2018 gubernatorial ad roundup: April 27 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primary is only 39 days away and Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. Yet again this week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb were the only two candidates to release new television ads. In her new ad, Ivey mentions “mountain oysters” for the second time this campaign season, saying “don’t give me a mountain oyster and tell me it’s seafood.” Cobb’s new ad takes a stab at the minimum wage reading, “anyone who works for a living; deserves a wage she can live on.” She has released new campaign ads for six weeks in a row, so while viewers might be tired of seeing the other gubernatorial candidates ads on repeat, hers ads are likely to be a breath of fresh air for voters across the state. Republicans Kay Ivey: Title: Seafood Published: April 25, 2018 Tone: Playful Democrats Sue Bell Cobb: Title: Minimum Wage Increase Published: April 25, 2018 Tone: Promising
2018 gubernatorial ad roundup: April 20 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primary is only 46 days away and Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. This week only former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and Governor Kay Ivey released new ads. Ivey’s “Monuments” ad in which she praises her own signing of a controversial law prohibiting the removal of Confederate monuments in Alabama made waves within the state. Cobb released yet another ad for the fifth week in a row, so while viewers might be tired of seeing the other gubernatorial candidates ads on repeat, hers ads are likely to be a breath of fresh air for voters across the state. Republicans Kay Ivey: Title: Monuments Published: April 17, 2018 Tone: Reveling Democrats Sue Bell Cobb: Title: Unafraid of Being the Lone Voice Published: April 18, 2018 Tone: Peerless
Alabama Retail Association endorses over 50 candidates
With less than two months until the June 5 primaries, the Alabama Retail Association’s state political action committee, Alabama RetailPAC made a large number of endorsements on Friday. “The Alabama Retail Association believes these candidates understand the issues retailers face and that, if elected, these individuals will give retailers’ interests a fair hearing,” said Alabama Retail Chairman Jacob Shevin. The association evaluated each candidate’s record and discussed the ramifications of each race before providing their endorsement; “We are confident these candidates are the best choices for these positions,” said Rick Brown, Alabama Retail President. The Alabama Retail Association is an organization for retailers by retailers who represent retail businesses in Alabama Legislature and U.S. Congress. The association currently represents 4,200 members and 6,000 locations statewide, ranging from small, family owned retail stores to large national chains. Read the full list of candidate endorsements below: For the state’s constitutional offices, RetailPAC endorses: Governor Kay Ivey Lieutenant Governor: Twinkle Cavanaugh Attorney General Steve Marshall Secretary of State John Merrill State Treasurer: John McMillan For the appellate court races, RetailPAC endorses: Supreme Court Chief Justice Lyn Stuart Place 1 Associate Supreme Court Justice Brad Mendheim Place 4 Associate Supreme Court Justice: Jay Mitchell Place 1 Court of Civil Appeals Judge: Christy Edwards Place 2 Court of Civil Appeals Judge Terri Thomas Place 1 Court of Criminal Appeals Judge: Richard Minor Place 2 Court of Criminal Appeals Judge: Chris McCool Place 3 Court of Criminal Appeals Judge: Bill Cole For the Alabama Senate, RetailPAC endorses: District 2: Tom Butler, R-Huntsville District 4: Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman District 6: Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia District 8: Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro District 10: Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City District 12: Del Marsh, R-Anniston District 13: Randy Price, R-Opelika District 21: Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa District 25: Ronda Walker, R-Montgomery District 26: John Knight, D-Montgomery District 33: Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile District 34: Jack Williams, R-Wilmer For the Alabama House of Representatives, RetailPAC endorses: District 4: Parker Moore, R-Decatur District 9: Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle District 10: Mike Ball, R-Madison District 12: Corey Harbison, R-Cullman District 14: Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley District 16: Kyle South, R-Fayette District 19: Laura Hall, D-Huntsville District 22: Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Roads District 27: Wes Kitchens, R-Arab District 30: Robert McKay, R-Ashville District 31: Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka District 32: Barbara Boyd, D-Anniston District 33: Ron Johnson, R-Sylacauga District 39: Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg District 42: Jimmy Martin, R-Clanton District 45: Dickie Drake, R-Leeds District 48: Jim Carns, R-Birmingham District 49: April Weaver, R-Alabaster District 55: Rod Scott, D-Fairfield District 56: Louise Alexander, D-Bessemer District 58: Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham District 60: Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham District 64: Harry Shiver, R-Bay Minette District 65: Elaine Beech, D-Chatom District 67: Prince Chestnut, D-Selma District 69: Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville* District 73: Matt Fridy, R-Montevallo District 76: Thad McClammy, D-Montgomery District 82: Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee District 85: Dexter Grimsley, D-Newville District 97: Adline Clarke, D-Mobile* District 102: Willie Gray, R-Citronelle District 105: Chip Brown, R-Mobile Alabama Retail Association PAC endorses these federal candidates: 2nd District: U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery 4th District: U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh candidate for Lieutenant Governor released a statement on Monday regarding her endorsement. “I am honored to receive the endorsements of job creators across Alabama,” said Cavanaugh. “Through the sale of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and much more, the Alabama Retail Association’s thousands of members touch almost every aspect of daily life in our great state. Having owned several small businesses, I have signed both sides of a paycheck and am committed to sound conservative policies that allow job creators to do what they do best. With education, infrastructure, and workforce development as priorities, our brightest days are ahead of us.” Alabama Attorney General candidate Steve Marshall said he was honored to receive the endorsement. “The backing of the Alabama Retail Association signals significant momentum for our campaign and I’m truly honored to receive their support.”
