Mac McCutcheon endorses Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker for Public Service Commissioner
Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon announced endorsements for Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker for Public Service Commissioner. McCutcheon, a retired law enforcement officer, explained that keeping Beeker and Oden on the Public Service Commission will ensure Alabamians have a conservative voice on the state level. McCutcheon emphasized the need to have leaders who will “push back on the Biden Administration’s radical, liberal anti-energy agenda.” According to Alabama Secretary of State campaign finance records, radical “environmental justice” activists have selected their preferred “Republican” primary candidates, Robin Litaker and Brent Woodall, for the Public Service Commission. As first reported by Dylan Smith of Yellowhammer News, both candidates have taken large sums of money from Nelson Brooke of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. Brooke has made a total of $73,000 in contributions to Alabama candidates, all of the money going to democrats except three contributions: $20,000 to Litaker this cycle, $10,000 to her in her last race, and $10,000 to Woodall. “Alabama has the most conservative Public Service Commission in the nation, and we need to keep it that way,” said McCutcheon. “That’s why I’m proudly voting for conservative fighters Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker on June 21. This is a critical election for Alabama’s future, and we need to get everyone out to the polls to keep the PSC conservative. We cannot allow the radical Left to buy a Republican primary in our state. Chip Beeker and Jeremy Oden will fight PresidentBiden’s ‘America Last’ Green New Deal agenda, and they’ll defend our jobs, small businesses, farmers, and values.” McCutcheon concluded, “Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker support affordable, reliable, and secure energy for hardworking Alabama families. I am proud to endorse them and urge Alabamians to vote to keep the Alabama Public Service Commission conservative.” The Republican primary runoff is June 21.
Will Ainsworth announces Public Service Commissioners endorsements for Chip Beeker and Jeremy Oden
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth announced his endorsement of Chip Beeker and Jeremy Oden for their reelection bids to the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC). Ainsworth believes that conservative leaders should hold these seats because the two incumbents have already successfully shielded Alabama from the far left climate agenda. According to Alabama Secretary of State campaign finance records, radical “environmental justice” activists are once again pushing their agenda in Alabama. They have selected their preferred “Republican” primary candidates Robin Litaker and Brent Woodall for the Public Service Commission, Alabama Today reported in May. As first reported by Dylan Smith of Yellowhammer News, both candidates have taken large sums of money from Nelson Brooke, of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. Brooke has made a total of $73,000 in contributions to Alabama candidates all of the money going to democrats except three contributions: $20,000 to Litaker this cycle, $10,000 to her in her last race, and $10,000 to Woodall. Ainsworth asserted that the left’s “Green New Deal” would have consequences for Alabama. “Chip Beeker and Jeremy Oden have shown they have the grit, tenacity, and leadership to fight Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Bernie Sanders, AOC, and the rest of the Washington liberals who are pushing radical energy policies and the snake oil promises of the Green New Deal,” Ainsworth stated. “If the liberal Democrat extremists are allowed to win, energy prices will skyrocket, jobs will disappear, and Alabama’s economy, which is currently the best in our history, will go into freefall.” “Commissioners Beeker and Oden will preserve our jobs and protect our Alabama way of life from the left-wing radicals and their dangerous agenda. They have my full confidence and strong endorsement for a new term on the Public Service Commission,” concluded Ainsworth. The runoff election will take place on June 21.
