New Luther Strange web ad touts role in Robert Bentley resignation, Mike Hubbard conviction
Alabama U.S. Sen. Luther Strange is taking some credit for the resignation of former Gov. Robert Bentley, the man who appointed him to the Senate. AL.com reports on a new 90-second video from Strange’s campaign – which blasts “Washington insiders and liberals” – also touts his ties to President Donald Trump, as well as his prosecution of former state Speaker Mike Hubbard. “We sent him to Montgomery to clean up political corruption,” says a narrator in the ad, which appears on Facebook. “And big Luther Strange kept his word, fighting corrupt Montgomery insiders and special interests.” The ad shows Strange driving a muddy truck into a car wash, spraying men in suits — representing Washington insiders and corrupt politicians. Supposedly, those “insiders” include both Bentley and Hubbard; the ad flashes newspaper headlines saying, “Strange will investigate Bentley” and “AL speaker Mike Hubbard sentenced to 4 years.” As Alabama’s Attorney General, Strange’s office prosecuted Hubbard for several felony ethics violations. Nevertheless, Strange recused himself from the Auburn Republican Speaker’s case because he used Hubbard’s printing company. Hubbard was eventually sentenced to serve four years in prison. “The guts to fight Montgomery corruption,” the ad says. “The prosecution and conviction of a corrupt House speaker. The investigation and governor’s resignation. A new public corruption prosecution unit. Corrupt politicians convicted.” Watch Strange’s ad here:
GOP super PAC plans $2.6 million in TV ads for Luther Strange
The Senate Leadership Fund on Monday reserved a $2.6 million television ad buy on behalf of U.S. Sen. Luther Strange of Alabama, bidding to ward off challengers for the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The super political action committee, which has ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, made the show of fiscal force ahead of an August GOP primary on which Strange will face several challengers, including former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. Senate Leadership Fund spokesman Chris Pack told The Associated Press the buy is just the start of what the group plans on spending to support the Republican senator. The ads will start July 11 and run through the Aug. 15 primary. “A lot of people in glass houses are throwing stones in Alabama, and they will quickly realize that this won’t be going unanswered. This $2.65 million buy is just an initial down payment on Senate Leadership Fund’s commitment to supporting Senator Strange,” Pack said. Ever since a series of messy Republican primaries led to losses of winnable Senate races in 2010 and 2012, Republicans led by McConnell of Kentucky have worked aggressively to defeat fringe primary candidates in Senate races. Their goal has been to ensure that GOP Senate primaries produce mainstream Republican candidates who can go on to win the general election. The Senate Leadership Fund is run by a former McConnell chief of staff. The Alabama race is expected to be contentious. But the muscle flexing by the super PAC also sends a message that the challengers to Strange should prepare for a high-spending campaign. Strange was appointed to the Senate in February by then-Gov. Robert Bentley, who resigned last month amid fallout from an alleged affair with a top staffer. Bentley had planned for a 2018 Senate election, but new Gov. Kay Ivey, moved it up to this year, setting up what’s expected to be a four-month demolition derby among Alabama’s dominant Republicans. Bentley resigned to stop an impeachment push, pleading guilty to misdemeanor campaign finance violations to end a state investigation. Challengers are expected to try to batter Strange on his connection to Bentley, since Strange was state attorney general at the time of his Senate appointment. Three other Republicans have so far announced runs for the seat including Moore, who was suspended from his judicial duties after he urged defiance of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Party qualifying for the race runs until May 17. While Alabama has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than 20 years, a number of Democrats, including at least two state legislators, are considering running. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
State Auditor Jim Zeigler completes all Robert Bentley exit audits
State Auditor Jim Zeigler announced he has completed the required exit audits of four State gubernatorial properties following the resignation of former Gov. Robert Bentley. Zeigler and his team accounted for all items of state property in the historic Governor’s Mansion on Perry Street in Montgomery, the Governor’s Office in the capitol, the Governor’s beach house at the Gulf and the Blount Mansion of Wynfield in east Montgomery. “The four property managers handling the Governor’s properties are well-organized and did a good job getting ready for the audits under expedited circumstances,” Zeigler said in a press release announcing the audit’s completion. Bentley resigned as governor April 10, following an impeachment investigation where he ultimately made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to misdemeanor campaign finance violations to end the threat of a criminal investigation. Bentley’s lieutenant governor, Kay Ivey, assumed the role of governor following his resignation. The change of command legally triggered the requirement of the four state audits. “We saw no problems in the four locations,” Zeigler continued. “Gov. Bentley left the state properties in good shape. His property managers worked well with us.” Zeigler says that responsibility for the four locations now switches from Bentley to Ivey. She has already begun work in the Governor’s offices and is expected to move into the Perry Street mansion soon.
