Email Insights: ‘Dump Trump’ anger sparks Becky Gerritson write-in campaign
There may be a case of buyer’s remorse going on in Alabama’s 2nd District, where earlier this year voters overwhelmingly voted for U.S. Rep. Martha Roby over primary challenger, Wetumpka Tea Party co-founder and President Becky Gerritson. Now it appears constituents of the 2nd District are a bit uneasy with Roby’s recent withdraw of support from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Roby made the decision to “dump Trump” following the release of the bombshell hot mic recording in which Trump brags about groping women without their consent to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. For Gerritson, that’s not a good reason to throw in the towel and abandon the GOP nominee. She says the 2nd District agrees, which is why, according to Gerritson, a write-in campaign has been mounted to oust Roby and elect herself on Nov. 8. Gerritson addressed the situation in the 2nd District in an email: The sudden “Dump Trump” movement last week has many people up in arms. Voters where I live, in Alabama’s 2nd district, are FURIOUS that Rep. Martha Roby was one of the first to “Dump Trump.” They are so mad, in fact, that they’ve burned up her phone lines and they have mounted a write-in campaign for her primary challenger. Yes, that would be me, Becky Gerritson. I challenged her in the 2016 Republican primary. I understand the frustration of voters who are fed up with politics as usual. Donald Trump represents hope for those individuals, and they are not about to give up that hope. Candidates like Trump, Ted Cruz, and Ben Carson were welcomed by disenfranchised Republicans because they pledged to break the cycle of the political elites and big-money lobbyists from controlling our politics. I do respect, yet disagree with, those who have been consistent in their opposition to Trump, such as Sens. Ben Sasse and Mike Lee, and even commentator Erick Erickson. But in the recent “Dump Trump” movement, a correlation is apparent … follow the money! The list of prominent names recently dumping Trump could be titled “The Chamber’s Bought-and-Paid-for RINOs.” In this campaign cycle, the pseudo-conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of our nation’s biggest supporters and financial backers of amnesty. I personally went up against the U.S. Chamber in my own primary in which they spent nearly $2 million promoting liberal Martha Roby. As you can imagine, such an amount allowed them to utterly control the airwaves for their establishment candidate — particularly in our rural Alabama district. No other conservative faced such a massive obstacle in their primaries — although the more limited spend by the Chamber is partially to blame for the toppling of conservative Tim Huelskamp. Many on the list of GOPers who have disavowed Trump reads eerily similar to the list of candidates the U.S. Chamber supports. Here are a few examples: Joe Heck: NV (beneficiary of $3,550,374 as of latest reports) Rob Portman: OH ($4,606,324) Kelly Ayotte: NH ($1,910,300) Mark Kirk: IL ($550,150) John McCain: AZ ($1,550,450) Martha Roby: AL (my primary opponent – $1,750,000) Pat Toomey: PA ($5,106,000 — has refused to say whether he will vote for Trump) Ron Johnson: WI ($750,300 — has been tepid in his support) It seems clear that the Chamber is using its massive war chest to compel opposition to Trump from within the party. And over the last week we have seen that it’s working. Martha Roby and other “Dump Trump”ers are listening to their biggest campaign contributors rather than their constituents. President Barack Obama has taken our country down a path toward socialism, unsustainable debt, and unprecedented threats to our national security. A vote for Hillary is a vote to continue Obama’s fundamental transformation of America. In this crucial election cycle, we must defeat Hillary Clinton. We must support the Republican nominee and the party platform that upholds conservative values. Despite calls for presidential write-in candidates, like Rep. Roby proposes, the reality of state election laws make a presidential write-in an impossible scenario for a Republican win. So conservatives, keep your eyes on the prize. Take a deep breath, pray, and vote.
Early polling results indicate big wins for incumbents
8:15 p.m – With polls having closed just a little over an hour ago, election results from the Secretary of State’s website indicate that incumbents will likely hold on to their seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Though only nine of Alabama’s 67 counties are currently reporting, Sen. Richard Shelby is keeping a strangle hold on his seat. Of 6,017 ballots cast thus far, Shelby has collected a dominant 4,248, or 70.6 percent. His closest opposition is newcomer Jonathan McConnell, who has collected 1,294 votes, or 21.5 percent. On the Democratic side, Charles Nana is currently leading Ron Crumpton by more than 14 percentage points. Neither Democrat has made much of a showing leading up to today’s elections, but it had seemed that Crumpton would be leading the race. In much the same fashion, Rep. Martha Roby is leading Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson in the U.S. House District 2 race , with 74.48 percent of the vote compared to Gerritson’s 20.28 percent. Likewise, Reps. Bradley Byrne and Mo Brooks, U.S. House Districts 1 and 3 respectively, are trouncing their opponents by wide margins – in Rogers’ case, nearly 50 percentage points. Rep. Robert Aderholdt is also dominating his opponent with 82 percent of the vote in the U.S. House District 4 race.