Progressive environmental activists pick ‘Republican’ favorites in Alabama Public Service Commission primary races
According to Alabama Secretary of State campaign finance records, radical “environmental justice” activists are once again pushing their agenda in Alabama. They have selected their preferred “Republican” primary candidates Robin Litaker and Brent Woodall for the Public Service Commission. As first reported by Dylan Smith of Yellowhammer News, both candidates have taken large sums of money from Nelson Brooke, of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. Brooke has made a total of $73,000 in contributions to Alabama candidates all of the money going to democrats except three contributions: $20,000 to Litaker this cycle, $10,000 to her in her last race, and $10,000 to Woodall. Alabama Today reported on Brooke’s contribution history in an opinion piece last cycle when Litaker, who is attempting her third run to the Public Service Commission. She ran against Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh in 2020. Cavanaugh handily won that election with 73.8% of the vote. In 2018, Litaker ran against Beeker with him getting 68.7% of the vote. In that race, she was her own biggest contributor and the next closest gave her $250.00. According to the Yellow Hammer report, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) campaign finance records show that Margaret Wade Johnston, from the advocacy group Sierra Club, loaned Litaker’s campaign $45,000. Johnston has a history of backing progressive candidates in an attempt to defeat incumbent conservatives in Alabama. Johnston donated to the Democratic challengers of U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt and Mo Brooks in the 2018 general election and also donated to former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones in 2020. Like Johnston, Brooke also has a history of financially supporting far-left candidates in federal races, including former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and socialist U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid. It is unknown if the ALGOP will take action to decertify their elections based on these contributions. Earlier this year, Trip Powell was removed from the ballot for giving a $500 contribution to Walt Maddox. Litaker and Woodall supporter Brooke gave Maddox a total of $6,000. In 2018, the party voted to not certify a candidate who made social media posts that were described as “anti-Semitic, racist or otherwise offensive.” The primary election is on May 24, 2022. You can find your polling place or get more voting information at AlabamaVotes.gov.
Steve Flowers: Incumbency prevails in secondary constitutional offices
Incumbency is a potent, powerful, inherent advantage in politics. That fact is playing out to the nines in this year’s Alabama secondary constitutional and down ballot races. Several of the constitutional office incumbents do not have Republican or Democratic opposition. Of course, having a Democratic opponent is the same as not having an opponent in a statewide race in Alabama. A Democrat cannot win in a statewide contest in the Heart of Dixie. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth will be elected to a second four-year term without opposition. He will be waiting in the wings to follow Kay Ivey as Governor. Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate will be reelected without opposition. He has done a good job in this important state post. State Treasurer Young Boozer is running unopposed for another four-year term. He does an excellent job and is uniquely qualified for the Treasurer’s job. State Supreme Court Justice Kelli Wise is running for reelection unopposed. Kelli is popular and is a good jurist. She is home free for six more years on the state’s high tribunal. Attorney General Steve Marshall has token opposition in his run for reelection. One Republican and one Democrat qualified against Marshall. However, he will coast to reelection. There are two seats up for election on the Alabama Public Service Commission. There are three seats on this regulatory panel. The President of the PSC runs in a presidential year. Twinkle Cavanaugh is President and pretty much runs the ship. The two incumbents are Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker. Oden has two unknown Republican opponents. Beeker has two opponents in the GOP Primary. One has some name identification, who has run before. Beeker and Oden will probably win reelection. There are only three hotly contested and interesting secondary statewide races. That is because these three posts are open without an incumbent on the scene. Popular Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin, the former Probate Judge of Jefferson County, is term-limited by an antiquated law that prohibits a judge from running for the court after age 70. There are two qualified candidates seeking to follow Judge Bolin. Birmingham Defense Attorney Greg Cook is facing Anniston Circuit Judge Debra Jones. Cook appears to be the favorite to win. It is apparent that the business community in the state is backing Cook. He has also been endorsed by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The latest campaign finance reports reveal Cook has $552,000 to spend compared to Jones’s $15,000. The State Auditors position is open. Jim Ziegler has served his eight-year stint. This will be an interesting three-man race for this benign position. Former Mobile State Representative and State Senator Rusty Glover is facing Muscle Shoals State Representative Andrew Sorrell and Jefferson County Pastor Stan Cooke. All three are getting out and working the state. The race to succeed John Merrill as Secretary of State will be a good race. Merrill is term-limited after eight years. State Auditor Jim Ziegler is wanting to move next door in the Capitol and become Secretary of State. Because of his name identification advantage, Ziegler will be favored to win the race. However, he will get a significant challenge from State Representative Wes Allen. Young Wes Allen has been running for over a year and has a good many significant endorsements, including Alfa. He has an impressive resume having served a decade as Probate Judge of Pike County and four years as a State Representative. He also has two home bases. He has lived and served in office in Troy in Southeast Alabama and was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, where his father, Gerald Allen, has been a long-time State Senator. Ed Packard, who has run the Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s office for decades, is also running. He is very well qualified. The aforementioned current Secretary of State, John Merrill, is not seeking any elective office in 2022, even though he is still relatively young. I have said this before, and it holds true today, Merrill is currently the best and most prolific retail politician in the state and one of the best I have seen in Alabama. He has a real grassroots organization in Alabama. He is literally everywhere. Even though he is not on the ballot running this year, he is outworking every candidate mentioned in this column. You have not heard the last of John Merrill. 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.