Bill Veitch files lawsuit to stop ballot printing for primary ballots
Presiding Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Boohaker issued a restraining order on Friday that halted printing of June 5 primary ballots in the Bessemer Cutoff. The printing was stopped due to a lawsuit that Bill Veitch, a Republican candidate for the Birmingham division of Jefferson County, filed on Friday afternoon. “Without your knowledge and consent someone in Birmingham decided your cut-off votes don’t matter. Every single voter in the cut-off from Hoover, McCalla, Hueytown, Bessemer, Midfield and Brighton matter to me and your voice should be heard,” Veitch said in a facebook post on Friday. In the lawsuit, Veitch argues that all voters in Jefferson County should be allowed to vote in the primary, not just those who live in the Birmingham division. He then asked that a judge declare a 1953 law unconstitutional, that Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King put the names of all candidates in the upcoming primary for District Attorney on ballots for both the Birmingham and divisions, and called for the restraining order that halted the ballot printing. According to AL.com, “Veitch lives in the Bessemer Cutoff, which means if the names of the District Attorney candidates were left off the ballot, he couldn’t vote for himself in the Republican Primary. It also means Democrats in the Bessemer division couldn’t vote for the district attorney candidates in Birmingham in their primary.” “The Bessemer District Attorney is listed in the state code as an assistant,” Veitch told AL.com. “The district attorney for the Birmingham division, however, has authority over all the county. ‘If that’s true that the (Birmingham) district attorney has jurisdiction all over the county shouldn’t they (Bessemer voters) be allowed to vote on those who have jurisdiction over all of them?” Veitch will face Mike Anderton in the Republican primary on June 5. The winner will then face Danny Carr, Raymond L. Johnson, or Jr. Carr in a a November special election to determine who will fill the seat. The full text of the lawsuit can be found below: Bill Veitch lawsuit uploaded by KentFaulk on Scribd
Attorney General candidates make their case in candidate forum
Republican candidates for attorney general shared a stage for the first time in an occasionally contentious forum that previewed a race shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested of 2018. Attorney General Steve Marshall, former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin, former Attorney General Troy King and GOP lawyer Chess Bedsole spoke Saturday to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club. Marshall, who was appointed by then-Gov. Robert Bentley, said he is running an independent office focused on enforcing the law, not politics. Martin emphasized her record prosecuting public corruption cases, while King said the state had been embarrassed by recent scandals. Martin criticized Marshall as a party-switcher. Bedsole said he was the only one who had not sought the appointment from Bentley, who resigned during an ethics investigation. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
2018 gubernatorial ad roundup: April 13 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primary is only 94 days away and Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side, well this week, at least one of them has. Sue Bell Cobb has no new competition having the only new ad to air this week. So while viewers might be tired of seeing the other gubernatorial candidates ads on repeat, hers is likely to be a breath of fresh air for voters across the state. Sue Bell Cobb: Title: Alabama Drug Courts: Making Families Whole Again Published: April 11, 2018 Tone: Promising
Challengers criticize absent Kay Ivey as governor skips debate
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s Republican primary challengers took aim Thursday night at her decision to skip a televised debate. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower and evangelist Scott Dawson criticized Ivey’s decision to not attend the Thursday debate hosted by WVTM-13 in Birmingham. Ivey was also in Birmingham Thursday night but was throwing out the first pitch at the Birmingham Barons’ minor league baseball game. Dawson said while Ivey is the incumbent, she was never elected or vetted for that post. Ivey, who was lieutenant governor, became governor automatically a year ago when then-Gov. Robert Bentley resigned in the midst of a sex-tinged scandal. “Our current governor was not elected to this position. She was appointed to this position and we deserve to know what she is going to do in the future,” Dawson said. “I have to start asking myself…Are we hiding something?” Dawson said. Asked why he was a better choice than Ivey to be the GOP nominee for governor, Hightower began with, “Well, I’m here. I’m answering your questions. That’s one.” Battle said it was “a shame” that someone would attend a baseball game instead of discussing the issues of the state. Ivey will also not