Where will Alabama candidates be Election night?
Super Tuesday — or what the south is affectionately referring to as the SEC Primary — could all but solidify the 2016 presidential race as election results from 12 states, including Alabama, roll in Tuesday night. In the Yellowhammer State, incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby is hoping to win once again his Party’s nomination, over a slew of challengers, most noticeably former Marine Jonathan McConnell. Meanwhile, all of Alabama’s House Members face challengers. Here is where the candidates will wait for the results: The incumbents: U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby What: Election Night Watch Party Where: Embassy Suites Hotel, 2410 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa When: 6:30 p.m. CST U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): What: Bradley Byrne Election Night Watch Party Where: Moe’s Original BBQ, 701 Spring Hill Ave., Mobile When: 7 p.m. CT U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): What: Election night reception Where: The Warehouse at Alley Station; 103 Commerce St; Montgomery When: 7 p.m., CT Extra details: Roby is tentatively scheduled to speak about 30 minutes after the race is called. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): When: Post-Election Party Where: The Green Olive; 1024 Noble St; Anniston, AL 36201 U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): What: Tuscaloosa County Republicans Election Night Watch Party Where: Chuck’s Fish; 508 Greensboro Ave; Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 The challengers: Jonathan McConnell for U.S. Senate What: Election Night Results Watching Party Where: Cahaba Brewing Co., 4500 Fifth Ave. S., Birmingham When: 7:30 p.m. CT Becky Gerritson for AL-02 What: Election Night Watch Party Where: Coaches Corner Sports Bar and Grill, 203 Orline St., Wetumpka This story will be updated as more details from other candidates come in.
Martha Roby overwhelmingly wins in key re-election bid
Voters across Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District overwhelmingly supported U.S. Rep. Martha Roby in her re-election bid on Tuesday over her opponent, Wetumpka Tea Party founder, Becky Gerriston by nearly 40 percent. Official results Tuesday night indicated Roby won slightly more than 66 percent of the vote in the 2nd District, which represents Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Pike, and parts of Montgomery counties. Gerritson took home only 27 percent of the vote, and Bob Rogers just over 5 percent. Following her victory, Roby thanked the voters for their trust and support, saying the strong win showed voters were choosing “solutions over sanctimony, progress over pessimism, and results over rage.” “Today, Alabama voters have honored me – not just with their vote – but with their blessing and with a mandate to fight for conservative solutions,” Roby said to a crowded room of supporters Tuesday night. “This win matters because it sends a message about who we are going to be as a party in Alabama and what being a conservative means here today. I’m a conservative who wants to solve problems, not cause problems for conservatives.”
