Sen. Steve French, Sen. Zeb Little, Rep. Ken Guin, and Rep. Cam Ward will be blogging here during the 2010 Legislative Session.

New Year Observations

Tis the season. I’m not one to come up with poems of catchy jingles but I do have some New Year observations.

Christmas is now behind us and the presents are all unwrapped some political campaigns have to be feeling good while others are hoping 2010 is better to them.

Santa Claus was good to [...]

You Can Help Poll Alabama!

Public_Policy_Polling_logo

…or, at least, you can help see that Alabama is polled.

Public Policy Polling is asking readers to choose which of five states it polls next, and Alabama is one of them. Go vote now! Wouldn’t you like to see some numbers on the governor’s race?

Voting will be open until Monday morning, [...]

Daily Headlines, Thursday, 12/31/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserTop 10 state stories of 2009

Montgomery AdvertiserPSC’s Parker decides not to run for District 5 seat

Montgomery AdvertiserRoss decries lawsuit against Montgomery Board of Education

Montgomery AdvertiserColonial BancGroup limps through bankruptcy

Montgomery AdvertiserUsing firearms to celebrate can [...]

Small town political gazette

Selma Times-JournalJames Perkins drops out of Congressional race

Dothan EagleWiregrass Republicans oppose ban of gubernatorial candidate

Journal-RecordWinfield, Hamilton postpone wet/dry votes

The Arab TribuneDentist pushes for tax reform – Remember to pay use tax on those on line purchases

AL-05: Susan Parker Out, Paseur Unlikely, Who's In?

Alabama's 5th Congressional District

PSC Commissioner Susan Parker says today she is focussing on her re-election to the Public Service Commission and will pass on AL-05. See her statement [.doc] in the Press Releases section of the Political Parlor. Ron Sparksstatement on the matter is also here [.doc].

We hear Deborah Paseur is unlikely [...]

Sparks Takes Some Hits

Swing State Project asks:

Who the hell does Ron Sparks think he’s fooling? Because he’s certainly not pulling a fast one on anyone who’s been paying attention to the political circus going on in northern Alabama over the past week. Let’s review the evidence.

and concludes:

It was bad enough that Sparks flirted so openly with [...]

Daily Headlines, Wednesday, 12/30/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserRace takes on new meaning for Rep. Artur Davis

Montgomery AdvertiserSparks sticks with gubernatorial bid

Montgomery AdvertiserPACT will not pay full tuition

Montgomery AdvertiserJohnson banned by Autauga Co. GOP

Montgomery AdvertiserTop tri-county area stories of the decade

Montgomery [...]

Small town political gazette

Daily Mountain EagleTwo local soldiers die in Iraq

The Jacksonville NewsHD-40 candidates face voters in forum and provide answers to questionnaire

Eufaula Tribune$20,000 believed stolen in police lieutenant’s case

The Tuskegee NewsFinal Highway 80 easement in place

Daily Headlines, Tuesday, 12/29/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserSparks to announce 2010 election intentions today

Montgomery AdvertiserRiley supports King’s inquiry into health care bill deal-making

Montgomery AdvertiserState education officials work on application for federal money

Montgomery AdvertiserGodbold made the judiciary better

Huntsville TimesMadison sets hearing on [...]

Small town political gazette

The Post - Cedar Bluff Council welcomes new members

The Arab Tribune - Landlord says discrimination charges ‘blown to hell’

North Jefferson NewsWarrior police tax angers Blount County residents

The Sand Mountain Reporter - Two die in Marshall County Jail

Ron Sparks to Announce Tuesday Morning

Alabama with the 5th Congressional District highlighted

Ron Sparks has scheduled Tuesday press conferences (.doc) at 10 in Montgomery, 1:30 in Birmingham, and 4:00 in Montgomery. Expect him to stay in the Governor’s race. For one, who would announce in Montgomery his candidacy for a race in north Alabama? I’m also starting to hear from folks that pass [...]

Sparks Decision on AL-05 in about Two Days

Ron Sparks

Associated Press:

State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks says he will announce within about two days whether he will remain in the Democratic race for governor or switch to the 5th Congressional District contest.

Related Articles:

What Dems Will Run in AL-05?

Alabama's 5th Congressional District

The 2010 Big List is updated with potential Democratic candidates for AL-05. Remember that the 2010 Lists have potential candidates in italics and announced candidates in bold.

Daily Headlines, Monday, 12/28/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserState education officials work on application for federal money

Montgomery AdvertiserRecyclers undeterred: Some Montgomery residents continue practice despite overall drop in participation

Montgomery AdvertiserCommission’s choice for ADEM critical

Montgomery AdvertiserState government faces sharp cuts

Montgomery AdvertiserRANTS AND RAVES: [...]

Daily Headlines, Sunday, 12/27/2009

Coffee cup

Montgomery AdvertiserTroopers work to reduce road deaths amid budget worries

Montgomery AdvertiserUA eyes recycling championship

Montgomery AdvertiserRepublicans quickly change views on Griffith

Montgomery AdvertiserLongtime judge John C. Godbold, dies at 89

Montgomery AdvertiserPlasma plant presents powerful possibilities for Montgomery

[...]

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Back in the Day...

Bessemer Post Office, 1938

Vintage postcard
 

Legislative Dispatch

Regardless of Political Stripes Vote Tomorrow

As an elected official, I am tuned into voting habits and practices. Call me a political junkie, but I am fascinated by the whole electoral process—what age group votes most often, what issues motivate them and what media outlet is the most effective. While all of my interest in the political world is a hobby [...]

My Time is Up

I write this blog with some mixed emotion. Over the last eight years I have served in the House of Representatives, and this Thursday will most likely be my last day in session as a House member. Of course, my term goes until November, and there could always be a special session at [...]

Purple Dot Connection

TRYIN’ TO CATCH UP

I’ve been in Venice on a little vacation and just returned last night.  I’ve been trying to catch up and see that there have been few dramatic events in the last 10 days.  I thought the www.fivethirtyeight.com piece was especially good, though the comments reflected the anti-Alabama knee-jerk reactions of those who live outside the [...]