Libertarian Party of Alabama sues state for discrimination against third parties
The Libertarian Party of Alabama has sued the state, claiming they discriminate against third parties trying to get ballot access. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, the federal lawsuit was filed Thursday against Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill. For both the Republican and Democrat parties, obtaining a list of registered voters is free. For other parties, the cost is one cent per name which, Alabama Political Reporter calculates, comes out to about $34,000 plus an additional $850 fee if a credit card is used. The lawsuit reads, “Having a copy of Alabama’s statewide voter registration list provides a distinct advantage to any political party trying to obtain access to the ballot in Alabama and trying to transmit its political message to Alabama voters in order to obtain their support for ballot access, increase their ability to associate with others who share their political philosophy and goals and, ultimately to obtain additional votes.” It continues, saying that Alabama law “unconstitutionally discriminates between major political parties and minor political parties, in an effort to, and with the direct effect of … creating obstacles which make it more difficult for a minor political party like the LPA to establish itself and grow, garner support, gain access to the ballot in Alabama, and obtain votes in order to grow and have its members and followers hold public elective office.” In addition to needing more than 50,000 signatures to get on the ballot, the lawsuit says that this is “just one more obstacle Alabama places in the way of minor parties to try to prevent them from growing and to gaining access to the ballot.” Ballot access barriers have been ruled unconstitutional in both Michigan and Georgia, according to Alabama Political Reporter, decisions which give Alabama libertarians hope for success in federal court. Currently, Libertarian candidates have to run on write-in campaigns. Ron Bishop ran against Roy Moore and Doug Jones in 2017. “The two choices that we have now, they don’t conform to what I think America needs to be,” Bishop told AL.com, “I’m hoping we that we can give voters out there a third option.” In Alabama, nearly two-thirds of voters cast straight party tickets. In the 2018 election, about 1.1 of the 1.7 million ballots cast were straight-ticket votes, in which voters checked one box to vote for every candidate one party ran. In some cases, a third-party candidate can split the vote from a major party’s base, clearing the way for their opponent to win. The Libertarian Party is the third largest party in the United States according to the Libertarian Party of Alabama. They believe “the answer to America’s political problems is the same commitment to freedom that earned America its greatness: a free-market economy and the abundance and prosperity it brings; a dedication to civil liberties and personal freedom; and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade as prescribed by America’s founders. We are the only political organization which respects you as a unique and competent individual.”
Senate rejects rival Dem, GOP plans for reopening government
A splintered Senate swatted down competing Democratic and Republican plans for ending the 34-day partial government shutdown on Thursday, leaving President Donald Trump and Congress with no obvious formula for halting the longest-ever closure of federal agencies and the damage it is inflicting around the country. In an embarrassment to Trump that could weaken his position whenever negotiations get serious, the Democratic proposal got two more votes than the GOP plan. There were six Republican defectors, including freshman Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who’s clashed periodically with the president. There were signs lawmakers on both sides were seeking ways to resolve their vitriolic stalemate, if only temporarily. Moments after the votes, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., spent a half-hour in the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and a parade of senators from both parties took to the Senate floor to advocate reopening agencies for three weeks while bargainers seek a solution. “We’re talking,” Schumer told reporters, one of the most encouraging statements either side has made since the shutdown began Dec. 22. At the White House, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump would consider signing a short-term bill “only if it includes a down payment on the wall.” For most of Thursday, both parties in conflicting ways to showed their sympathy for unpaid federal workers while yielding no ground in their fight over Trump’s demand to build a border wall with Mexico. The Senate first rejected a Republican plan reopening government through September and giving Trump the $5.7 billion he’s demanded for building segments of that wall, a project that he’d long promised Mexico would finance. The 50-47 vote for the measure fell 10 shy of the 60 votes needed to succeed. Minutes later, senators voted 52-44 for a Democratic alternative