Reps. Jerry Carl and Mike Rogers tour Alabama shipyards
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl hosted colleague Rep. Mike Rogers, Lead Republican of the House Armed Services Committee, on a tour of Austal USA and Master Boat Builders. In a press release, Carl stated, “It was an honor to host my colleague, Rep. Mike Rogers, on tours of Austal USA and Master Boat Builders right here in my district. South Alabama is home to many world-class shipbuilding facilities, and the work they do is critical to our local economy and to the defense footprint of the United States. I’m proud to sit on the House Armed Services Committee, where I’m fighting for their continued success each and every day.” Rogers acknowledged the economic impact the shipbuilders bring to Alabama and to the nation. “Continuing to invest in and build our maritime fleet is critical for our nation’s future. I was glad to join Rep. Jerry Carl to see the hard work being done right here in Alabama at Austal USA and Master Boat Builders. The people of Austal USA and Master Boat Builders are building a better America,” said Rogers. Austal USA president Rusty Murdaugh thanked both congressmen for their support. Murdaugh stated, “It was a privilege hosting Congressman Rogers and Congressman Carl today. Congressman Rogers has been a champion of advancing our Nation’s military readiness throughout his career, and his support of Austal shipbuilding has been unwavering. Congressman Carl, from day one, has been a staunch advocate of national defense and Austal, our incredibly skilled workforce, and our families. We can’t thank them enough for all their support.” Master Boat Builder president Garrett Rice also thanked the congressmen for their support and emphasized the impact the companies bring to national security. “Master Boat Builders was honored to host U.S. Representatives Jerry Carl and Mike Rogers to see the high-quality workboats and vessels being built right here in Alabama by our hardworking employees. As leading members of the House Armed Services Committee, we greatly appreciate Representatives Carl and Rogers’ commitment to Alabama shipbuilding and shipyards across the country, which are critical to our economy and national security,” said Rice.
‘Students for Katie Britt’ coalition launched by two high school seniors
Katie Britt announced the launch of a youth coalition supporting her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Called “Students for Katie Britt,” the group’s founding co-chairs are Caleb Smith and Jake Yohn, both high school seniors in Alabama. Caleb is a senior at Hokes Bluff High School, and Jake is a senior at St. James School. The two met while at Alabama Boys State in July. They both heard Britt speak at one of their general sessions and were immediately moved to support the campaign. They have created both a Twitter page and an Instagram page in support of Britt. The group posted on Twitter, “The Students for Katie Britt Coalition is excited to launch our social media platforms today. We are a group of Alabama Students looking for a fresh face in Washington. Katie Britt is running for US Senate and we want her in office.” @KatieBrittforAL @KatieBoydBritt Originally tweeted by Alabama Students (@Students4KatieB) on October 6, 2021. The coalition of high school and college students will focus on social media and traditional grassroots campaigning. They aims to hold meet and greets featuring Britt, create voter registration events throughout the state on college and high school campuses, and promote student support and attendance at official Britt for Alabama campaign stops. “The future of our state is on the ballot, and Katie Britt has made it clear she is the right choice at the right time for Alabama,” Smith and Yohn said in a statement. “We’re going to prove that Alabama is ready for new blood in 2022. Katie understands that it’s time for the next generation to get off the sidelines in order to preserve the America we know and love for generations to come. The Students for Britt coalition is fired up for much-needed change in Washington, and we know that Katie Britt is the person who will deliver the real results Alabama needs. Anyone interested in joining this fight on behalf of our great state should sign up today. This is a grassroots movement, and we’re just getting started.”
Steve Flowers: Prison issue tackled, new prisons on the way
The problem of overcrowded prisons is a dilemma that has been facing Alabama for close to a decade. It was not something that Kay Ivey created. She simply inherited the situation, and the chickens have come home to roost during her tenure. To her credit, she did not hide from the issue. She has tackled it head-on and with gusto and resolve. She and the legislature were and are under the gun because the U.S. Justice Department is breathing down their necks to resolve the inequities and unconstitutional conditions in our prisons. When you get into a scenario where the Justice Department adamantly demands some concrete resolutions, you have to act. Otherwise, they will take over the state’s prison system, mandate the resolutions, and hand you the bill. Just ask California. The Justice Department is not only building new prisons at the Golden State’s expense but also releasing a good many of their prisoners. The bottom line is if the Justice Department will mandate and take over the California Prison System, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will do the same to Alabama. We have been down this path before. Years ago, in the 1960s, during all the segregation and civil rights wars raging in the Heart of Dixie, the federal courts took over Alabama’s prison system. Governor George Wallace and Justice Frank Johnson were law school classmates and friends. Johnson was married to his lovely wife, Ruth Jenkins, while in law school. Ruth was an excellent cook, and they would have George over for dinner. Their friendship ended when they clashed over civil rights and integration. Johnson handed down most of the rulings that integrated schools and other institutions throughout the state, while Wallace lambasted Johnson daily as a scallywagging, carpetbagging, integrating liberal. Wallace won the demagogic battle and rode it to being governor for eternity. However, Johnson and the federal courts won the war. Judge Johnson took over the state prisons, and the bill was so costly that it took the State of Alabama 25 years to dig out of the financial hole. Kay Ivey is old enough to remember this disastrous solution for Alabama. That is probably why she took the bull by the horns and declared boldly in her State of the State address over two years ago that this is an Alabama problem and we need to find an Alabama solution. Gov. Kay Ivey and probably, more importantly, the state legislature has