Posted by Dana Beyerle has a piece explaining why Gov. Bob Riley gave Bill Johnson a deadline of Friday last week to announce whether or not he was running for governor in the Republican primary.
Johnson was the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. It’s the cabinet level agency that manages grants for communities, counties and the state.
Riley spokesman Jeff Emerson on Monday explained Riley’s reasoning.
“Bill has told others the governor gave him by last Friday to decide whether to run for governor or not,” Emerson said. “It’s just if you’re in charge of a state agency that disburses funds, it may lead some to question the disbursement of the funds if you’re running for governor, and it’s better not to have that in place.”
Incidentally, the article also lists Sam Franklin Thomas of Huntsville as a Democratic candidate for governor. According to this Huntsville Times article that first reported he would be a candidate for governor, Thomas moved from Detroit to Alabama three years ago, which would mean that he does not meet the seven year residency requirement to be governor.
Related Articles:
Legislative Dispatch
Purple Dot Connection
2010 Big List
2010 Senate Elections
2010 House Elections
Press Releases
riley reasoning makes perfect sense. in fact, you will notice many of our state legislators handing out more and more “community grants” near election time. it’s gross.
So, Johnson and Sparks are the “I’m just glad to be here” candidates?
And, 2010, I assume you also object to all of the federal earmarks Shelby and others have been bringing back from DC in election years?
One could object to the practice of some state legislators presenting mock up grant checks that appear to be written on the legislator’s personal account. Something, Shelby, et al, avoid doing while claiming credit for “stimulating the local economy”.
i am not a fan of earmarks – Dem or GOP. And shelby is a master at them.
Earmarks should be banned across the board across the nation. Until then, I like ours.
Riley didn’t mind claiming credit for all those grants when he was running for reelection – what a hypocrite:
Governor Riley Awards Grant to Help Mobile Fight Fraud and Scams After Natural Disasters – May 26, 2006
http://www.governorpress.state.al.us/pr/pr-2006-05-26-01-scam_grant.asp
Governor Riley Awards Grant to Help Huntsville Plan for New Jobs at Redstone 6-20-2006
http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2006-06-20-01-redstone.asp
Governor Riley Awards Grant to Help Mobile County Combat Illegal Drugs 8-08-2006
http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2006-08-08-01-mobilecoillegaldrugs.asp
Riley Awards Grant for Statewide Drug Task Force – Sept. 22, 2006
http://www.adeca.state.al.us/C1/Recent%20News%20Releases/Document%20Library/2006-09/LETS$330000ABCTASKFORCE2_LC.DOC
Look, y’all are missing the point. Riley told Johnson that if he was running for Gov he had to quit by a time certain to make sure that it was clear that ADECA money (state or federal) was not being used as a political football for Johnson. Which is what Riley SHOULD have done. Why the complaints? Would you have rather Riley let Bill Johnson hand out money to potential contributors of his campaign up to the last minute? Doubtful (unless you’re Bill Johnson).
People always complain about community grants. Ask some of your local schools and ballparks if they hate commuinty grants. Don’t always assume that the money is wasted on foolishness. I know in my district first hand they are used for legit projects that in most cases directly support children’s programs. Although I do agree that there is waste, I do not believe that all of it is used carelessly or for personal gain.
Right on, Post 8.
I think you post 8 are missing the point.
You can’t tell a man that he should step down from his position to run a campaign even though the State Ethics Commission said there was no legal conflict if you have done the same thing yourself just 3 years prior.
Maybe Gov Riley just doesn’t hold the same standards for himself that he holds for his peers?
I agree!
And I don’t think Mr. Johnson had ever intended to stay with ADECA for the entire duration of his campaign even though there was no legal conflict stating he couldn’t. I don’t think it was right to give him a deadline and force him into a decision immediately. The race for Governor is a big step and he should have been permitted the opportunity to announce when he wanted to. After all we are 18 months away from the new Governor taking office. And he had until April of next year to announce…
Something smells fishing and its coming from the direction of Dexter and Bainbridge…
smells fishy that is…
it is a little stinky…
Paul Gibson in comment 7 aka Martha Harris in 8 aka Allen Scott in 12 aka Gary Winston in 14,
I do not care for commenters to leave multiple comments under different names to make it appear as if more than one person is leaving them.
I ask that you choose a name and stick with it.
There is a comment policy here on the About page. Longer remarks about comments may be found here.
Thank you.