that sought to open padlocked agencies through Feb. 8 with no wall money. That was eight votes short. It was aimed at giving bargainers time to seek an accord while getting paychecks to 800,000 beleaguered government workers who are a day from going unpaid for a second consecutive pay period. Flustered lawmakers said the results could be a reality check that would prod the start of talks. Throughout, the two sides have issued mutually exclusive demands that have blocked negotiations from even starting: Trump has refused to reopen government until Congress gives him the wall money, and congressional Democrats have rejected bargaining until he reopens government. Thursday’s votes could “teach us that the leaders are going to have to get together and figure out how to resolve this,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate GOP leader. He added, “One way or another we’ve got to get out of this. This is no win for anybody.” For now, partisan potshots flowed freely. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., accused Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross of a “let them eat cake kind of attitude” after he said on television that he didn’t understand why unpaid civil servants were resorting to homeless shelters for food. Even as Pelosi offered to meet the president “anytime,” Trump stood firm, tweeting, “Without a Wall it all doesn’t work…. We will not Cave!” and no meetings were scheduled. As the Senate debated the two dueling proposals, McConnell said the Democratic plan would let that party’s lawmakers “make political points and nothing else” because Trump wouldn’t sign it. He called Pelosi’s stance “unreasonable” and said, “Senate Democrats are not obligated to go down with her ship.” Schumer criticized the GOP plan for endorsing Trump’s proposal to keep the government closed until he got what he wants. “A vote for the president’s plan is an endorsement of government by extortion,” Schumer said. “If we let him do it today, he’ll do it tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.′ The White House closely monitored the Senate votes and Trump spoke with lawmakers throughout the day. He was waiting to see if many Democrats crossed over to back his plan, but West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin proved to be the only one. In one indication the lawmakers were reaching a breaking point, Vice President Mike Pence attended a pre-vote lunch with GOP senators and heard eagerness for the standoff to end, participants said. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said their message to Pence was “Find a way forward.” In consultation with their Senate counterparts, House Democrats were preparing a new border security package they planned to roll out Friday. Despite their pledge to not negotiate until agencies reopened, their forthcoming proposal was widely seen as a counteroffer to Trump. Pelosi expressed “some optimism that things could break loose pretty soon” in a closed-door meeting with other Democrats Wednesday evening, said Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky. The Democratic package was expected to include $5.7 billion, the same amount Trump wants for his wall, but use it instead for fencing, technology, personnel and other measures. In a plan the rejected Senate GOP plan mirrored, Trump on Saturday proposed to reopen government if he got his wall money. He also proposed to revamp immigration laws, including new restrictions on Central American minors seeking asylum in the U.S. and temporary protections for immigrants who entered the country illegally as children. In another sign of hope, Thursday’s vote on the Democratic plan represented movement by McConnell. For weeks, he’d refused to allow a Senate vote on anything Trump wouldn’t sign and has let Trump and Democrats try reaching an accord. McConnell has a history of helping resolve past partisan standoffs, and his agreement to allow Thursday’s vote was seen by some as a sign he would become more forcefully engaged. At a panel discussion held by House Democrats on the effects of the shutdown, union leaders and former Homeland Security officials said they worried about the long-term effects. “I fear we are rolling the dice,” said Tim Manning, a former Federal Emergency Management Agency official. “We will be lucky to get everybody back on the job without a crisis to respond to.” Reprinted with permission from the Associated Press
2020 Democratic primary field puts diversity in spotlight