What to look for in Alabama on Super Tuesday
Alabama voters go to polls Tuesday as part of Super Tuesday contests in 12 states. Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump all plan stops in Alabama in a last-minute hunt for votes before Tuesday’s election. Republicans and Democrats will also name their picks in congressional and state races. Here’s a look at what to watch for and a look at a few of the key races on Tuesday: • • • CONGRESS On Tuesday, Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, faces Tea Party challenger Becky Gerritson in the second congressional district that includes Montgomery and the Wiregrass. Roby is perhaps best known for being on the congressional panel investigating Benghazi and has been a vocal critic of delays and problems at Veterans’ Affairs hospitals in the region. Roby said she shares voter frustration with “Washington doublespeak.” “There are so many politicians out there that are so afraid of losing their jobs that they forget to do their jobs. My job is to listen to the people, study the issues, make decisions that are in the best interest of the people I represent and to be honest about it,” Roby said in an interview. Gerritson is the founder of Wetumpka Tea Party, one of the state’s largest and most active tea party organizations. She appeared on the national radar with emotional congressional testimony in 2013 regarding Internal Revenue Service probes of conservative political groups. “We need a true conservative in leadership for District 2,” Gerritson told voters at a campaign stop. “We see year after year, election after election, we are promised that things are going to change and they don’t,” Gerritson said. In South Alabama, Rep. Bradley Byrne is in a rematch with Dean Young, the bombastic real estate developer he bested three years ago for the open congressional seat. Byrne has a heady mix of endorsements ranging from the NRA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Sen. Jeff Sessions. Young is running an ad of clipped-together news segments from their last race. News commentators refer to Byrne as the “establishment” candidate eight times in the 30-second spot. While any anti-establishment surge could hurt incumbents, challengers from the party’s far right, like Young and Gerritson, struggle under a compressed campaign season while facing opponents with superior name recognition and financial firepower. Five-term Sen. Richard Shelby is running an aggressive campaign, unloading a portion of a $19 million war chest, as he looks to a sixth term in office in the midst of the insurgent voter mood. Shelby faces off with four lesser known challengers in the GOP primary, most notably Jonathan McConnell, a former Marine who now runs a ship security business putting former Marines on vessels. • • • PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PRESIDENT One of the few statewide races on the ballot is the Republican primary for president of the Public Service Commission. The race pits incumbent Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh against former PSC member Terry Dunn. • • • BRING PHOTO ID This will be the first presidential race under Alabama’s new photo identification requirement for voting. Alabama requires voters to show photo identification at the polls such as a driver’s license, passport, an Alabama non-driver ID, a university student ID or identification issued by the federal government. A person without photo ID can submit a provisional ballot, but it won’t be counted unless they bring in the required identification. • • • TURN THE BALLOT OVER Voters should remember to look on the back of the ballot. The presidential candidates and numerous delegates to party nominating conventions appear on the front of the ballot, while state and local offices are on the back. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Martha Roby picks up key endorsement from Alabama manufacturers
Manufacture Alabama — the state’s only trade association dedicated to the competitive, legislative, regulatory and operational interests and needs of manufacturers and their partner industries and businesses — has endorsed U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) in her re-election campaign in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. The group cited the Congresswoman’s experience and reputation for the association’s endorsement over challenger, Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson. “Congresswoman Roby is a proven and solid leader for our state,” said Manufacture Alabama’s President, George Clark. “She has an established pro-manufacturing record and has continuously supported the energy, workforce development and regulatory issues critical to the livelihood of manufacturing.” “Congresswoman Roby is passionate about public service and is committed to serving the people of Alabama’s Second Congressional District,” Clark concluded. The primary election is set for March 1.
Email insights: Becky Gerritson lands Phyllis Schlafly, Eagle Forum PAC endorsements
Becky Gerriston, the fiery Wetumpka Tea Party co-founder and President, exploded on to the political scene in 2013 garnering national attention when she testified before Congress having been politically targeted by the IRS. Now in 2016, she’s found her way to the political spotlight once again as the challenger of three-term incumbent Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) in what POLITICO has called one of the “must-watch” races of the year. With the March 1 primary rapidly approaching, Gerritson is out and about in the 2nd District working hard to prove her conservative stripes. Her case stands to be strengthened by her latest endorsement from conservative icon Phyllis Schafly and her Eagle Forum PAC, a conservative public policy organization that supports candidates who are committed to a conservative philosophy of limited government, national sovereignty and traditional values. Here’s the email Gerriston sent out of her latest endorsement: Patriots, We continue to build momentum and gain the support of conservatives all around the nation. It’s exciting to see how many are taking a stand. Martha Roby has the backing of the establishment because she represents their values. I