worked to resolve this imminent and pressing problem. This current Special Session called by Governor Ivey to address the need for new prisons will more than likely resolve the issue for at least the next 25 to 30 years. The legislative leadership and governor have worked prudently and harmoniously to implement a solution to this prison overcrowding issue. This joint success follows months of negotiations between Ivey and legislative leaders in determining the scope and scale of the project. The two General Fund Budget Chairmen, Representative Steve Clouse and Senator Greg Albritton deserve a lot of credit and accolades for orchestrating the pieces of the puzzle. Ivey and legislators knew that the gravity of the situation required the governor calling a Special Session. The solution will be to build two new men’s prisons with at least 4,000 beds, one in Elmore County and one in Escambia County, in addition to a new 1,000 bed women’s correctional facility in Elmore County. The new Elmore men’s facility will provide enhanced medical and mental health, substance abuse and educational programming as suggested by the Justice Department. The two new men’s prisons will cost an estimated $1.2 billion, and the women’s prison and renovations of existing prisons will cost between $600 to $700 million. The prisons will be paid for by a $785 million bond issue. The salvation for the plan was the state receiving $400 million from the federal American Recovery Plan ACT (“ARPA”), which was like manna from heaven. The heroes for their area and constituents were Senator Greg Albritton of Escambia and Senator Clyde Chambliss of Elmore, who won the new prisons for their people. These prisons are an economic bonanza for Elmore and Escambia. Chambliss got two. Hopefully, this will resolve this issue for at least a few decades. We will see. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Alabama voters deciding between dead incumbent, challenger
Voters in an Alabama city had an unusual choice in Tuesday’s municipal runoff election: Whether to vote for an incumbent who died recently or support his challenger. William Carroll qualified earlier this year to run against two-term Mobile City Council member Levon Manzie, the council president. And even though Manzie died last month after an extended illness, his name was still on the ballot in mostly Black District 2, which Carroll once represented. Carroll will be declared the winner if he gets the most votes, but another election will have to be held if Manzie wins since he is deceased. That’s possible, as WKRG-TV reported there are still posters and banners throughout the district asking voters to support Manzie. They include some that say “Our friend would still want to win” and others that say “Honor Levon’s legacy.” Manzie received more than twice as many votes as Carroll in the first election, which included six candidates, and Carroll and supporters say an out-of-town political action committee controlled by white Republicans is still pushing Manzie as a candidate. “These signs I believe are part of this PAC that is providing this work, to me there’s something not just right about this PAC. That’s why I say it’s time to heal District 2,” said Carroll. Both Manzie and Carroll are Black, and the head of the local chapter of the NAACP recorded a video that was released by Carroll’s campaign claiming that conservative activists are attempting to manipulate voters by promoting Manzie, a well-respected pastor, following his death. “His legacy will continue only through fair and just elections without the interference of special interest influence,” said the chapter president, Robert Clopton. Manzie opposed an annexation plan promoted by the city administration, Clopton said, and proponents are trying to get someone elected who will flip Manzie’s vote and back the proposal. Mayor Sandy Stimpson appointed Manzie’s mother, Jeanette Manzie, to serve the rest of her son’s current term, but she withdrew soon after. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Convicted sheriff gives thumbs-up review of jail he ran
A longtime Alabama sheriff removed from office after being convicted of theft and ethics violations is giving five-star reviews to the jail where he spent more than two weeks in custody. Perhaps he should: He ran it for decades. Ousted Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely addressed the news media on Tuesday in his most extensive public comments since being convicted in August. Free on bond while appealing, Blakely maintained his innocence but had no complaints about doing time in the Limestone County jail in Athens. “Best jail in the state of Alabama — that’s another thing I’m proud of,” Blakely said during a news conference outside his attorney’s office in Huntsville. “The food was real good, the staff took very good care of me.” Blakely, 70, was convicted in August of taking no-interest loans from a Limestone County jail fund that held prisoners’ money and of stealing $4,000 from his campaign account. He was in his 10th straight term at the time of his removal from office, making him Alabama’s longest-serving sheriff at the time. Wearing his trademark cowboy hat and boots, Blakely said he had fewer privileges than jail trusties and denied receiving special treatment from his former staff. “I was incarcerated, whether they kept me in my office up front or whether they had me in the hole in the back,” he said. “When you’re incarcerated, let me tell you, you don’t have the freedom to go.” Blakely said he “couldn’t ask for better treatment from the inmates,” and said some even offered to have his food delivered to the jail. “I said, ‘No, I eat the jail food ’cause I love it because I’ve been eating it for the last 38 years,” he said. Sentenced to three years in custody, Blakely won’t get to serve time in the Limestone County jail once he begins his term. A judge ruled that he will be held at the Franklin County Jail, located about 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Athens. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Catholic archbishop for south Alabama positive for COVID-19
The top Roman Catholic church official for south Alabama, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, tested positive for COVID-19 and is quarantining at home, the church said Tuesday. While Rodi’s flu-like symptoms were mild, everyone who came in close contact with him has been notified, according to a statement by the Archdiocese of Mobile. The church’s main downtown office was closed. Rodi, who is fully vaccinated and tested positive on Monday, canceled all appearances and won’t resume public appearances until he is cleared by a doctor, the statement said. The Archdiocese includes the lower 28 counties in Alabama. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