The early days of the Democratic primary campaign are highlighting the party’s diversity as it seeks a nominee who can build a coalition to take on President Donald Trump. Of the more than half dozen Democrats who have either moved toward a campaign or declared their candidacy, four are women: Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. Harris is also African-American. Former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro, who is Latino, has also joined the race. And on Wednesday, Democrat Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, jumped into the campaign. If he wins the Democratic nomination, he would be the first openly gay presidential nominee from a major political party. He would also be the youngest person ever to become president if he wins the general election. The diversity is likely to expand in the coming weeks as other Democrats enter the race. The field that’s taking shape follows a successful midterm election in which Democrats elected a historically diverse class of politicians to Congress, a pattern they’d like to repeat on the presidential scale. Neera Tanden, president of the liberal Center for American Progress Action Fund, hailed the Democrats’ multiple trailblazing candidates for reflecting that “the central opposition to Trump is around a vision of the country that’s inclusive of all Americans.” “A lot of different people are going to see that they can be part of the Democratic Party” thanks to a field that showcases women, candidates of color, and the first potential LGBT nominee, Tanden said. The primary “hopefully will bring a lot of people into the process,” she added, recalling the high number of voters who engaged in a 2008 Democratic primary that featured a possible female nominee, Hillary Clinton, and the man who would become the first black president, Barack Obama. The array of backgrounds was on display Wednesday when Buttigieg spoke in personal terms about his marriage. “The most important thing in my life — my marriage to Chasten — is something that exists by the grace of a single vote on the U.S. Supreme Court,” Buttigieg told reporters. “So I’m somebody who understands — whether it’s through that or whether it’s through the fact that I was sent to war on the orders of the president — I understand politics not in terms of who’s up and who’s down or some of the other things that command the most attention on the news but in terms of everyday impacts on our lives.” Gillibrand has put her identity as a mother at the core of her campaign, and Harris launched her campaign on this week’s Martin Luther King holiday, a nod to her historic bid to become the first black woman elected president. A number of high-profile candidates remain on the sidelines, including two who would further bolster the diversity of the 2020 field: Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who is black, and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Booker, who’s widely expected to join the presidential fray in the coming days, visited the pivotal early-voting state of South Carolina this week for public events honoring King and private meetings with local activists. Klobuchar is set to speak at the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday about her work on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Booker and Harris also are members. The affable Midwesterner recently told MSNBC that her family “is on board” if she opts to run in 2020, though she’s offered little clarity about her timetable to announce a decision. Though Klobuchar would be the fifth major female candidate in the Democratic primary, female candidates shouldn’t be shoehorned into a “narrative” dominated by their identity that excludes the policies they’re championing, said Virginia Kase, CEO of the League of Women Voters. Kase pushed back at one popular 2018 narrative in a recent interview, noting that that “every year is the year of the woman — the reality is that we’ve always been major contributors” in the electoral process. Rashad Robinson, executive director of the civil rights-focused nonprofit Color of Change, said in an interview that the diversity of the Democratic field is “a great thing and we should celebrate it,” adding that, “Our work is always about changing the rules — changing the rules of who can run and who can rule and who can lead is incredibly important.” But in addition to those “unwritten rules,” Robinson pointed to the urgency of changing the “written rules” of American life, adding that “diversity alone does not mean structures and policies and practices that have held so many back will change” overnight. Meanwhile, three white male candidates who could scramble the race — former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke — are still weighing their own presidential plans. Biden addressed a key vulnerability in his potential candidacy this week by publicly airing regret about his support for a 1994 crime bill that’s had particularly negative effects on African-American communities, while Sanders built his own new connections to black voters during a trip to South Carolina. As Biden mulls a run for president, his allies have been sending supporters a memo that could serve as a rationale for a campaign. The memo hails Biden’s long track record in politics and argues that at a time of “unprecedented political chaos” during Trump’s administration, Biden would offer “trustworthy, compassionate leadership.” O’Rourke, for his part, continues to gauge his own future amid pundits’ criticism about blog posts he published during a recent road trip through multiple states. The 46-year-old Texan acknowledged that he’s been “in and out of a funk” following his departure from Congress after losing a high-profile Senate race in November, sparking questions about the luxury of his indecision given the family wealth and network of passionate backers he can lean on. As the Democratic field is poised to become more diverse, Republicans say Trump will run for re-election based on his