promise you this, I will go to DC representing YOU and only YOU. Please consider donating to help us overcome the “Washington Warchest.” You can go to our website to give at beckyforcongress.com/donate. Thank you for your support, Becky FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GERRITSON RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM CONSERVATISM’S LEADING LADY, PHYLLIS SCHAFLY, AND EAGLE FORUM PAC Building on the growing momentum behind the Becky Gerritson campaign, Phyllis Schafly, arguably the single most impactful woman in the modern conservative movement, and her Eagle Forum PAC have announced their endorsement of the conservative rising star. “While President Obama has repeatedly attacked the very foundation of our nation, Republican leaders in Congress have failed to respond in a meaningful way,” said Schafly. “Rep. Martha Roby has been with them all too often.” “Although she was elected in the conservative wave of 2010, Roby scores lower than every other member of the Alabama Republican delegation on numerous conservative score cards, including those of Eagle Forum, Heritage Action, Club for Growth, Madison Project, and Conservative Review. Despite the clear mandate from the grassroots to restore discipline to Congress by rejecting business as usual, more times than not, Roby has voted for the interests of the Washington insiders instead of the values of her constituents. “For example, since coming to Congress, except for the most recent (December 2015) as she faces a primary challenge, Roby has voted for every omnibus spending bill, including the CRomnibus in December 2014 that funded Obama’s amnesties. Most disturbing is her vote – along with every Democrat in the House and Senate – for final passage of the “Every Student Succeeds Act,” the latest overhaul of the American education system which has been criticized by informed conservative academicians as ‘Common Core on Steroids.’ “This is the year when we must elect more Republicans to Congress who are true conservatives – that’s why I’m supporting Becky Gerritson. “I first heard of Becky after she gave a compelling testimony to Congress when it was discovered that the IRS was targeting specific groups for their political beliefs. Her testimony inspired thousands when she courageously told government to get back in its place. “Becky is a proven leader. She understands that sound governance doesn’t mean just passing bills that the president will sign, as the current Congress continues to do. She knows that sound governance means upholding and defending the Constitution, protecting the security of the American people, and defending the values that have made our country great. Her dedication and passion for the conservative cause has been seen not only by Alabamians but by the nation as she has fearlessly and tirelessly fought against the progressive agenda and big government. “We need Members of Congress who will not just go to Washington to be another vote for the Republican establishment and political elites; we need representatives in Washington like Becky who will represent and fight for the values and principles that have made America great.” Eagle Forum PAC supports candidates who are committed to a conservative philosophy of limited government, national sovereignty and traditional values. Gerritson is honored to fit the bill. “Phyllis Schafly is conservatism’s ‘leading lady,’ and she has had a profound impact on our movement,” said Gerritson. “I am deeply honored by her friendship and her support, and I am humbled to see the groundswell of grassroots momentum behind our campaign. Martha Roby’s record is unacceptable, liberal, and out-of-touch with the conservative values of District 2. I am confident voters will stand behind our campaign as the conservative choice on March 1.” The endorsement of Eagle Forum PAC and Phyllis Schafly follows last week’s endorsement by the national Tea Party Patriots PAC. A grassroots candidate whose team of volunteers has made tens of thousands of calls into the district, Gerritson has also raised more than $100,000 to compete with Roby’s warchest. For inquiries, contact Cody Muzio at cody@beckyforcongress.com. ###
Ted Cruz taps evangelicals, Tea Partiers to fuel campaign
When Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz first ran for U.S. Senate in Texas, the only thing lower than his name recognition was the expectation that he’d win. Then the state solicitor general, Cruz amassed a coalition anchored by Tea Party conservatives and evangelicals on his way to defeating a sitting lieutenant governor who entered the primary with the financial and organizational muscle of the GOP establishment. Now Cruz is trying to take the model nationwide, even as some of his White House rivals, especially Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, compete for the same voters in a scrambled GOP race. The son of a Southern Baptist preacher, Cruz will continue his efforts this week with a two-day meeting at a remote Texas ranch that began Monday and was expected to bring together about 300 Christian leaders and key financial backers for a fundraiser. Some are already supporting him, while others are undecided, Cruz said. The Cruz campaign combines a traditional get-out-the-vote operation – making phone calls and knocking on doors – with modern data analytics to identify and mobilize supporters, beginning with Iowa on Feb. 1. He’s pairing that with state-by-state teams filled with grassroots Tea Party leaders, local elected officials and state lawmakers who hail from the most conservative corners of the GOP. “Our objective has been to follow a biblical principle: to build on a foundation of stone, not of sand,” Cruz told reporters in North Little Rock, Arkansas, last week. Cruz boasts of having 160,000 volunteers and collecting more than 600,000 contributions nationwide. JoAnn Fleming, Cruz’s Tea Party chairwoman for Texas and a longtime conservative organizer, called it “an aggressive hand-to-hand combat situation.” “It’s the kind of campaign that takes an enormous amount of time and personal dedication,” she said. “Frankly, you can’t buy that.” Becky Gerritson, a Cruz supporter and Tea Party leader in Alabama, one of several