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State Sen. Kim Benefield (D – Woodland) was introduced to most of us in one of the most intriguing stories of the last election cycle.
In 2006, Senate Republicans were again trying to form a coalition with dissident Democrats to wrest control of the Senate from the Democratic majority. The Democratic Senate Majority leadership was putting considerable resources into primary challenges for three powerful incumbent dissident Democrats: Gerald Dial, Jimmy Holley, and Jim Preuitt. (More on this in this 2006 Anniston Star article.)
Benefield was the only challenger to defeat one of the three. She ousted Gerald Dial in the Senate District 13 Democratic primary, narrowly won the general election (another intriguing story), put that seat back into the Democratic caucus, and helped Democrats to maintain a majority in the Senate for the quadrennium. When the Senate Democrats kept their majority (minus the dissidents) by one vote, you see the importance of the story.
All of this contributes to why Democrats in the legislature are disappointed at the widespread rumor that state Sen. Kim Benefield will not run for re-election.
Is it rumor or fact? Has she decided not to run for re-election? She was friendly, but wouldn’t give us a hint. “I am weighing my options,” she tells the Political Parlor this week. Does she have a timetable for deciding? “I am weighing my options,” she repeats.
What are the factors for her that go into weighing her options? “Oh, the make-up of the district, family issues, health issues, financial issues… the same things that I imagine would play into anyone’s decision.”
For what it’s worth, while it is widely accepted that she will not run, there is also a little chatter that she has been soliciting financial support for another campaign.
After Gerald Dial lost the Democratic primary race, he made a TV commercial on behalf of Bob Riley’s gubernatorial campaign against Democrat Lucy Baxley and was later appointed by Riley to a new position to head rural development for the state.
Will Gerald Dial run for the seat again?
| “You know, I work directly for the Governor, and the last fellow that worked for the Governor that got asked that had to resign. So I’m not saying.” |
“The Governor asked me that last week,” he tells the Political Parlor, laughing. “I told him that the last fellow he asked that question had to leave his job,” speaking of Bill Johnson who resigned his position at ADECA to run for governor. He elaborated, “You know, I work directly for the Governor, and the last fellow that worked for the Governor that got asked that had to resign. So I’m not saying. The Governor told me, ‘But I gave him [Johnson] from Friday to Monday,’ and I said, ‘Yes, and this is a Friday.’”
“[The Senate race] is a good ways off. I am getting some encouragement to run. Right now, I am working very closely with the Governor [on rural development], I am enjoying it, we’ve got some initiatives we are taking care of.
“Down the road we’ll assess the situation. You know, I used to coach, and I’d tell them that the worst thing you can do is peak before the tournament. I’m not politicking, I’m not raising money, I’m working for the Governor and I enjoy it.”
If he ran, would the long-time Democratic state Senator run as a Republican or a Democrat?
“If I run for any office, Senate, President, anything for the rest of my political life, it will be as a Republican. But we have a new school we’re building for Clay County. That’s as important as anything that has happened in that county. We have lots of initiatives, rural initiatives, we are doing what we can for Wadley… Meadowcraft. That’s what I’m focused on now. I’m working for the Governor.”
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Legislative Dispatch
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2010 Big List
2010 Senate Elections
2010 House Elections
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Danny, BILL Johnson had to resign. BOB Johnson works for the Associated Press.
You are absolutely right. Noted and corrected. Thanks.
Run, Dial, Run! Senator Gerald Dial is the most electable person for State Senate in District 13. Even more than Kim Benefield. She won’t run. If she does, she can’t win. I think she knows that. She’s there by the slick underhanded politics of Lowell Barron and his group! Won’t happen again!!! Dial can win as either a democrat or as a republican. He should run as a republican, since he’s been one for quite some time now. I think it’s just a matter of him deciding if he wants his job back or not. I think he will! Everyone else is just waiting to see what he does, before they make a decision to jump in.
Kim Benefield is a Lowell Barron pawn! Has done nothing for her district while in the Senate. Just a vote to keep Barron and his group in power! A vote that will be on the other side of the isle next term!
Farewell Senator Benefield, and welcome to the minority Senator Barron! The national trend is democrat. Of course, bass ackward Alabama is and does go right the opposite of the nation! The republicans will control the Alabama State Senate during the next term!
Benefield will win if she runs. If not, whether it’s retread Dial or another, real candidate, this district will fall to the Repubs.
When Dial’s name came up to be confirmed by the Senate on the Troy University board, vote was 12 for, 9 against. 12 Senators who served with him either voted against him or abstained. Hardly a ringing endorsement of Dial by those who know best how effective he was in the Senate. (The other four to be confirmed at the same time passed 29-0.)
Gerald constantly talks about his “initiatives.” Can anyone tell the rest of us what just one of them is and what success it has had.
Of course, this is the same guy who loves to tell folks that he was a General in the National Guard. Only problem, he was never confirmed at the Federal level which means he was never a “real” General.
LA,
Were the other four candidates for the board former Senators. Is there any chance that some of those voting against Dial were doing so for political reasons?
Since 18 of the Senators are yes men for Barron, who spent millions to defeat Dial, only 12 no votes isn’t bad.