Pete Buttigieg enters race for 2020 Democrat presidential nomination
Democrat Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, says he’s forming an exploratory committee for a 2020 presidential bid. “The reality is there’s no going back, and there’s no such thing as ‘again’ in the real world. We can’t look for greatness in the past,” Buttigieg says in a video that includes before-and-after footage of South Bend, a Rust Belt city once described as “dying.” “Right now our country needs a fresh start,” he says. Buttigieg has touted his work to improve his city of 100,000 residents as he’s prepared for a jump from local politics to a presidential campaign. He’s also said Democrats could benefit from a new generation of leaders as they try to unseat President Donald Trump in 2020. He’s expected to travel to Iowa next week to meet with voters in the nation’s first caucus state, followed by stops in New Hampshire. Buttigieg is a Rhodes scholar who was first elected mayor of his hometown in 2011 at age 29, making him the youngest mayor of a U.S. city with at least 100,000 residents. A lieutenant in the Navy Reserve, he served a tour in Afghanistan in 2014. Buttigieg raised his national profile with an unsuccessful 2017 run for Democratic National Committee chairman, saying the party needed a new start. He withdrew from the race before a vote when it became clear he didn’t have the support to win. Buttigieg has spent time in Iowa and other battleground states in recent years as he tried to build financial support and name recognition. He cracks that those who do know his name still aren’t sure how to pronounce it. (It’s BOO’-tah-juhj.) Most of the time he goes by “Mayor Pete.” Amid his campaign for a second term, Buttigieg came out as gay in a column in the local newspaper. He went on to win re-election with 80 percent of the vote. In 2018, three years to the day after the column ran, he married his husband, middle school teacher Chasten Glezman. If he were to win the Democratic nomination, Buttigieg would be the first openly gay presidential nominee from a major political party. Buttigieg announced in December that he wouldn’t seek a third term as mayor, stoking speculation he would join a field of roughly two dozen candidates who may seek the Democratic nomination for president — most of them better known and with experience in higher office, and all of them older. “I belong to a generation that is stepping forward right now,” he says in the video released Wednesday. “We’re the generation that lived through school shootings, that served in the wars after 9/11, and we’re the generation that stands to be the first to make less than our parents unless we do something different. We can’t just polish off a system so broken. It is a season for boldness and a focus on the future.” Buttigieg is releasing in February a book about his life and his tenure leading South Bend. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Walt Maddox has more cash on hand, more individual donors than Kay Ivey
Campaign finance reports filed this week with the Secretary of State’s office show gubernatorial candidates Walt Maddox and Kay Ivey very close to one another in campaign fundraising; with Maddox showing more cash on hand. This week, benefiting from individual donations from across the state, Maddox closed the gap between himself and Ivey garnering almost $246,000 in campaign contributions. Ivey raised just a hair more than Maddox, reporting $248,523 in campaign contributions. The real difference is in the cash on hand totals. Last month Maddox reported $222,442 in cash on hand after receiving numerous donations from a plethora of individuals, while Ivey’s report revealed she had $458,674 in cash on hand. After this week’s filings, Ivey showed $271,477 in cash on hand while Maddox reported $313,249 in cash leftover from the month’s expenditures. “We are very encouraged by the latest fundraising report. Not only are we neck and neck with Kay Ivey in this month’s total, we have more cash on hand. Most exciting is the fact that we had over 40 pages of individual donors and Kay only had 12,” said Maddox’s Communications Director Chip HIll. “This continues to be a great indicator of the popular support that’s out there for Walt Maddox as more and more voters, Republicans and Democrats, respond to Walt’s vision for Alabama. While we certainly feel momentum is in our favor, we know that Kay Ivey is a formidable opponent who after 30 plus years in Montgomery knows how to find money.” Kay Ivey Campaign finance report – July: Kay Ivey Monthly Campaign Finance Report – July 2018 Walt Maddox Campaign finance report – July: Walt Maddox Monthly Campaign Finance Report – July 2018
2018 statewide general election ad roundup: August 3 edition