Southern states holding March 1 primaries, said Cruz’s effort appeals to frustrated conservatives who don’t just want an evangelical voice or a critic of politics-as-usual, but a “proven fighter” who demonstrates that “he shares all of our values.” Cruz, she said, “understands the conservative grassroots, what we want.” The senator hopes the network he’s building in that community ultimately will separate him in a primary battle that could go deep into the spring, well beyond the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Cruz recently spent time at his South Carolina headquarters making phone calls alongside volunteers before the South’s first primary. “You guys are spreading hope one phone call at a time,” he told the team. The gathering of preachers in Texas this week, which is to conclude with a public rally on Tuesday featuring music by Christian rock band Newsboys, is the latest sign that conservative evangelical leaders may be coalescing behind Cruz. He has already announced the backing of Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats and Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. Cruz certainly has competition for evangelicals. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum have made strong plays to Christian conservatives. But it’s Rubio and Cruz who are perhaps best positioned to harness evangelicals as part of a challenge to front-runner Donald Trump. Recent polls suggest Cruz is leading in Iowa, where he has built a deep organization with endorsements from state and local officials and support in all 99 counties. He’s also seeking backing from at least one minister in every county. “He’s invested in a ground game,” said David Lane, an influential activist who has organized events across the state where Cruz has addressed pastors. Cruz will be the only candidate appearing at meetings Jan. 25 in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, the last such gathering before the caucuses a week later. Lane said Cruz has cultivated leaders in Iowa’s evangelical community for a year. Rubio, he said, didn’t start reaching out until recently. “It doesn’t make sense.” Cruz’s campaign says it has leaders in every county in the first four voting states. Spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said the same is true in 153 congressional districts in the 24 states that have primaries before March 15. Shak Hill, a 2014 Republican candidate for Senate in Virginia, is co-chairing the effort to get Cruz elected in that state. He was among more than 1,000 people who showed up to hear Cruz speak in a week-long campaign swing before Christmas that took Cruz to 12 cities in seven states that vote on March 1. Hill said each of the state’s 11 congressional districts has a “Ted Cruz Champion,” and the goal is to drill down even smaller and find a chairman in every voting precinct. Said Hill: “We’re building this from the bottom up.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Becky Gerritson scores endorsement of former Alabama GOP minority outreach
Wetumpka Tea Party Chair and U.S. House candidate Becky Gerritson got a boost from a strategic state Republican party staffer Monday in her bid to unseat an incumbent congresswoman in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Former Minority Outreach Director for the Alabama GOP Troy Towns gave Gerritson’s bid his stamp of approval, saying the conservative activist would be a more reliable vote for the Christian right in Washington, D.C. “I’ve often said that I’m a Christian first, conservative second, and Republican third, and Becky Gerritson is very much a kindred spirit in that regard,” said Towns in a statement. “Becky’s faith defines her and her principles guide her in everything she does. We will never have to wonder about Becky’s motivations in Congress. She will serve her Lord and her constituents. She will stand on principle, and she will be a rock for conservatism.” “Far too often career politicians put Party or personal ambition, above these principles,” said Towns, not shying from taking a shot at U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, who currently holds the seat. “This has been the obvious case with Rep. Roby. Her voting record speaks for itself. It is time that we have a representative in Washington who is a bold fighter, a leader, and a champion for all people.” “We need a true conservative, and we have that in Becky Gerritson,” Towns continued. Gerritson replied in kind to Towns’ gushing endorsement, saying his work to help spread her staunchly conservative message was already taking effect. “I am so thankful to Troy for all he has done to spread the message of conservatism to people across Alabama, and I am so glad that he has thrown his support behind my grassroots campaign” said Gerritson. “Too often our Party has lost its way when it comes to standing on principle. Too often, we are associated with being the Party of the rich, the powerful, the connected, and the few. Gerritson was also forthright about whom she blamed for those negative associations. “As I travel the district, voters are wary of this direction that failed politicians like John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Martha Roby have led us down. Troy is a true ambassador for what it means to be a conservative and for carrying a message of shared values to all who will hear,” concluded Gerritson. Both Towns and Gerritson have ties to the 2016 White House campaign of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who strikes similarly conservative and parochial views in Congress. Cruz named Towns to his state leadership team in October, where he joined Gerritson who was tapped in August. Gerritson also formally endorsed Cruz around the same time. Gerritson recently took to social media to note Roby’s relatively low scores for a southern Republican from conservative groups like Heritage Action, American Conservative Union, and Club for Growth, who rated Roby’s voting record lower than any other GOP member of the Alabama delegation. Roby, for her part, recently scored the endorsements of 36 local mayors, as well as the Alabama Patriots Tea Party, one of the oldest tea party groups in the state, and the Alabama Farmers Federation.
