Posted by Senate Sketches # 1216
by
Senator Hank Sanders
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“Opportunity is like a man with long hair in front and completely bald in back. When it is coming toward you, you can reach out and grab a good hold because the hair is long. However, when it is moving away from you, your hand just keeps slipping off the slick bald head.” These were the opening words of my remarks on this special occasion. Of course, these words sprung from my deceased mama, Ola Mae Sanders.
The occasion was the dedication of the $26 million Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center at Wallace Community College Selma. The six building complex is something to see, something to experience. And it grew out of an opportunity seized.
The first person to mention the concept of a Criminal Justice Training Center to me was Dr. James Mitchell, President of Wallace Community College Selma. He said over the phone that it would be good for law enforcement, good for Alabama, and good for Wallace Community College. He also said some people had come to see him and would be coming to see me. I could hear the enthusiasm in his voice. I could see the vision springing from his words grounded in his head and heart. It was opportunity coming toward us.
The first persons to meet with me concerning the new Training Center were Captain Glenda Deese and Andre Reid. Captain Deese, now retired, was head of the old State Troopers Training Center located at Craig Field near Selma. Reid is a former State Trooper who consults with the Alabama State Troopers. As Deese and Reid talked, I saw the vision, I saw the possibilities. It was opportunity coming toward us.
At the time, the old Training Center was run down. I always thought that higher ups in the State Troopers allowed it to run down because they desperately wanted to move the Center out of Selma. I had done everything possible to prevent such a move for years. I knew that if a modern training center was established at Wallace College, we would never have such a struggle again. And opportunity was coming toward us.
The year before, Representative Richard Lindsey, who Chairs the Education Budget Committee in the House, and I, as Education Budget Chair in the Senate, had blocked a capital spending plan by Governor Riley after an intense struggle. We succeeded partly because we promised a bond issue the following year that would provide far more money for capital improvements than Governor Riley proposed. At the time, I had no idea that it would help solve a long standing problem. That was opportunity in the making.
After meeting with Captain Deese and Consultant Reid, I immediately met with Representative Lindsey. He saw the advantages to Alabama for a training center. We figured the project at $14 million and hoped that Governor Riley would include it in his version of the bond issue, but he did not. Still, Representative Lindsey and House Speaker Pro Tem Seth Hammett grabbed a good hold on this opportunity as it was coming toward us.
Colonel J. Christopher Murphy, head of the Alabama State Troopers, shared his vision separately with Representative Lindsey and I. Then Governor Riley shared his vision separately and asked that the money be placed in the bond issue. I readily agreed since I was already determined to do so. The hold on opportunity kept getting stronger and stronger.
The amount for the Training Center kept growing. It became a training center for correction officers as well as state troopers. Then it became the Criminal Justice Training Center for all law enforcement. Governor Riley and Colonel Murphy envisioned a state of the art training center. At first it was three buildings but eventually became six buildings. The price almost doubled.
Now, we were dedicating this $26 million complex. It would not only serve Alabama State Troopers and Corrections Officers, but law enforcement throughout Alabama, Southeast United States, and indeed the country. It was truly state of the art. It was truly striking. It was truly impressive. It truly exceeded anything we had envisioned. It was truly opportunity timely seized.
This effort illustrates the power of seizing opportunity as it’s coming toward you. The old folk called it “Striking while the iron is hot.” It is also an illustration of the power of partnership: Wallace Community College, State Troopers and the Department of Corrections; Legislative Leaders and Governor; Local and State Government; College President and State Senator; and so on.
Without the power of partnership, this moment would not have been possible in spite of good timing. We are all better off because opportunity, partnership and determination came together at the right place and time.
Now on to the Daily Diary.