The November 6 general election is less than 100 days away and Alabama’s candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. This week, both gubernatorial candidates rolled out the big guns introducing their first tv ads for the general election to voters across the state and displaying qualities they believe make them excellent candidates for the position. In Governor Kay Ivey‘s new ad she highlights her success in preparing students today for the jobs of tomorrow by praising her own “Strong Start, Strong Finish” education initiative to integrate Alabama’s early childhood education, K-12 education, and workforce development into a seamless educational experience for Alabama students. Democratic candidate Walt Maddox used a bit of word play in his new ad “Running.” In the ad, Maddox comments on the different types of “running” he’s done in his lifetime: running as a football player, running one of the state’s largest cities, running as a way to improve mental clarity, and stay in shape; and running for governor. Gubernatorial ads Republican Kay Ivey: Title: Strong Start, Strong Finish Published: August 2, 2018 Tone: Optimistic Democrat Walt Maddox: Title: Running Published: July 31, 2018 Tone: Thoughtful
Second Democratic senator publicly backing Donald Trump’s CIA pick
A second Democratic senator has announced his support for President Donald Trump’s CIA nominee. Joe Donnelly of Indiana says in a statement Saturday that he made his decision after “a tough, frank and extensive discussion” with Gina Haspel, the spy agency’s acting director. The other Democrat who’s come out for Haspel is West Virginia’s Joe Manchin. Both Democrats are considered to be among the most vulnerable Senate incumbents in the November election. So far two Republicans have announced their opposition to Haspel: Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Arizona’s John McCain, who’s battling cancer and isn’t expected to be present for the voting. Supporters are pushing for votes by the Senate intelligence committee and the full Senate before the Senate’s Memorial Day break. The GOP holds a 51-49 edge, and Vice President Mike Pence can break a possible tie. Haspel has run into criticism because she was once involved in the CIA’s harsh interrogation program. “I believe that she has learned from the past, and that the CIA under her leadership can help our country confront serious international threats and challenges,” Donnelly says in the statement. Donnelly came under attack from Trump at a rally in Indiana on Thursday, two days after the state’s primary election determined that his Republican opponent in November will be former Indiana lawmaker Mike Braun. Trump, who was joined at the rally by Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor, urged GOP voters to mobilize and prevent Democrats from regaining control of Congress. The president called Donnelly “Sleepin’ Joe” and criticized the senator for opposing his tax plan and attempt to end the Affordable Care Act. Donnelly responded by saying “problems only get solved when you roll up your sleeves and put in the hard work,” and his campaign said he had voted with Trump 62 percent of the time. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Alli Summerford announces candidacy for Alabama House District 48
Alli Summerford on Thursday announced the official launch of her campaign to represent District 48 in the Alabama House of Representatives. “I’m excited to offer a new choice to the people of District 48,” stated Summerford. “Alabama cannot have strong communities and a robust, growing economy without first having healthy and well-educated citizens. Any investment we make in the health and education of Alabamians will give us a full return, many times over. When its people thrive, Alabama thrives.” This being the first time she’s run for public office, Summerford is a new face in the field of candidates. She is also the first Democratic candidate for District 48 in over a decade. “While my first priority will be to represent the interests of District 48 in Montgomery, I am also committed to issues that help Alabamians to be their best: improved education, expanded access to healthcare, safer communities, better roads, and loosened restrictions on local government,” added Summerford. Summerford was a successful broker for Trammell Crow, a commercial real estate firm in Memphis, Tenn. She is also the founder and operator of Dandelion Marketing, a web design company that has been in operation for 20 years. She earned a BA in Business Administration and an MBA in New Venture Analysis from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, “a detail she hopes you will not hold against her.” The 48th District is comprised of portions of Jefferson and Shelby County and includes the cities of Mountain Brook, Hoover, and Vestavia Hills. As the only democratic candidate in the race, in the Nov. general election Summerford will face off against either incumbent Birmingham-Republican Jim Carns or Republican candidate William Wentowski following the June 5 primary. Summerford resides in Mountain Brook, Ala. with her son, Gram. She is a prominent member of the community, supporting the Emmet O’Neal Library’s children’s department as a member of the Women’s Committee, and as a founding member of the Mountain Brook Track Club booster group.