FarmPAC announces 2022 political endorsements
FarmPAC, the political arm of the Alabama Farmers Federation’s (ALFA), has announced its endorsements for the upcoming primary elections for 2022. ALFA president and CEO Jimmy Parnell explained that the endorsements came after months of study and consideration of all candidates who went before the federation. Parnell stated, “These candidates have invested time in getting to know our county leaders. They’ve spent time on our farms and attended meetings where they heard about the issues and concerns important to Federation members. At the same time, our county leaders have studied the candidates and decided these individuals have the knowledge, experience, and determination to help lead our state and nation in the right direction.” The following candidates have earned the official endorsement of FarmPAC: • Katie Britt — U.S. Senate• Jerry Carl — U.S. House of Representatives, District 1• Barry Moore — U.S. House of Representatives, District 2• Mike Rogers — U.S. House of Representatives, District 3• Robert Aderholt — U.S. House of Representatives, District 4• Dale Strong — U.S. House of Representatives, District 5• Gary Palmer — U.S. House of Representatives, District 6• Terri Sewell — U.S. House of Representatives, District 7• Kay Ivey — Governor• Will Ainsworth — Lieutenant Governor• Steve Marshall — Attorney General• Wes Allen — Secretary of State• Young Boozer — Treasurer• Rusty Glover — Auditor• Rick Pate — Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries• Greg Cook — Alabama Supreme Court, Place 5• Kelli Wise — Alabama Supreme Court, Place 6• Jeremy Oden — Public Service Commission, Place 1• Chip Beeker — Public Service Commission, Place 2• Tracie West — Alabama State Board of Education, District 2• Yvette Richardson — Alabama State Board of Education, District 4• Cynthia McCarty — Alabama State Board of Education, District 6• Wayne Reynolds — Alabama State Board of Education, District 8 Endorsements approved at Tuesday’s meeting will carry through to the general election. Additionally, the federation stated they would announce their endorsements for state legislature at a later date. FarmPAC Chairman Steve Dunn of Conecuh County said the Federation encourages voters to study the issues and candidates prior to the election. Dunn stated, “It’s important for Alabama voters to be engaged in the electoral process,” said Dunn. “We encourage members to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their political preference, and to consider these FarmPAC endorsements when they go to the polls.”
Five things you need to know about Kari Powell
Now that the primaries are over, the real battle has begun. Running unopposed in the June 5 Primary Kari Powell, the Democratic candidate for Public Service Commissioner Place 2, will face against Incumbent Chip Beeker in the November 6 general election for the PSC seat. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Kari Powell: 1. She’s a graphic designer and marketer by trade. Powell began her career working for two large family owned real estate companies as a Marketing Director, and has won an award for her talents. “I was integral in designing and developing new websites for both companies, and maintaining content. Other duties included developing and implementing external and internal marketing campaigns, and creating marketing and advertising plans for sales associates,” Powell said. In 2013, she won a HOW International Design Award for the logo she designed for her husband’s business, Powell Pediatric Dentistry. 2. She volunteers her time and talent to several organizations. In addition to designing her own campaign logo, she also designed Senate District 11 candidate Carl Carter, and Public Service Commission Place 1 candidate Cara McClure‘s branding. “In 2017 I did a pro-bono rebranding of the Service Guild of Birmingham, an organization which I am a member of,” Powell told Alabama Today. “I do as-needed design work for my church, Saint Junia UMC. In 2016 I designed the logo for the local organization Faith In Action Alabama, of which I am also a member.” She also volunteers her time at the Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs with infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delay. 3. She’s a graduate of Emerge Alabama candidate training. Emerge Alabama founded in 2017, is a training group for Democratic women in the state with only one goal: increase the number of Democratic women serving in office in the state. It is an intensive 70-hour training program with proven results. “In 2016, over 330 Emerge alumnae ran for office across the country and 70 percent of those who appeared on the November ballot won their elections,” Emerge Alabama said. 4. Her grandmother was involved in politics, and was the person who convinced her to run. Powell’s grandmother ran for office herself in the 1960’s beating six men for her seat on the school board, which was rare at the time, continuing to run unopposed for the next two terms. “She saw how active I had become over the past couple of years in local and statewide elections, and she pulled me aside at a family wedding, and asked if I had ever considered running for office,” Powell said. “She said she regrets not taking her political career further, and urged me to consider running.” 5. She and Cara McClure are leading a double-team effort for PSC Places 1 and 2 In addition to creating McClures branding, the duo is leading a double-team effort for PSC Places 1 and 2 traveling, campaigning and speaking together at events. Both running as Democrats, they seek to bring fair and affordable utility rates to Alabama.
