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Contrary to a circulating rumor, Stephanie Bell tells the Political Parlor that she is not considering a primary challenge to Republican incumbent Beth Chapman for the office of Secretary of State – and that she has never talked to anyone about running for the office.
Bell, in her fifth term on the State Board of Education, tells the Parlor she is eyeing another race.
I have, however, seriously considered running for the Second Congressional seat since last March when I attended a meeting in Washington, D.C., with the new U.S. Secretary of Education, members of Congress, several other high level federal officials, and 17 other state board of education members from across the country. In recent months, a draft committee, friends, and my family have all encouraged me to run for Congress. (My husband and daughters actually tried to get me to run for Congress before I even expressed an interest in the race.)
Democrat Bobby Bright is the first term incumbent in AL-02. Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby and businessman Rick Barber have already announced their candidacies on the Republican side.
Correction: Bell is in her fifth term on the SBOE, not fourth.
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The GOP needs to avoid having a crowded primary this time. That is what bit them on the butt in 2008 – a contentious primary/runoff. They need to coalesce behind one candidate and throw their entire weight behind him or her.
That being said, Stephanie Bell has done an excellent job on the state school board, and would make the district proud as a U.S. Congresswoman.
This would throw a huge wrench into Roby’s plans because this is the year when a Bell candidacy might work. And Paul Hubbert might send her a bunch of money just to get her off the State Board of Education.
BB is smiling each and everyday that goes by when another Republican is joining this crowded primary!
I am voting for RICK BARBER! The 2nd district could use competent new blood. I think this district is so burned out on these revolving insiders. As far as I am concerned, we need Marine vs a waterboy and two cheerleaders in DC.
Stephanie Bell *YAWN*
Carol,
Bobby may be smiling, but the Republican nominee, whoever that person may be, is going to win in November.
Rick Barber can beat Bright.
Bright deserves to be re-elected, imo.
Martha has been running hard and is well organized. She has the right message. Bobby Bright has been telling people that he wants to run against Barber because he is a weaker candidate. He knows how tough Martha is as she battled him for nearly 7 years on the Montgomery City Council.
stephen – i doubt bright has said anything of the sort. sorry – but even he is “brighter” than that.
Sorry. A woman won’t beat Bobby Bright in the wiregrass. Neither Stephanie nor Martha has a chance. If either of them wins the primary, Bobby Bright will be re-elected.
At least Barber is a Marine. If he wins the primary, he’ll likely win the general.
lol @ Stephanie Bell
lol @ Rick Barber
jimmy toucan has it right. barber is a former marine – a successful small businessman (an no – it is not from upscale pool halls – it is from an IT business)and has grass roots – bottom up appeal and support. he is not a career politician like Bright that refuses to take a stand and wants to always run to the middle and straddle the fence. If Barber can win the primary – pack your bags Bobby.
Nice to see Barber’s so-called campaign staff is commenting.
It really doesn’t matter who the Republican candidate is if GOP voters in CD-2 continue to allow themselves to be deceived by “Blue Dog” Bobby Bright. If Republican voters would have all gotten behind Jay Love in 2008, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
How exciting to have THREE Republican choices and to find that one is my state school board mentor and friend Stephanie Bell. I can envision her right now as a Southern version of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota. Both possess srong backgrounds in education, having served on state school boards. Both have a strong and lengthy record as fiscal and social conservatives. And unlike Sen. Specter, I believe Michelle–and Stephanie– are both LADIES, very eloquent ladies who can hold their own in debate. Although I would certainly miss having Stephanie on the state school board, I would be elated to have her for my Congresswoman. Since Stephanie would be half-way through her term when elected, her appointed successor would have two years to establish a positive conservative record on the state school board.
Stephanie has voted for charter schools, stood up against tax increases, fought illegal immigration, worked for stronger academic standards, exposed corruption in the 2 year colleges, and represented the state school board in Washington serving on many governmental affairs committees for the National Association of State Boards of Education as well as the Education Commission of the States. This experience working with Congressional leaders will prove invaluable. She will be “shovel ready” in Washington and will “hit the ground running.”
Does anyone take into account that Bright has been giving the voters of the Wiregrass what they want? All he has done is represent what the majority of his constitutes have felt on all major voters. Everyone i talk to in this area is pleased unless they are known to have the GOP’s interest ahead of the people of the district.
In the general, what is the the GOP candidate going to say? “I would have voted the same as Bright” or “I would have voted with the Democrats” ??????????
The GOP needs to put their recourses towards a campaign to remove someone that is not voting their way, that is if they really care about the people rather than the party.