Democrat wins panel vote to debate new authorization for war
A GOP-controlled House committee unexpectedly agreed Thursday to a proposal by a strongly anti-war Democrat to force a debate on a new war authorization. The proposal would cut off the sweeping 2001 authorization to use military force against terrorism. The move by California Democrat Barbara Lee unexpectedly won voice vote approval by the House Appropriations Committee as it debated a Pentagon funding bill. Lee wants to force a debate on a new war authorization, and some Republicans agree that debate is a good idea. A surprised Lee took to Twitter to claim victory. “Whoa. My amdt to sunset 2001 AUMF was adopted,” Lee tweeted, using Washington code for authorization of military force. “GOP & Dems agree: a floor debate & vote on endless war is long overdue.” Lee’s amendment would repeal the 2001 law – which has been broadly interpreted to permit military operations beyond those contemplated at the time – 240 days after the bill is enacted, which Lee said in a statement “would allow plenty of time for Congress to finally live up to its constitutional obligation to debate and vote on any new AUMF.” The proposal has a long way to go before becoming law. For starters, it would likely be knocked out of the spending bill on procedural grounds during floor debate since spending bills technically aren’t supposed to carry policy language. The 2001 force authorization was enacted in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks to give the president greater powers to respond. It was very broadly drafted to authorize “all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.” A separate authorization for the war in Iraq was enacted just before the 2003 invasion. “It is far past time for Congress to do its job and for the speaker to allow a debate and vote on this vital national security issue,” Lee said. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Get to know Charles Nana, Democrat running for Alabama U.S. Senate seat
11 Republicans and eight Democrats will officially move forward to their party’s August 15 primaries to vote in the Alabama special election to replace Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate With a little over three months until voters head to the ballots, AlabamaToday.com is inviting all of the candidates, including appointed-incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, to complete a questionnaire we believe offers an interesting, albeit, thumbnail sketch of who they are and why they are running. If you are a candidate and would like to complete the questionnaire, email Elizabeth@ALToday.com. Today’s candidate spotlight features Charles Nana, who’s running for office to demand leaders tell the truth, and to revive the American tradition “of love and compassion.” Here he is in his own words: Significant other? Kids? I’m married to Florence and we have three boys: Nanda (17), Wanci (15) and Kedy (12). Florence is a medical doctor and board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious diseases. Education background? I am the first of 14 children and the first to obtain a college degree in my family. Bachelors Mechanical Engineering, Howard University, Washington D.C. Masters of Science, Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. International MBA, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Chicago, IL Professional Background? GE Plastics, Parkersburg, WV: Technical Leadership Program GE Silicones, Waterford, NY: Technical Leadership Program GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt GE Capital- Employers Reinsurance Corp., Overland Park, Kansas: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Accenture Consulting, Washington D.C. Lean Six Sigma Master Black belt & Business Transformation Expert US Steel, Birmingham, Ala.: Master Black Belt, Operational Excellence Expert My career in Engineering and Management Consulting has been about problem solving and developing solutions to all types of business challenges. I have been called upon to do the same for the great state of Alabama. What was your first job? Production & Reliability Engineer: GE Plastics in Parkersburg, WV. My primary role was to ensure machines and production lines were kept running at full capacity. In 25 words or less, why are you running for office? A) Bring Fresh New Wind of leadership & pay worker livable wages they deserve B) Demand leaders tell the truth & revive our tradition of Love & compassion Did you speak with anybody in your political party before deciding on running? Receive any encouragement? From whom? Spoke to many democrats who encouraged me to run again for US senate as well as offer their support. Who do you count on for advice? It depends on the subject matter; however, I have an array of individuals both formally and informally that I go to for advice. Who is your political consultant? Campaign manager? Who was the first person to contribute to your campaign? Why did they donate? My son was the first to donate to my campaign. He donated because he strongly believed