attend a debate next week hosted by al.com. When asked about her debate absences, Ivey told The Decatur Daily Thursday morning that she was focused on governing. “This race is about our individual records and mine is an open book,” Ivey told the newspaper. The three candidates, who had a chance to put questions to each other, used the opportunity to take aim at the absent governor instead. Hightower said Ivey was “taking credit for a lot of things going on in Huntsville” such as low unemployment and the decision for Toyota and Mazda to build an auto plant in that city that will eventually employ 4,000 people. “I want to know how that makes you feel,” Hightower asked Battle. Battle responded chuckling that certain campaign ads make it look like “no one else was there” but said the effort was under way long before Ivey was governor. “It was a huge team effort. It was a local team effort We got the site ready for 10 years. I visited Japan for the past four years.” Battle said. Dawson asked Hightower if Ivey was “engaged” in dealings with the Alabama Legislature. Hightower, in what appeared to be a jab at Ivey’s age, replied that the state needed someone with “the vision, the vigor and the health to carry the state forward.” Ivey is 73. The three GOP candidates agreed on a number of other issues. All three opposed raising the state minimum wage. They also expressed support for Ivey’s proposal to put a work requirement on the state’s few able-bodied Medicaid recipients. Hightower and Dawson expressed opposition to a state lottery. Battle said a lottery could be a “financial tool” to help fund education programs but was not a “cure-all.” The primary election is June 5. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate in Birmingham, mostly agree on issues
The leading Democratic contenders for governor spent much — but not all — of a Wednesday night debate agreeing with each other. Former Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and former state legislator James Fields appeared in the debate hosted by WVTM in Birmingham. All three expressed support for a state lottery. They also agreed Alabama should expand its Medicaid program, saying doing so would boost the entire health care system and curtail the closure of rural hospitals. They also took aim at a string of scandals that have engulfed GOP politicians in the state, and said they believed the right Democrat could win back the governor’s office for the first time in two decades. The only verbal fireworks came in an exchange between Cobb and Maddox who are largely considered the two front runners in the primary. Cobb questioned Maddox’s commitment to a statewide minimum wage increase since a local wage increase push faltered in Tuscaloosa while Maddox was mayor. “You had an opportunity to raise the minimum wage in the city of Tuscaloosa to $10.10,” Cobb said, noting that was before the passage of a statewide bill blocking cities from raising the local minimum wage. Maddox interrupted Cobb and asked if she would promise something she couldn’t legally deliver. He argued even before the statewide legislation, city attorneys across the state did not think that local governments had that authority to set a local minimum wage. “Would you be taking this position if you weren’t running for governor?” Maddox responded. In an effort to distinguish themselves both Maddox and Cobb emphasized their experience: Maddox as mayor of a city that had to rebuild after being ravaged by tornadoes and Cobb who spent decades on the judicial bench. “This election is about who is best capable to deliver us from crisis,” Maddox said. Cobb said she is the only candidate in the race who has written and helped pass bipartisan legislation. “It’s time to have a governor who cares more about the next generation than the next election,” Cobb said. Fields, a pastor, served in the Alabama Legislature for two years after becoming the first African-American elected in predominantly white Cullman County. Fields said it’s time for the state to elect someone different. “We can do the same thing and we’ll get the same results ….or we can make a change,” Fields said. The Republican contenders debate Thursday night. Gov. Kay Ivey is not participating. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
2018 gubernatorial ad roundup: April 6 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democrat primaries are right around the corner, and Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. This week only Democratic candidates Sue Bell Cobb and Walt Maddox have released ads, with Maddox taking an untraditional approach to a “campaign ad.” Here are the ads the candidates have released this week: Sue Bell Cobb: Title: SBC NYC2AL VIDEO Published: April 2, 2018 Tone: Playful Walt Maddox: Title: Where’s Walt: Episode 5 Published: April 2, 2018 Tone: Inviting
Tommy Battle challenges Kay Ivey to explain contributions from special interests, industry
Campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday, revealed Governor Kay Ivey in the lead with over $3 million in fundraising money; but they also revealed an interesting fact about her campaign. According to the reports, Ivey’s campaign has received more than $1 million in contributions from 114 different special interest group or PAC donations. Some of the PAC’s contributing to Ivey’s campaign are: Alabama Power Company State Employees PAC, Business Council of Alabama’s PAC, Alabama Farmer Federation’s PAC, Alabama Forestry PAC, MCG PAC, and BIZPAC. While Ivey rakes in the millions, her GOP opponents — Tommy Battle, Bill Hightower, and Scott Dawson — are trying their best to keep up. As of Wednesday Battle has raised a total of $1.8 million; Hightower a total of $860,847; and Dawson a total to $731,782 for his campaign. In a release sent on Thursday, Battle touts his campaign has received more than 1,100 individual contributions from “real Alabamians” since the beginning of his campaign, which he claims are more than any other candidate running. “Only 14 PACs have contributed towards Battle’s fundraising efforts. In contrast, Governor Ivey’s numbers show she’s topped more than $1 million in contributions from her 114 PAC donations,” said Battle’s campaign. “Our numbers show that the people of Alabama are behind us. They’re looking for a better vision and a better plan for moving Alabama forward,” said Battle. “As Governor Ivey said in 1982, I think the voters deserve to hear from my opponent about what commitments these endorsements carry.” Battle has consistently challenged Ivey over the course of his campaign, most recently pushing her to commit to joining himself and other candidates in some of the debates scheduled before the primaries. A call to action that as of Tuesday, Ivey has yet to answer.
2018 gubernatorial ad roundup: March 30 edition
As the state draws closer to the June 5 primaries, Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the airwaves and the internet with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. This week only Republican candidates Governor Kay Ivey, Evangelist Scott Dawson and Democratic candidate Sue Bell Cobb have released ads. Here are the ads the candidates have released this week: Scott Dawson: Title: “New Day” (Radio Ad) Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Restorative Kay Ivey: Title: Honest Conservative (Radio Ad) Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Proud Title: Look Like Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Informative Title: Alabama Values Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Protective Title: Back to Work Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Industrious Title: Clean Up Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Misleading Title: My Word Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Delusory Title: Proud Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Direct Title: Trust Published: March 26, 2018 Tone: Serious Democrats Sue Bell Cobb: Title: You Can Lead Alabama Leaders to Water, But You Can’t Make Them Think Published: March 28, 2018 Tone: Diplomatic
‘Lets debate’ gubernatorial candidates join forces to call out Kay Ivey
Several gubernatorial candidates have joined in on Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle‘s invitation to debate Gov. Kay Ivey. Battle sent his request via e-mail to Ivey’s team on Tuesday, and although they acknowledged they received the invitation, as of Friday Ivey’s team had yet to deliver a response. Other candidates have joined Battle’s call on Ivey, “I’m ready to debate anytime, anywhere,” Semmes- Republican Sen. Bill Hightower told AL.com. “I’ve got some great ideas I want to tell Alabama about. So everybody’s talking about it but I’m ready to do it…I will do it on my own if nobody else does it. I think I’ve got the best ideas…I’ve been in Montgomery for only a few years but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see we haven’t had leadership.” “Everyone says they want a debate,” evangelist Scott Dawson said in the same report. “So if you say you’re going to debate, then the next step is actually debating.” “We do not have an elected governor at this stage. We have a selected governor because our previous governor was removed. So I think all of Alabama deserves to hear all four candidates on the platform to share their ideas and their vision instead of being dictated by other people.” Battle, Hightower and Dawson all agreed that debates would be good for the state. However, no actual debates have been formed. Ivey’s campaign told The Associated Press last month that she would be “happy to discuss her record” in a debate setting. Battle has committed to attend the following events, and hopes that Ivey will also attend: April 12 – 7 a.m.: A debate hosted by the Birmingham Business Journal April 12 – 7 p.m.: A debate hosted by NBC 13 in Birmingham April 14 – 8 a.m.: A candidate forum hosted by the Mid Alabama Republican Club in Birmingham May 9 – 2 p.m.: A candidate forum hosted by the Association of Builders and Contractors in Huntsville May 10 – 11:30 a.m.: A candidate forum hosted by the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce
