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Though publicly Hank Sanders has stated that he will not seek re-election for the state Senate, privately he is hedging a bit on that. Potential successors to the Senate seat who seek his blessings of support are finding that he will not make any promises of endorsement because he “reserves the right” to get back in the race.
Sanders is said to be receiving entreaties to run for re-election from advocates for the Black Belt who don’t want to lose the representation of one of the most influential senators in Montgomery.
Others are imploring Sanders to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Artur Davis. The strongest CD-7 candidates to emerge so far appear to be from Birmingham. Those who are encouraging Sanders to run that race would like to see the seat held by someone from the Black Belt.
Still others who want an influential Black Belt advocate simply hope that Sanders will run for one or the other. Otherwise, they fear that the Black Belt will be weakly represented in Congress by a Birmingham resident and in the state Senate by a freshman Senator far less powerful than Sanders.
So far, Sanders is keeping his options open.
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Let go, retire. go away. live with rose chaka khan and be happy.
It is strange that people seem to think that the strongest candidates for Artur’s seat are Hilliard and Smoot. Smoot has about as much chance as winning as I do, and Hilliard appears to be a lesser version of his father (and his father was really not that great). From the outside looking in, Sewell seems to be the strongest candidate, and she lived more than half her life in Selma, so is more of a Selma candidate than a Birmingham candidate. I find it hard to believe that anyone other than Hilliard supporters want Sanders in the race.
Some who want Sanders in that race see Sewell more as Birmingham-based, but it’s true she has Selma roots.
However you characterize them, the three strongest candidates at the moment appear to be Hilliard, Sewell, and Smoot.
I’ve been hearing these rumors for the past two weeks. I’ve spoken with two different people whom Hank told he was reconsidering his retirement. I think he is concerned that there isn’t a strong candidate to replace him. I don’t think he has much faith in James Thomas. If Hank decides to run again, will Thomas then withdraw from the race to enter the race for his House seat HD69? There are three different candidates that have already announced for the presently open seat. State Trooper David Colston is also rumored to be considering entering the race. McCord made it to a run-off against Thomas in 2002 so he may not withdraw simply because Thomas re-enters the race. I suspect King would step aside if Thomas re-enters the race. It could create an interesting situation should Hank reconsider his retirement.
Sewell is terrible and Smoot is a criminal. Whatever you think of his Daddy, Earl was the Freshman Legislator of the Year his first year in the legislator.
Sanders is not running, no matter what anyone thinks. He is old and in bad health and ready to go to the house.
Sewell lived half her life in Selma? – She left town when she went to college and hasn’t come back.
Most of her money comes from her law firm partners and New York. Who knows who she is anyways?
Hilliard won Freshman Legislator of the Year from whom?
Looks like this thing is wide open.
Sewell was born and raised in Selma as far as I understand. She went to college and moved to Birmingham in 2004. According to her website both of her parents still live in Selma. Whether it is half her life or 40% is irrelevant. The point is that she (like say Bobby Bright with Dothan) can claim a connection (a deep one in my opinion) to the Black Belt.
In addition, you can knock Sewell, but she is the only candidate running a modern campaign and has raised more money from Alabama than all the remaining candidates combined and doubled.
she worked on Wall Street for years and has been bond counsel for a big birmingham firm since she came back.
she’s also been raising money since the first of the year. the other candidates just got in the race.
she has no birmingham constituency. that’s why it will be difficult for her to win.
I guess Hank still longs to “work into the night”
Smoot is considered a good candidate because of her exposure on television and aggressiveness — aggression wins political races. Sewell will have the most money, guaranteed, but no one knows here. Earl Junior has many friends, is the nicest candidate I have ever known, and knows the job. And don’t forget that the bulk of the voters are in B’ham.
Others are forgetting that James Perkins, the Mayor of Selma, is in the race and a proven votegetter. He lived in Birmingham and was a successful businessman.
The smears of Earl Hilliard, Sr., seem to be just that, smears. He represented the district with honor, while under a continuing attack by the News and those who couldn’t control him. I think he did a great job. He was Vice Chair of both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
But I think Earl, Jr., and Perkins are fine candidates and either would be an excellent representative.