Steve Flowers: Dark horses emerge to follow legacy of ‘Luv Gov’
Well, folks, let’s put the final coup de grace to the Robert Bentley six-year Governor’s reign and move on. Ole Bentley was quite a story his last two years. He had become the ringleader of a circus and an infamous national cartoon character. The salacious and lurid details of his affair with Mrs. Rebekah Mason were a never-ending, titillating saga. The story, along with his picture, could aptly be a plot for a tabloid or a Soap Opera. I will actually be surprised if it does not make it to television or even the movies. Unfortunately, this story will be his legacy as governor. He has no public policy initiatives to tout for posterity. He will be known as the “Luv Gov.” Our last two governors may not have gone to jail like previous ones, but they garnered terrific nicknames for their exploits over their last year in office. Bob Riley spent his last year doing the bidding of the Indian Gambling syndicate and his cowboy and Indian escapades closing down all the non-Indian casinos earned him the nickname of “Bingo Bob.” Ole Bentley, who appeared to be the least likely person to play the part, became a sex-crazed philanderer. His and Rebekah’s sordid romance tapes sounded like the x-rated version of Barney Fife sweet talking Thelma Lou. Even the national media dubbed him the “Luv Gov.” Bentley never really showed any genuine remorse or contrition. Even when he read his prepared resignation speech, it did not seem heartfelt or sincere. They were just words wrapped in religion. He never seemed to apologize from the heart. He still seemed a little bit haughty. Having taught Sunday school for many years, one would have thought Bentley had taught some from the book of Proverbs. One of Solomon’s greatest proverbs says, “Pride goeth before a fall.” Early in the day of Bentley’s resignation, I was walking around the Capitol with rumors swirling that Bentley’s demise was imminent at any time. I was wishing the best for ole Bentley. I thought about ole Big Jim Folsom standing on the Capitol steps when the press would pound on him and ask him to resign. He would say to them, “Y’all ain’t gonna get old Big Jim to quit. When I was a boy, growing up in Coffee County my old pappy would make me get out of bed before daylight and go work in the fields chopping cotton and plowing behind a mule. I’d see a rain cloud come up and start praying for rain so I could quit for a while. My pappy would say, boy, it may cloud up but it ain’t gonna rain on Big Jim.” Well, bless his heart, it did rain on Bentley. He’s gone. Kay Ivey will serve out the remaining 19 months of his term. She may decide to run for a full term of her own as governor. As the incumbent governor, she would be a viable candidate. There is an ever-growing list of potential and probable horses that are gearing up for the 2018 gubernatorial derby. The list of viable candidates is at about a dozen. However, let me tell you again, like I have been telling you for years, Alabamians like to vote for a dark horse for governor – one who has not been around the political track. Let me give you the names of two very rich businessmen who could pull off a Fob James 1978-like coup. Jimmy Rane, known as “Yella Fella” from his ads of riding a horse and wearing a big yellow hat advertising his yellow lumber, started out and built Great Southern Wood out of Abbeville where he was born and raised and still calls home. Forbes magazine has his net worth at $600 million. Johnny Johns became CEO of Birmingham-based Protective Life at a young age. He built the company started by Colonel Rushton into one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. When an international corporation bought Protective several years ago, Johnny walked away with $300 million. He is known throughout Birmingham as one of the most civic-minded people in the Magic City. Either one of these two distinguished gentlemen could easily buy the governor’s office with their pocket change and they may be interested. 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.
Mo Brooks ‘seriously considering’ Senate bid
Republican Congressman Mo Brooks is close to mounting a run for the U.S. Senate later this year. The four-term lawmaker from Alabama’s 5th Congressional District told AL.com Monday he is “seriously considering” a bid for the Senate seat now held by former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange. It was the first comment from Brooks regarding the Senate race after Gov. Kay Ivey rescheduled the special election — moving it up a year — to fill the vacancy created in February when Jeff Sessions resigned to become U.S. Attorney General. May 17 is the qualifying deadline for candidates in the Aug. 15 party primaries. Brooks, a Huntsville native, told AL.com he will not announce his decision until just before the deadline. “I have polling data, I have talked with various individuals to discuss how much money would be required to be competitive and whether there are available sources of money to be competitive,” Brooks said. Brooks is the only member of the Alabama congressional delegation thinking about running for the Senate. Reps. Robert Aderholt, Bradley Byrne, Gary Palmer, Martha Roby, Mike Rogers and Terri Sewell have each said they are not interested in the seat. If he should enter the race, Brooks would bring a financial advantage that would immediately establish him as the leading candidate for the seat. Campaign finance reports from March 31 show Brooks with $1.2 million on hand. That war chest is more than that of any other Alabama House member, as well as interim Sen. Strange, who had raised about $763,000 so far. “That’s one of the strong points,” Brooks said of his perspective candidacy. “I have almost half-a-million dollars’ cash on hand more so than the second-place person and more than $1 million cash-on-hand more than every other candidate – rumored or announced.”