in me. Who, if anyone, inspires you in state government? I was inspired by Nelson Mandela: Despite the unflattering past of our great state of Alabama, I strongly believe I could have a similar transformative impact in the state as Nelson Mandela had to the world. He constantly challenge the process and status quos thereby creating a whole new generation of political leaders Why do people mistrust elected officials and what are you going to do about it? People mistrust elected officials because most can’t tell the truth or live by the truth. If elected, my first priority would be to emphasize the requirement for honesty in leadership. I would support zero tolerance legislations that would force elected officials out of office if caught in a lie.The heart of our democracy is about entrusting elected officials to do what is right but unfortunately, children in Alabama have been deprived of role models at multiple levels: A president who continually lies and a governor who lies and will not tell the truth. American children are wondering when lies and dishonesty have become part of our success values? They can’t count on our president as a role model, they can’t count on our governor, and they can’t count on the speaker of the house either…… where then, do we expect our children to seek role models? What are 3 issues that you’re running on? (Please don’t simply say “education” or “improving the schools”) Demand our leaders tell the truth & live by the truth. Revive our moral traditions of Fairness, Truth and Compassion Pay workers livable wages they deserve with a minimum of $15 per hour. No one should work fulltime and still be poor Fight against tax and trade policies that funnel our prosperity to the wealthy few What is a “disruptive” issue (i.e. ride-sharing) you are interested in? Who was the best governor in Alabama’s modern history? The best Alabama governor for Democrats was Robert Bentley. He was a “family value” republican governor who could not tell the truth even when his entire career depended on it. Democrats had a unique opportunity to impeach and prosecute governor Bentley, but unfortunately, he was allowed to resign and walk away. Had democrats prosecuted him, their odds would have increased significantly in capturing the governor’s office in 2018 elections. Are yard signs an important part of campaigning in your district? Yes. What’s the first thing you read each morning? I read political news on online. Where do you get your political news? I watch CNN almost exclusively. 60 Minutes or House of Cards? 60 Minutes. Social media presence? Twitter handle? Facebook but very light on Twitter. In 140 characters, what’s a Tweet that best describes your campaign message. It’s time for a New Fresh Wind in Alabama leadership. Pay workers livable wages they deserve and love thy neighbors as thy selves. Hobbies? Watching Movies and Soccer games. Favorite sport and sports team? Soccer and Chelsea, English premier league. Some questions were left blank by the candidate.
Get to know Brian McGee, Democrat running for Alabama U.S. Senate seat
11 Republicans and eight Democrats will officially move forward to their party’s August 15 primaries to vote in the Alabama special election to replace Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate With a little over three months until voters head to the ballots, AlabamaToday.com is inviting all of the candidates, including appointed-incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, to complete a questionnaire we believe offers an interesting, albeit, thumbnail sketch of who they are and why they are running. If you are a candidate and would like to complete the questionnaire, email Elizabeth@ALToday.com. Today’s candidate spotlight features Brian McGee, a Lee County Democrat who believes the nation must begin to put Country in front of Party. Here he is in his own words: Significant other? Kids? Married to Jacqueline Harrison McGee for 47 years. Son, Jonathan, Navy vet, works for the Department of Defense in Japan, married with 3 children. Daughter, CPA in Florida, married with one child. Education background? Professional background? Military Background: Volunteered Infantry during Vietnam War, Attended Officer Candidate School and in 4 years of active duty rose from private to Army Captain, Ranger Training, Jungle Warfare, Biological, Chemical and Nuclear Warfare training, Commander of 39th Scout Dogs for the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam, Military awards include Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, significant achievement –13 months in Vietnam and did not lose a single man, Company Commander of an Engineer Reserve Company Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with minor in Science, Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, Specialist Degree in School Administration. Taught for 11 years in the United States and then went to work for the Department of Defense Schools living 25+ years in Bahrain in the Middle East, Panama, Japan and England. Traveled to over 50 countries. What was your first job? As a teenager I worked on a farm. Then I joined the US Army. After the army and while in college, I was a common laborer building tunnels, bridges and digging ditches. In 25 words or less, why are you running for office? As a nation we MUST begin to put Country in front of Party. We must put the people FIRST. We CAN do this. Did you speak with anybody in your political party before deciding on running? Receive any encouragement? From whom? Before putting my name in the ring, I talked to the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, Nancy Worley, and also Jessie Smith, who had twice been a candidate for the US House Seat in the 3rd congressional district. I also, of course, talked in great detail with my wife and adult children. This was a decision that would affect all of our lives and their input was critical. Who do you count on for advice? My wife of 47 years is my primary confidante and advisor. After that, I have to give a nod to my sister who is a Republican, my pastor/priest and even my Bible Study Group. They are significant as they have a wide range of opinions from right to left and all points in between. I can float an idea with some of them and get an interesting and thoughtful comeback. Who is your political consultant? Campaign manager? What you see is what you get. This is a grassroots organization and we are not being politically correct. We speak from the heart and from years of experience gained through an incredible life, well lived and including a wide set of experiences. Who was the first person to contribute to your campaign? Why did they donate? I cannot appropriately share the individual’s name, but she resides in Oregon. I used to work with her in Europe and she knows and trusts I will put country over party or and over getting elected or reelected. Who, if anyone, inspires you in state government? I wanted to talk about someone current and so I am picking Governor Kay Ivey. She is the second woman to be governor of Alabama and the first teacher to sit as governor. I believe she is someone who could get things done for Alabama and its people. I am filled with hope. At the current time, if you look on her website she lists five initiatives. The Military Stability Commission, Aerospace Caucus, End Child Hunger, Economic Development, and Girl’s State. I support all of those initiatives but I would include the following: a commission on improving public education, one on expanding health care opportunities in Alabama, and, within the Economic Development commission, expanding the Green Technology sector, using the successful template used of the Aerospace industry. Why do people mistrust elected officials and what are you going to do about it? The reason I am running is I mistrust many, if not most, politicians. We in Alabama deserve better than people who lie to and mislead us in order to get into office. Many of these people seek votes with slick campaign ads but people are not stupid and their real needs should be addressed. My understanding is that Strange is coming into this election with a 4 million dollar war chest. ‘Who is control? Those who vote or those who fund? So what will I do differently when elected? I pledge to all Alabamians that I will work to get money OUT of politics. I tell anyone donating to my campaign that I WILL PUT COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY AND COUNTRY WAY BEFORE MONEY. If that is unacceptable, then I really do not want the money. What are 3 issues that you’re running on? (Please don’t simply say “education” or “improving the schools”) Solving problems. Typically politicians do not try to solve problems. They are after good sound bites and things that will help them and their party get elected and stay in power. They twist and mislead. They sow alt-facts and spread downright lies in order to get elected. I was trained in the military that if you are given a mission you need to break that mission down into its component parts and devise a plan to SOLVE the problem. I do not care what side of the aisle has the idea or who gets the credit. I care about the results. We need to solve problems. The bottom
Hearing scheduled in Artur Davis’ effort to run as Democrat
A judge has scheduled a hearing on former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis‘ effort to run as a Democrat again. The judge on Tuesday said he will hear arguments Nov. 9 in Davis’ lawsuit against the Alabama Democratic Party. Davis wants to run for Montgomery County Commission as a Democrat. Party officials refused to accept Davis, citing his past support of Republicans. Davis was a Democratic congressman and ran for governor in 2010. He later announced he was aligning himself with the GOP and spoke at the 2012 Republican presidential convention. Davis had sought to force the party to accept his candidate paperwork by Friday’s deadline. James Anderson, a lawyer representing the state party, said they agreed to work with Davis on the deadline so the issue can be settled next week. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