Martha Roby, Richard Shelby take opposing views on education reform bill
Last week, with Rep. Martha Roby‘s (AL-02) support, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to scale back the federal government’s role in American education by passing the Every Student Succeeds Act. The bill, approved 359-64, replaces the 2002 No Child Left Behind law and hands over much of the decision-making power back to states and school districts across the country, while simultaneously ending federal efforts to encourage academic standards such as Common Core guidelines. The legislation would however retain the testing requirements, which many parents, teachers and school districts detest. Though it reforms the process and now grants the states the decision-making power over how to use the test results in assessing teachers and schools. “This is a big win for parents, teachers, administrators and anyone who has been frustrated by the federal intrusion in education policy,” explained Roby. “It isn’t just important for the current issues we know about. It’s also important for the next pet policy the Secretary of Education favors. Maybe that’s next year or five years from now, but I want to take away their ability to improperly coerce states once and for all, and that’s what my language does.” But not all Alabama lawmakers share Roby’s positive thoughts of the legislation. While U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) took a stand against the legislation prior to the U.S. Senate‘s Wednesday vote. “While this bill may be well-intentioned and makes some improvements to our current policy, it is a missed opportunity to truly put an end to unnecessary federal intervention into education,” said Richard Shelby. “I have always believed that education decisions should be made at a local level and that Congress should empower parents and teachers – not Washington bureaucrats. Instead, this bill extends some of the same failed policies that could provide a path for top-down federal mandates like Common Core.” Shelby isn’t the only one who disapproves of the pending legislation. Roby’s primary challenger, Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson calls Roby’s support of the bill a “headscratcher.” “[Roby’s] vote yesterday is yet another example of her support for Common Core, for top-down one-size-fits-all standards, for psychological profiling of our young students, and for the federal government dictating what goes on in our classroom,” Gerritson said in an email to her supporters. “I don’t know if Martha Roby agreed with every portion of this bill or if she was just doing what she was told by fellow members of the Establishment. What I do know is that this is yet another example of Martha leaving the values of the Second District at home. When Martha Roby goes to DC, her every action supports making government bigger, more unconstitutional, and more intrusive.” But not everyone in the 2nd Congressional District shares Gerritson’s concerns. Roby put out a press release Wednesday citing the support and approval of several district educators, including Dothan City Schools Superintendent Chuck Ledbetter, Ed. D. “While it isn’t perfect, it is does return more of the education policy making role to the states and local school boards,” assures Ledbetter. “It continues to emphasize education equity for all students while giving back control of how equity and excellence are achieved to those closer to the students who can make better, individualized decisions to help students learn. We appreciate Rep. Roby’s help in curtailing federal overreach and her willingness to support this important education bill.” The Senate approved the legislation Wednesday, 85-12 with the support of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and it is now on its way to President Barack Obama‘s desk to be signed into law.
Email Insights: Heidi Cruz coming to Montgomery and Mobile
There’s no doubt that Alabama is U.S. Senator Ted Cruz country. With one of the strongest grassroots efforts of all the presidential candidates (I would venture to guess the strongest in the state) Cruz has made our state a priority. Beyond Cruz’s bus tour has making stops earlier this year through out the state, he has named some power house volunteers to his team including Ann Eubank, Becky Gerritson, Chad Mathis and Troy Towns. His campaign released word yesterday that his wife Heidi Cruz is coming to visit. In a bio piece by the New York Times when Cruz was first elected to the U.S. Senate Heidi was described as, “A vegetarian with a Harvard M.B.A., Mrs. Cruz is a managing director at Goldman Sachs, one of the Wall Street firms that helped set off the populist rage that ushered Mr. Cruz into the Senate in 2012. She works for Goldman in Houston, where she lives with the couple’s two young children, and as her husband’s fame has increased — depending on the audience, he is among the most pilloried or revered members of the Senate — she has maintained a low profile.” Since then she has taken unpaid leave of her job to help her husband on the campaign trail and has even been called his “not-so-secret weapon” of the campaign. For details on where check out the email below. Heidi Cruz is coming to Alabama! She will be touring the state November 4th-5thin Montgomery and Mobile. Montgomery Meet & Greet with Heidi Cruz 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Wintzell’s Oyster House (Back Room) 105 Commerce Street Montgomery, AL 36104 RSVP HERE Mobile Meet and Greet with Heidi Cruz 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Half Shell Oyster House 3654 Airport Blvd Mobile, Al 36608 November 5, 2015 RSVP HERE
3 dozen Alabama mayors endorse Martha Roby for re-election
Three dozen of Alabama mayor’s have endorsed U.S. Rep. Martha Roby‘s re-election bid. Roby’s campaign announced Tuesday morning that the Montgomery Republican secured endorsements from mayors representing 25 municipalities in all of the 15 counties in the 2nd Congressional District. “I’m grateful for such an inspiring show of support from across the district,” Roby said in a written statement. “I’ve always believed my first job is to listen to those I represent and work on their behalf in Congress. I’m proud to partner with mayors and local leaders throughout the district in helping to promote their communities.” Among those endorsing Roby were: Jim Giganti, Mayor of Abbeville (Henry County) Earl Johnson, Mayor of Andalusia (Covington County) Chris Caldwell, Mayor of Babbie, (Covington County) Bernie Sullivan, Mayor of Brantley (Crenshaw County) Jimmy Ramage, Mayor of Brundidge (Pike County) Jimmy Garner, Mayor of Carolina (Covington County) Rebecca Beasley, Mayor of Clayton (Barbour County) David Grice, Mayor of Clio (Barbour County) Mike Schmitz, Mayor of Dothan (Houston County) Mickey Murdock, Mayor of Elba (Coffee County) Jack Tibbs, Mayor of Eufaula (Barbour County) Margaret White, Mayor of Elmore (Elmore County) Robert Williamson, Mayor of Florala (Covington County) Philip Carter, Mayor of Geneva (Geneva County) Jerome Antone, Mayor of Georgiana (Butler County) Dan Jackson, Mayor of Glenwood (Crenshaw County) Dexter McClendon, Mayor of Greenville (Butler County) Jeff Sorrells, Mayor of Hartford (Geneva County) Ray Marler, Mayor of Headland (Henry County) Judy Baker, Mayor of Heath (Covington County) Eugene Birge, Mayor of Lockhart, (Covington County) Jimmy Grant, Mayor of Louisville, (Barbour County) Joe Sport, Mayor of Luverne (Crenshaw County) John Bartholomew, Mayor of Opp (Covington County) Billy Blackwell, Mayor of Ozark (Dale County) Lester Odom, Mayor of McKenzie (Butler and Conechuh Counties) Mildred Whittington, Mayor of Midway (Bullock County) Todd Strange, Mayor of Montgomery (Montgomery County) Bill Gillespie, Mayor of Prattville (Autauga and Elmore Counties) Terri Carter, Mayor of Repton (Conechuh County) Willie Hendrix, Mayor of Red Level (Barbour County) Patricia Gunter, Mayor of River Falls (Covington County) Chris Thomasson, Mayor of Sanford (Covington County) Rob Hinson, Mayor of Slocomb (Geneva County) Bobby Payne, Mayor of Tallassee (Elmore County) Jason Reeves, Mayor of Troy (Pike County) Citing her support of their local communities and close by military installations like Fort Rucker and Maxwell Air Force Base, the mayors offered their “support, encouragement, and full endorsement” for Rep. Roby’s reelection campaign. Roby faces Wetumpka Tea Party Founder Becky Gerritson in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016. The winner of the primary faces goes on to the General Election in November. No Democratic candidates have formally declared that they are running yet. If elected, this would be Roby’s fourth term in office. Below is the full letter of their support: Dear Representative Roby: As mayors of 25 municipalities throughout Alabama’s Second Congressional District, we are pleased to offer our support, encouragement, and full endorsement of your 2016 primary reelection campaign. We appreciate your deep commitment to our local communities. Since your first election to Congress, you have demonstrated a willingness to effectively engage with federal agencies on our behalf to promote our local interests and advance our constituents’ best interests. Your steadfast advocacy for the critical military installations in our area, and of our many constituents who serve in uniform at home and abroad, promotes our district’s proud role in the nation’s defense. Additionally, we value federal, state, and local partnerships, and we appreciate your support of infrastructure improvement and economic development efforts across Central and Southeast Alabama. Most importantly, we know that you and your team are available to hear our concerns and eager to help your constituents. We recognize that working in the halls of Congress is not easy, but we are proud of your positive representation of our area, your responsible leadership, and your continued fight for traditional Alabama values. We offer our full endorsement of your campaign and we wish you the best.