Five things you need to know about Chip Beeker
Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Place 2 candidate Chip Beeker won the June 5 primary with ease garnering over 68 percent of the vote. But now that the primaries are over, the real battle has begun. Beeker will now face Democratic nominee Kari Powell in the November 6 general election for the PSC seat. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Chip Beeker: 1. He’s a farmer by trade. Before being elected for his first term on the Public Service Commission in 2014, Beeker was the owner and operator of Beeker Catfish and Cattle Farms, and the Beeker Timber Company in Eutaw, Ala. 2. He was a county commissioner for 20 years. First elected in 1986, Beeker served as a member of the Greene County Commission until 2006. During his time in office, he served as Chairman of the commission for ten years. He also served on several advisory boards throughout the Black Belt, coached basketball and baseball at Warrior Academy, and was selected as a Pillar of West Alabama by the Community Foundation of West Alabama. 3. He served in the National Guard for 8 years. After graduating from Greene County High School, Beeker joined the National Guard where he served for eight years. He later went to college at the University of West Alabama. 4. He has actual experience working in the energy industry. Following his graduation from the University of West Alabama, where he earned a degree in Commerce and Business; Beeker worked at the James M. Barry Steam Plant and the William Crawford Gorgas Electric Generating Plant, giving him first-hand knowledge of renewable energy in Alabama. 5. He seemingly sought to make a profit from his office. Perhaps the most crucial of the five things to know about Beeker is that he seemingly sought to make a profit from his office. In 2016 Beeker was interested in leasing his personal farm property — 451 acres he owns in Greene County — to a solar energy company, to Virginia-based Coronal Development Services, that planned to sell energy to Alabama Power for solar facilities. The conflict? The PSC regulates Alabama Power. For clarity’s sake, Coronal apparently did not know Beeker was a member of the PSC when the contract was offered. Seeming to understand the potential ethics issue, Beeker first went to the PSC’s in-house ethics authority — administrative law judge John Garner — who told him he had every right to pursue the contract, but suggested Beeker seek the opinion of the Alabama Ethics Commission for a more definitive response. The Commission ultimately told him no, he could not lease the land to the power company, saying they could not conclude that the lease wouldn’t present a conflict of interest between Beeker and his office. The contract would have awarded his $500 an acre for at least 25 years. If Beeker had been able to lease all of the acreage available he could have made over $5.6 million over the course of the contract. In a hope to save his name, Beeker relied on the fact that he first approached Garner, who said it was okay to pursue the contract. “I would like to publicly say that everything I did, I did with the blessing of Judge Garner,” Beeker told Lagniappe Mobile. “When I got a call in the spring, could somebody come see me and look at something, I said, ‘I’ll let you know.’ And when I had his blessing and permission, I did.” “I’ve done nothing, absolutely nothing but the letter of the law and the blessing of the judge,” Beeker continued. “Those are the facts and I appreciate being able to say that.”