Steve Flowers: Handicapping the ‘great show’ Senate Special Election
The decisive move by newly minted Governor, Kay Ivey, to declare a Special Election for the Jeff Sessions’ Senate Seat this year rather than next year changes the entire complexion of who will sit in that coveted seat. It also redefines the landscape of an ever changing and pivotal Alabama political scene. This next year will be an adventure as we elect a Senator and concurrently the 2018 Governor’s Race will begin its evolution. We have already seen the downfall of a sitting governor this year and by Sept. 26, we will see the election of a new junior U.S. Senator. There is an assumption that only a Republican can win statewide office in Alabama and winning the GOP primary is tantamount to election. The decision by Governor Ivey was the right decision. Most folks would assume that “forthwith” means this year rather than next year. It was also a wise political move by Ms. Ivey if she wants to run for a full term. Ivey’s calling for the Special Election for Sessions’ seat immediately, could be the death knell for Luther Strange. By December, he may go from being the newest and tallest member of the U.S. Senate to the shortest serving senator in Alabama history. His defeat could be very inglorious and humiliating. With the election being this year, it will be the only show in town. It will be a spectacle. Every politician who is in any office can run without risking his or her current posts. In other words, everyone has a free shot. Therefore, it will be a free-for-all. Everyone will run against poor Big Luther and the Bentley taint. They will use their campaign resources to give you the unmitigated details of how Luther got put in that seat by ole Bentley. You will be told so many times that Bentley and Luther got together in a backroom with Rebekah and brokered a deal to sell Luther the Senate seat in return for Luther not prosecuting Bentley and Rebekah that you will know the story by heart. Luther will be as tarnished and feathered as ole Bentley. In about two weeks, when the Washington PAC’s see the polling that reveals Luther is in trouble, his campaign resources will be less than he expected and he may not be able to defend against the onslaught of negative ads. The question becomes, who will be the early frontrunners? Roy Moore enters as the favorite. His evangelical base becomes crystallized in a large field. It will probably reserve him a place in the Sept. 26 run-off. Who will be the other candidate in the runoff? It may very well not be Luther Strange. The U.S. Senate is a select club. A cursory look around the chamber reveals very wealthy people or celebrities. Senate seats are bought by wealthy individuals in a good many cases. We have some people in Alabama who could very easily buy the Senate seat. The short period of time that exists to raise money for an Aug. 15 election even further enhances the advantage for someone who can self-finance and write a big check. The name on most lists is the “Yella Fella,” Jimmy Rane. He would sell. He is a natural salesman. Folks close to Yella Fella get the feeling that he does not want to go to Washington at this time in his life. However, he is adamant and determined that Luther Strange will not remain in the seat. Therefore, he may bankroll another candidate through a super PAC. Rumor has it that he will get behind Del Marsh. Marsh has his own money also. However, he needs more money because he is totally unknown to Alabama voters. I will keep you posted on the developments. I do not know how many of these folks will join the fray but this is how I will handicap the horses at this time. Jimmy Rane and Roy Moore are one and two. Other possibilities are Congressman Robert Aderholt, Congressman Bradley Byrne, Luther Strange, Secretary of State John Merrill, Congressman Mo Brooks, State Auditor Jim Ziegler, State Sen. Del Marsh, Trump Trumpeter Perry Hooper Jr., State Sen. Slade Blackwell, State Sen. Trip Pittman, ADECA Director Jim Byard, State Senator Arthur Orr, and State Rep. Ed Henry. It will be a great show. 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.
Alabama Supreme Court upholds suspension of Roy Moore, will decide on Senate run next week
The Alabama Supreme Court this week reaffirmed the removal of Roy Moore as chief justice. Moore has hinted he may run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by now U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in February and currently held by former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange. Moore said he would make a decision on a Senate run sometime next week. In a news conference, Moore blasted the prosecution as “politically” motivated, arguing that he remains Chief Justice even with the suspension over his administrative order against the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. “I have done my duty under the laws of this state to stand for the undeniable truth that God ordained marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Moore told reporters assembled at the Alabama State Capitol’s Old Supreme Court Chambers. As there are no federal issues in the case, Moore is unable to appeal the ruling. “This is it,” he said. Southern Poverty Law Center president Richard Cohen had filed an ethics complaint against Moore, and issued a statement after the ruling: “Roy Moore’s violation of the Canons of Judicial Ethics was egregious. He got what he deserved. We’ll all be better off without the Ayatollah of Alabama as our chief justice.”
