Republican state Treasurer Kay Ivey sent out an email last night (below, and quite lengthy) telling those on her distribution list what Parlor readers already knew: she is preparing for a run for Governor.

My plan is to make a formal, statewide announcement in the upcoming few weeks. You know me; you know my record and you know I have a passion for public policy and for solutions to lingering and outdated practices. We must be about meeting today’s needs and tomorrow’s priorities rather than be bound by policies and laws adopted in yester-year.

There is only one office on the ballot—the office of Governor— that can develop and propose solutions for the great, many needs of this state and its future. It is the only office I intend to seek in 2010.

In the email, she also addresses the PACT issue:

I have received some very pointed criticisms from emotional PACT contract holders and opportunistic political rivals. I understand and sympathize with the fear and anger of these holders. But I am disappointed by the fear-mongering and false indignation of some of my rivals whose only goal has been to inflict damage on me, while they offered nary a single solution, only political platitudes.

I have survived the rhetorical slings and arrows, and I will not run for cover nor avoid any discussion of PACT during the course of a campaign. People forget that before the national economic collapse, my administration was averaging better than 12% returns a year on PACT investments. Therefore, I know that what happened was a market problem coupled with an escalation of tuition rates, not a management one on my watch! I have the utmost confidence that when the facts are fully told, most every rational and reasonable soul out there will know this too.

Here is the full text of the email:

Continue reading “Ivey Creeping Closer to Announcement for Governor”

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