in Hank’s district I don’t have a dog in this hunt. However, I would like to know the cause of such vitrol. Is it because, like everyone else on Earth, his worldview informs his opinions and decisions, or has he done something specific to hurt the people of his district?
Sorry for the dual comment.