Wetumpka TEA Party hosts GOP candidate meet and greet
The Wetumpka TEA Party will host the River Region Candidate Fair on Monday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for candidates running in the 2018 Republican primary election. Over 40 candidates have confirmed their attendance for the event, which will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Advertised as a “meet & greet,” the event will allow Alabamians to meet each candidate individually and ask them questions about the position they are seeking, rather than listen to speeches and debates. The Wetumpka TEA party will also be conducting a straw poll at the end of the night, with results posted Tuesday morning. “Our mission at the Wetumpka TEA Party is to educate citizens on national, state and local issues and help them get involved in our representative government,” said Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson. “It is important that people vote for their elected officials because they know what the candidates stand for and do not just rely on 30 second commercials and attractive yard signs. This is a terrific opportunity to meet the candidates who are running for an elected position, to ask them questions and understand what each candidate stands for.” The following candidates have confirmed their attendance on Monday night: CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES Governor: Bill Hightower, Kay Ivey, Scott Dawson, Tommy Battle (will send a representative) Lieutenant Governor: Will Ainsworth, Twinkle Cavanaugh, Rusty Glover Attorney General: Chess Bedsole, Troy King, Alice Martin Auditor: Stan Cooke, Elliott Lipinsky, Jim Zeigler Secretary of State: Michael Johnson, John Merrill Treasurer: Stephen Evans, John McMillan Commissioner for Agriculture and Industries: Gerald Dial, Rick Pate (will send a representative) STATE LEGISLATURE Alabama House of Representatives 31: Dustin DeVaughn, Mike Holmes Alabama House of Representatives 88: Al Booth Alabama Senate 25: Will Barfoot, Ronda Walker Alabama Senate 30: Clyde Chambliss (Unopposed) ALABAMA COURT SYSTEM Supreme Court Chief Justice: Tom Parker AL Supreme Court Place 1: Sarah Stewart AL Court of Civil Appeals Place 1: Michelle Thomason, Pat Thetford Circuit Court 19 Judge: Bill Lewis (Unopposed) PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Public Service Commission Place 1: Jeremy Oden, Jim Bonner Public Service Commission Place 2: Chip Beeker, Robin Litaker LOCAL AND CIRCUIT RACES: Elmore County Sheriff: Bill Franklin (Unopposed) Probate Judge (Elmore): Vicki Bonner-Ward, John Thornton Elmore County Commission Dist 4: Bart Mercer (Unopposed) Coroner (Elmore): Brad Linville, Jody Jeffcoat Circuit Clerk (Elmore): Michael Dozier, Angie Cruise-Gardner FEDERAL RACE U.S. Congress Dist 2: Rich Hobson, Bobby Bright, Barry Moore A flier for the event may be viewed here: River region candidate fair.
Former Commissioner Terry Dunn drops out of PSC presidential race
Former Public Service Commissioner Terry Dunn has decided to drop out of the race for PSC president. In a statement Monday, Dunn cited one reason he would not seek the post is that he feared Alabama Power Co. will spend “a lot of money” to oppose him. Alabama Power spokesman Michael Sznajderman has repeatedly said the company isn’t, and has never been, involved with Public Service Commission campaigns and elections. “With the Republican Party now being the dominant party in the state,” Dunn’s statement says, “the Republican establishment needs to realize their obligations are not just to big businesses, but also the welfare of all individuals.” As previously reported by Alabama Today, Dunn launched his latest effort to return to office Aug. 1, challenging incumbent PSC President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh for the Republican Party nomination. Last year, Dunn lost his re-election bid to remain on the commission, defeated by Greene County Commission Chairman Chip Beeker 59 to 41 percent. During his time on the commission, Dunn received political pushback for advocating formal rate hearings for Alabama Power, something opposed by fellow commissioners Cavanaugh and Jeremy Oden. The PSC handles setting rates for Alabama Power not through formal hearings, but by a process known as stabilization and equalization. Dunn argued the process gives an advantage to Alabama Power, allowing the utility to charge higher rates than those in other states. In 2013, the commission held a series of public hearings before approving changes to Alabama Power’s rate formula. At the time, Cavanaugh and Oden insisted it helped keep rates lower. Dunn disagreed. Alabama Power is raising rates 5 percent starting in 2015, a move equivalent to an increase of $6.78 a month for consumers using an average 1,000-kilowatt hours. AL.com reports that under the old formula, rates would have increased by an additional $1 a month. An Alabama Power representative also noted the most recent increase was the first since October 2011 and was necessary to recover rising energy costs.