Saturday – I was still in Montgomery for the Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) Endorsement Convention. I began the day with a 7 a.m. Board meeting. I continued with the following: First Plenary Session; Screening Session; #1 GOTV (Get Out The Vote) workshop; luncheon; District Caucuses; Screening Session #2; Second Plenary Session; and press conference. I facilitated the screening sessions, made remarks at the luncheon, and participated in each event. I communicated with the following: Dr. Roberta Watts of Gadsden; Barbara Pitts of Auburn; former Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford; Judge Jerry Fielding, Democratic Nominee for State Senate; Senator Ted Little; Greg Varner, Democratic Nominee for Senate District 13; Alabama Agriculture Commissioner and Democratic Nominee for Governor, Ron Sparks; Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.; Public Service Commission Chair Susan Parker; Gus Towns of Montgomery; James Anderson, Democratic Nominee for Attorney General; Charlie Grimsley, Democratic Nominee for State Treasurer; and Kirk and Carolyn Wheeler of Chattanooga, TN. I returned to Selma and tried to work but kept falling asleep.
Sunday – I resumed walking two miles after ten days of travel. I did Radio Sunday School with Dr. Margaret Hardy, Radio Education with Perry County School Superintendent John Heard, and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School and communicated with the following: Senator Roger Bedford; Dallas County School Superintendent Dr. Fannie McKenzie; and Lowndes County Administrator Jackie Thomas. I worked into the night.
Monday – I continued my walking but still made a 7:30 a.m. Team Selma Meeting. I traveled to Greene County where I handled many matters, had lunch with Dr. Carol P. Zippert and returned to Selma. I also talked with the following: Barbara Brown of the Crime Victims Compensation Committee; John Zippert and Laddi Jones of the Greene County Democrat Newspaper; Greene County School Superintendent Isaac Atkins and her assistant, LaTanya Cockrell; Sarah Duncan of Greene County; Barrown Lankster of Marengo County; Neal Wright of First Tuskegee Bank; Senator Quinton Ross; Ola Morrow of Maplesville; Donald Stewart of Anniston; Senator Lowell Barron; Lester Brown and Leo Branch of the Greene County Board of Education; and Judge Eddie Hardaway of Greene County. I worked into the night.
Tuesday – I talked with the following: Shanequa Shannon of the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF); Wayne Vardaman of the Selma Centre for Commerce; Consultant Paul Hamrick; Judge Mac Parson; ANSC State Coordinator Shelley Fearson; and Steve Foster of Lowndes County. I worked all day and into the night on various matters.
Wednesday – I communicated with the following: former Lieutenant Governor George McMillan; Gloria Pompey of Selma; Supreme Court Democratic Nominee Rhonda Chambers; Dr. Walter Hill of Tuskegee; Senator Harri Anne Smith; Frank Kummell of Lowndes County; Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery; and Sherrie Mitchell of Selma. I participated in a conference call with BBCF Governance Committee and had lunch with Dr. James Mitchell, President of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS) and worked into the night.
Thursday – I worked on Sketches and made remarks at the Grand Opening Celebration of the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center. I attended two luncheons, one connected to the Training Center and the other to an economic development initiative. I went to a football game to see my granddaughter in the Homecoming Court for the School and talked with various leaders from preachers to mayors. I talked with the following: Captain Glenda Deese of the Alabama State Troopers; Lobbyist Andre Reid; Governor Bob Riley; Colonel J. Christopher Murphy of the Alabama State Troopers; Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen; Selma Mayor George Evans; George Alford of Alford and Associates; Kevin Harris of Selma; Selma Businessman Jim Hodo; and Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard. I worked into the night including participating in an ANSC conference call.
Friday – I recorded a GOTV ad before traveling to Lowndes County and on to Atlanta for the wedding of Ife Major and the return trip to Selma. I talked with the following: Franklin Fortier of Z105.3 Radio Station; Senator Bobby Denton; Raymond Major of Mississippi; and others. Malika Fortier and I engaged in a leadership class as we traveled to Atlanta. I talked to people from various states during the Wedding Reception Dinner.
EPILOGUE – Timing is critical in any endeavor. However, good timing alone does not insure success. But timing plus preparation and collaboration tilt the odds in our favor. That’s what brought about the Training Center.
NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders (D – Selma) has written weekly columns for papers in his legislative district for over twenty years. They are not available online from the rural, weekly papers which publish them. This column is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office to Doc’s Political Parlor for inclusion in the Daily Headlines.
