Lisa Ward challenges Gerald Allen for State Senate seat
Statewide Democratic campaigns have largely floundered this election cycle in Alabama, and Republicans are expected to be able to maintain supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature. That said, there are some state legislative races where hardworking Democratic candidates are looking to unseat Republicans. Nowhere is this more true than in State Senate District 21, where Democratic nominee Lisa Ward has worked for over a year knocking on doors and has been able to raise nearly $100,000 to unseat Republican incumbent State Sen. Gerald Allen. Senate District 21 includes much of Tuscaloosa and Pickens Counties. Ward has been emphasizing door-to-door canvassing. “I’ve literally been living in the streets for the last 2 years,” Ward told Alabama Today. “No one is interested in my race. My own party has dismissed me as being non-viable.” “We’ve gotten national support and done podcasts and interviews all over the country with them, but nothing in Alabama,” Ward said, complaining that the Alabama Press has largely ignored her campaign. “Celebrities have come out to support us on social media. The list of well-known people is longer than the green mile. I have been shocked by how much name recognition we have in Pickens County.” “The journey has been amazing,” Ward said. “Hard, high, and low…but people don’t know. We raised almost $100k. Every state in the nation donated. Over 700 individual donors. More recurring ones than most people.” “We’ve got radio ads – TV ads,” Ward said. “We have done everything that a person can do. Even got Pickens on the map.” Ward says that she supports the ratification of Amendment 9 in the coming election. “If Amendment 9 passes, it will be because of my viral network and ability to reach across the state because of name recognition and credibility.” Amendment 9 would provide that the state Alabama Public Service Commission regulates privately owned sewer systems and plants in the Town of Lake View, Alabama (in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties), from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2027. The PSC is an elected three-member board that oversees the regulation of utility companies, including wastewater utilities, in the state. When the PSC has oversight over a wastewater service, the commission has the power to approve or reject rates and establish rules and regulations for their operations, Ward said that she has run an open dialogue on social media and has even received a Mockingjay pin (a reference to the Hunger Games). Ward has been highly critical of Allen. “Gerald Allen. What has he said he would do in this next term?” Lisa Ward said on Facebook. “Has he spoke to you about anything? Has he told you what he can improve on? Does he still support taking the $485M Covid money to build the new prisons? Is he going to work on the slave issue in the old prisons? Where he’s going to get the $5M he voted to take from the sheriff’s depts? Will he support open bids for the federal programs and follow the Davis bacon act when infrastructure begins? Has he addressed the hospital closing crisis? The jobs that left? If he will change his mind and repeal the gas hikes? Will he finally untax those groceries the entire state wants untaxed? Has he mentioned the billions in federal funding we have? Has he spoken about the school issue? Has he shared a vision for our District? Has he called or texted any of you?” Ward is a former city councilwoman in Lakeview. She sat on her town commission for planning and zoning meetings and wrote the Articles of Incorporation. She said she knows how to help rural Alabama. This is one of the most closely watched State Senate races. The election is just eight days away. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gov. Tate Reeves calls Mississippi special session for jobs project
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is calling lawmakers into special session Wednesday to consider incentives for an economic development project that he said would create 1,000 jobs with an average salary of $93,000. “Biggest economic development project in MS history coming to Golden Triangle,” the Republican governor wrote Monday on social media. Reeves said in a news release that the company would make a $2.5 billion investment, but he did not name the company. He said the project includes “a flat-rolled aluminum production facility, biocarbon production facilities, and certain other industrial facilities.” The governor did not immediately say what kind of incentives he will ask the Republican-controlled Legislature to approve. The special session will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Golden Triangle is in the northeastern part of the state, near the Alabama border. It encompasses Columbus, Starkville, and West Point. Democratic Rep. Kabir Karriem of Columbus told The Associated Press that the project will be for Lowndes County. This will be the first special session of the year for Mississippi legislators, who met in regular session from early January until early April. “The Mississippi Legislature has helped us build a business climate that encourages economic growth,” Reeves wrote. Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the U.S. According to the Census Bureau, the average per-capita income in the state was $25,444 from 2016 to 2020, compared to the U.S. average of $35,384. The governor’s news release said that the jobs for this project will be more than double the existing average salary in Mississippi. “One of my top priorities will always be to raise the per capita wages of Mississippians,” said Reeves, who is expected to seek a second term next year. “This historic economic development deal does exactly that and will have a remarkable impact on communities across Mississippi.” Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Libertarian Senate candidate John Sophocleus campaigns for votes
The Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate John Sophocleus, addressed Alabama Libertarians in a Facebook event hosted by the Libertarians Party of Greater Jefferson County at the Mountain Brook Library on Wednesday. Sophocleus is a career college instructor, historian, and economist who resides in Lee County. “I am the Libertarian candidate for Senate,” Sophocleus said. “I am a retired instructor.” Sophocleus said that he was upset with, “How much money we waste on redistribution of wealth” in this country. “I am the best candidate of the three,” running for Senate Sophocleus said. “I am trying to bring competition to Alabama politics.” Sophocleus said that he requires his students to read the United States Constitution. Sophocleus said that he has had students who were serving in the U.S. armed forces tell him, “Wow, I took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and I had no idea what is in that until I actually had to read it.” “I have been an Alabama Gazette columnist for 13 years,” Sophocleus continued. “I have worked with people on Capitol Hill including (former Congressman) Dick Armey.” “The huge amount of redistributive activity that is going on is the main thing that I would like to stop,” Sophocleus said. Sophocleus and the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Alabama, Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, were both asked about the Alabama prison crisis. “I am running for federal office, and the prison system it is by and large a state office issue, but I have spoken to Cam Ward, who is the Director of Pardons and Paroles,” Sophocleus said. Sophocleus has been an instructor in the prisons, among numerous other teaching assignments – most notably at Auburn University, Auburn University Montgomery, and Clemson. “They are not using the resources that are available to give them the skills they need when they (the prisoners) get out,” Sophocleus said. “Decreasing recidivism is the biggest long-term solution.” “The recidivism reduction is increasingly important,” Sophocleus said. “There are people that should be punished for their crimes, but we also need people that could be productive when they get out.” Sophocleus claimed, “I know the BCA and my opponent want to devote more money to the prison complex.” “Kay Ivey has sold her soul to the Business Council of Alabama,” Sophocleus said, urging voters to vote for Blake for Governor instead of Gov. Ivey. “In the Senate race, it is an open seat. None of the three candidates are incumbents. It is time to send a message.” Sophocleus slammed outgoing Senator Richard Shelby calling him “Cash Register Shelby,” who changed his Democratic ‘blue gang jersey’ for a Republican ‘red gang jersey.’ “50 of our 65 (Libertarian) candidates are in two candidate races,” Sophocleus said. “We are tired of the gangs of the duopoly. Break up the gangs.” Sophocleus made claims that the Constitution would work if the government would just do those things that it is authorized to do in the Constitution. “The Libertarian Party started 50 years ago because of their anger at the Republicans and Richard Nixon for closing the gold window,” Sophocleus said. “We have done a lot of damage in respect to inflation and how we have devalued our currency.” Sophocleus said that gold was trading at $40 an ounce in 1972 when Nixon chose to let the dollar float as a completely unbacked currency. “What does it cost to get an ounce of gold today? $1800? Americans – they hope that the dollars they save will have a value.” “When you have all of these pages of wealth transfer, it is going to only get worse,” Sophocleus said of the tax code. “President [Joe] Biden is playing games with the strategic reserve and oil prices.” Sophocleus said that there is no incentive for Congress to “stop the spending,” because “bond yields are so ridiculously low that there is no consequences to keep adding to it (the debt).” “All federal drug laws are unconstitutional – period,” Sophocleus said. “How we know that is when we wanted to have a war on alcohol, we passed an amendment. This document (holding up his pocket Constitution) does not empower the federal government to do what it does.” Sophocleus faces Republican nominee Katie Britt and Democratic nominee Will Boyd in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Marsha Blackburn and Katie Britt headline Republican get out the vote event in Madison County
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt was joined by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn for a Republican Get Out The Vote (GOTV) rally in Madison County on Monday, October 31st. Britt and Blackburn will also be joined by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, and House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter. These GOP leaders will be joined by local candidates, elected officials, grassroots activists, and members of the public. “I’m excited to join an incredible lineup of speakers in Madison County at our Get Out The Vote rally,” said Katie Britt in a statement. “It’s an honor to have Senator Marsha Blackburn on hand to outline how important this upcoming General Election is. We are looking forward to visiting with everyone and discussing what’s at stake on November 8. It’s time to send a message loud and clear to Washington, D.C. that we’ve had enough of President [Joe] Biden’s radical agenda that puts hardworking Alabama families last, whether it is generationally high inflation, a historic border crisis, or the devastating flood of fentanyl into our communities. This is the Year of the Parent, and people across our great state know that our future is on the ballot. Together, we will preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.” “Mexican drug cartels went into overdrive as soon as President Biden took office, smuggling fentanyl in by the truckload,” Blackburn wrote last week. “With any semblance of law and order tossed aside, dealers realized they could get away with lacing common prescription drugs. Now, just in time for Halloween, the DEA is warning parents that the cartels are attempting to lure children with brightly-colored “rainbow” fentanyl made to look like candy. That’s right – they are serving up poison that could pass as Chewy SweeTARTS. With heinous operations like this, it’s no wonder fentanyl overdoses have become the leading cause of death for adults ages 18 to 45.” The event was hosted by Black Patch Distillery at 500 Lanier Road, Unit 3C in Madison. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