Political parties are ruining this country!!!!! DEMS & GOP
Maybe the Republican Candidate will let the leader of Bright’s Party speak for him. Barack Hussein Obama.
Are you kidding me? Stephanie Bell for Congress. We don’t need two Michele Backmans in Congress. We have one too many now. And if Stephanie can’t be effective in a body of eight, how effective would she be in a body of 435?
I do not plan to vote for Bright, but I will if Bell is his opponent.
And would someone explain to me why a member of the state board of education sits in judgement on rules and regulations for our public schools, but does not have enough faith in them to send her own kids to public school?
In other words, I don’t want my kids to go to one of the schools I help oversee.
Are the inmates running the asylum?
Betty – please explain to me how has a school board member fought illegal immigration?
Stephen,
In Sept. 2008, the state school board passed a resolution requiring the Ala. 2 year colleges to verify all students’ identification. Federal law passed in 1996 prohibited illegal aliens from receiving in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education and from receiving Pell Grants. Our new policy’s aim was consistency across the system and compliance with federal laws. A few years before, former chancellor Roy Johnson had recommended and gotten approval for a new scholarship plan which Stephanie and I voted against because Johnson would not give us adequate assurance that scholarships would not be given to students who were here illegally. Later during an interview for a college presidency, one candidate who was a college employee stated he had devised that scholarship plan and stated that one of his goals had been to help illegal aliens obtain scholarships. Because of that, we believed the issue needed to be clarified. At the Sept. board meeting, several people spoke against the proposed resolution; they ignored the fact that if colleges did not check students’ ID, illegal aliens across the state could continue to be charged in-state tuition rates as well as possibly receive scholarships while out of state students would continue to be charged the much higher out-of-state rates. Over the years, Mrs. Bell has consistently and publicly supported securing and defending our national borders.
lol @ Betty Peters
bright does not take a stand for his district. he hides in the corner on tough votes, straddles the fence until the last minute, then votes no and runs home telling everyone hoe he voted with the GOP. Take a stand – fight for us – be an advocate against cap and trade – against the democratic health care bill. but what do we get? silence. Bright also goes and picks up his checks from the DCCC with silence also.
2010-
Watch the news. Media has asked Bright about everyone of these votes and he has expressed over and over again he is against it. Which by the way, would be the same votes you would cast if you were to be elected.
You are a party loyalist and will throw the people of Alabama under the bus just top appease your party leaders.
hmmm….seems to me bobby bright refused to even have a town hall meeting with constituents – on numerous occasions – over health care. and please tell me how supporting conservative party leadership in the u.s. house of reps is throwing the people of alabama under the bus. hardly
2010 – As I remember the reports, Bright was in front of thousands of people in town halls just in August. There was one group of over 500 where he spoke on health care and answered questions. I saw where he did telephone town halls with more than 10,000. He was all over the place that month and every week-end I see where he is out in the district in front of citizens. You must be talking about the town hall the tea partiers tried to force down his throat to get themselves on Fox news. Your party ties are showing again. How much is your paycheck?
Greg – Bobby Bright did not have town halls with thousands attending. If so – please show me the reports you refer to. He did do tele town halls meetings from his desk in DC where all questions were screened, however At least be realistic in your comments.
And I love the fact that you attack the tea party movement and fox news. Does Bright feel the same way? This is AL – 02, check yourself buddy.
Wow, Betty. Stephanie cracked the whip on that issue. How has some school board member defended our national border. Great that you support her, but your rhetoric is laughable.
Stephanie Bell would be a great rep., she would quickly emerge as a real leader in the House. We need her in Congress! She would be the best rep. from Alabama. If you like Palin – you will love Stephanie Bell.
Crowded Republican? Does not matter. We need to get a good rep. for a change not just a Republican. We would finally have that chance.
As for the attacks on this post, look who is attacking her – the very people who hold conservative values in contempt. Stephanie has the right kind of people liking her and the right kind hating her.
No one hates her more than Paul Hubbert and that is a great compliment.
Stephanie Bell is a wonderful person and leader on the Board of Education. She’s conservative and really Bright, as opposed to her future opponent that was on the Obama-Pelosi ticket. She’s exactly what our state needs and the person that can win. BTW, a crowded GOP primary is not what put BB in office; it was a sore loser that didn’t get behind the nominee. Bell is the quintessential lady, Alabama hasn’t had a female Congresswoman I don’t believe. Stephanie Bell for Congress – the time is now to stop the Obama-Pelosi-Bright agenda.