Comments on: Why Johnson Had a Deadline to Announce Candidacy

By: Red

Red — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:53:51 +0000

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.

By: Allen Scott

Allen Scott — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:28:14 +0000

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.

By: Dirt McGurt

Dirt McGurt — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:09:39 +0000

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.

By: William

William — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:16:39 +0000

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…

By: Allen Scott

Allen Scott — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:41:23 +0000

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…

By: William

William — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:59:54 +0000

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.

By: Allen Scott

Allen Scott — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:42:16 +0000

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.

By: William

William — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:35:37 +0000

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.

By: lc

lc — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:42:05 +0000

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)

By: Red

Red — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:15:20 +0000

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.

By: William

William — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:27:08 +0000

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.

By: 2010

2010 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:08:19 +0000

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…

By: AUangel

AUangel — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:53:41 +0000

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.

By: Red

Red — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:08:56 +0000

lol well all stinkyness aside I think the aka’s make a good point

By: Danny

Danny — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:46:47 +0000

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