Danny
lol well all stinkyness aside I think the aka’s make a good point
Are the grants that ADECA gives out not done so by some sort of formula? If the ADECA Director’s position is so high and mighty that he/she gets to hand-pick communities that they like not based on any sort of criteria you would all be lining up to apply! Mr. Johnson handing out grants that are awarded by the agency he oversees, which is what they are there to do, is nothing… absolutely NOTHING like the pork that is passed through our own statehouse and in Washington which is done so not by some formula/criteria on which to be judged, but rather driven by personal gain.
AUangel makes a good point. there is a rhyme and reason to ADECA grants and how they are administered. I am sure there is some cronyism but it is a far cry from what most state legislators do…
ADECA’s role depends on who is Governor. As far as I know, Governor Riley didn’t force Bill Johnson to do anything. He made his own decision to resign and his own decision how/when to announce. You can’t blame Governor Riley for Bill Johnson’s missteps.
In all the news articles I had read up until last friday Bill Johnson was quoted on saying he had received a lot of encouragement but hasn’t made a decision.
By giving Mr. Johnson an ultimatum Gov. Riley forced Bill Johnson to resign.
Without this forceful action Mr. Johnson would have been free to announce in his own time.
Auangel is right ADECA manages federal grant programs which are governed by federal statute and regulations – they have professional, career civil servants who manage the grant competitions – the Director does not hand out $ like the legislative, discretionary community grant program (no I don’t work for ADECA so settle down)
Even if Riley forced Johnson to make a decision (his right at his employer) regarding his future employment, that still didn’t MAKE Johnson announce for Governor on a Friday afternoon. Johnson could have announced for Governor any day between now and June of next year.
Just to clear up the misconception, and Danny thanks for allowing me to explain–this is our company PC and everyone here is pulling for Mr. Johnson.
BTW, William, googling ADECA press releases, it looks like ADECA only makes grants to cities, counties and non-profits. I’m pretty sure they can’t contribute to political candidates any way. AND, I also notice, that Governor Riley is given all credit for the grants and provides quotes for the announcements. What a crock…making it look like Johnson had any advantage by being in office. Giving him a day or two to announce. What a jerk.
I guess that I need to repeat myself. Bill Johnson served at the Governor’s pleasure as a politically appointed member of the Governor’s cabinet. As Governor Riley’s employee, I think that it is completely reasonable for him to expect Johnson to run his office without using it for his personal gain.
Surely you don’t expect anyone to believe that having grant money to give to cities, counties, and non-profits wouldn’t benefit a candidate for Governor.
Additionally, Johnson was given a time frame to decide whether he would continue in his current position or not. He was NOT told by Riley to announce for Governor on a Friday afternoon with little fanfare or support. That was Johnson’s mistake, not Riley’s and it is a bit silly to blame it on him.
This has nothing to do with when Bill Johnson announces he is running for Governor. And I think you will be very surprised by support Mr. Johnson has behind him. My problem is this…
Quote by William – Surely you don’t expect anyone to believe that having grant money to give to cities, counties, and non-profits wouldn’t benefit a candidate for Governor.
If you believe this to be true and the ultimate reason why Gov. Riley asked Mr. Johnson to resign from his position as Director of ADECA then why Mr. William was it ok for the Governor to do it in 06?
Theres the stink…
Discretionary spending helps ALL incumbents. That’s part of why we have so many incumbents re-elected. In a perfect world there would be little/no discretionary (taxpayer) dollars to be handed out by any politician on any level of government. Having said that, Bill Johnson is not an incumbent, but was a political appointee and as such should not being handing out ADECA grants to potential voters. I assume that’s why Riley asked him to resign IF he was going to run for Governor.
Quote from Allen Scott, “The race for Governor is a big step and he should have been permitted the opportunity to announce when he wanted to. ”
No one told Bill Johnson that he had to announce when he did or how he did. Blaming one’s political missteps on your previous employer…there’s the stink…
William, you’re a douchebag and you know that Bill Johnson isn’t blaming the Governor; you’re just choosing to act otherwise for whatever reason.
William I think your nostrils are clogged…
This a blog is Titled “Why Johnson Had a Deadline to Announce Candidacy”
The answer – Gov. Riley gave Bill Johnson an ultimatum forcing him to resign immediately if he wished to seek Political Office as Governor of Alabama. Johnson was put in a tough position because he couldn’t merely just continue working at ADECA and then announce months down the road.
No one said Johnson is blaming the Governor.
And the more you try to force such a false stated misconception on us the more it seems this is coming from an office on Dexter Ave.
Thats right allen!
That’s the same point I was trying to make.
And seems to be the general way everyone is viewing the topic.