Roy Moore making unspecified ‘announcement’ Wednesday, possibly challenging Luther Strange
Roy Moore might be posing a challenge for interim U.S. Sen. Luther Strange. News 5 is reporting the suspended Alabama Chief Justice will hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon for an unspecified “announcement.” What is fueling speculation is the news conference was called at once after newly named Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation advancing the special election for the Senate seat vacated in February by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Then-Gov. Robert Bentley — who had interviewed Moore for the Senate seat — scheduled the election for 2018, in line with the midterm elections. But Ivey rescheduled the primary Aug. 15, a runoff Sept. 26 and the general election Dec. 12. Moore was one of about two dozen candidates brought in Bentley to interview for the seat, which ultimately went to then-Attorney General Strange. Bentley resigned April 10 and was booked into Montgomery County jail on a pair of misdemeanor campaign-finance charges. The Republican pled guilty to both as part of a deal to avoid facing four felony charges. Under suspension after a conviction on judicial ethics charges related to a gay marriage order, News 5 says Moore’s checkered political past made him a controversial choice for the Senate. Since his suspension, however, Moore has been looking for a return to public service, even a possible return to the Alabama Supreme Court. Moore’s news conference will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the State Capitol.
Steve Flowers: Alabama’s bizarre political theatrics would make a great movie
We in the Deep South have a unique history of political theatrics. The only northern states that rival our colorfulness are New Jersey and Illinois. In those two states, you are expected to be corrupt, especially Chicago. Our most colorful southern state has always been Louisiana. The parishes and bayous of the Pelican State gave us Huey Long and other characters. No other states can hold a candle to Louisiana’s brazen corruption. They not only expect their politicians to steal and cavort, they frown on them if they do not. The environment of Louisiana politics is bred toward corruption and debauchery. They not only gave us the glamour of the King Fish, Huey Long, they are proud of their infamous reputation. Well folks if you look at us here in the good old Heart of Dixie over the past few years we are probably giving Louisiana a run for its money. A cursory look at the record reveals that our Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Hubbard, was caught and convicted of taking bribes for sponsoring and passing legislation. Our 74-year-old doctor Governor Robert Bentley fell in love with his 44-year-old No. 1 adviser, lost all his wits, and has resigned from office in disgrace. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and agreed never to run for office again. The House of Representatives was poised to impeach him had he not resigned. Ole Bentley had become an irrelevant clown and fodder for late night talk shows. The State is better off with Lt. Governor, Kay Ivey, serving out the remaining 20 months of Bentley’s term. Bentley, in a charade promulgated by his desire to not be indicted for his shenanigans, gave the U.S. Senate Seat vacated by Jeff Sessions to the sitting Attorney General Luther Strange to avoid prosecution. Therefore, our new junior U.S. Senator is in Washington with the taint of Bentley’s scandal hovering over his head with the appearance that he is there due to audacious collusion. We have an even richer novel that has transpired in Jefferson County, our most populous and supposedly urbane county. It made national news a year ago when the Mayor and President of the City Council got into a fistfight in the Birmingham City Hall. However, a new development is even more bizarre. During the fall elections, Democrats won all the Jefferson County judgeships. Along with the judgeships, Jefferson County voters elected a Democratic District Attorney. Democrat Charles Henderson beat incumbent Republican Brandon Falls by over 10,000 votes. Get this folks, the sitting DA trumps up a perjury charge against the new DA a few days before he was to take office. Falls convened a grand jury Jan. 12 and returned an indictment the next day Jan. 13. Henderson was to take office the following Monday. As anybody knows, a prosecutor can indict a potato for anything at any time. This scenario proves that point. The loser, Falls, got the winner, Henderson, indicted for perjury. This is so bizarre and corrupt a situation that it makes the aforementioned stories pale in comparison. It makes Jefferson County and Alabama look like a Third World banana republic. There are rampant rumors that the State’s top watchdog, Prosecutor Matt Hart, is camped out in Jefferson County and massive indictments are on the way. It has been over 70 years since Louisiana had a similar scenario. Nobody has been as brash in between. The Louisiana King Fish Huey Long was assassinated on the steps of the capitol in Baton Rouge. Huey Long’s brother, Earl Long, followed his famous older brother as governor. Earl was one colorful character. His opponents decided to seize power from Earl. They took control of the state police and had Earl arrested and put in the state insane asylum. One of the best political movies ever is entitled “Blaze” starring Paul Newman and it illustrates this story of Louisiana political lore. I recommend it for entertainment. These past two years in Alabama politics would make for a good movie. This latest Jefferson County fiasco would have to be a part of the plot. Look out Louisiana; we’ve got some good theater in the Heart of Dixie. 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.
Gov. Kay Ivey schedules Senate special election in line with state law
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation Tuesday morning to reschedule the special election date for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The new primary date is Aug. 15, with a runoff set for Sept. 26; the general election is Dec. 12, a year ahead of the previously scheduled election date. In February, Gov. Robert Bentley temporarily appointed then-Attorney General Luther Strange to the Senate seat until Alabama could hold a special election. Bentley originally scheduled the special election to coincide with the 2018 regular election cycle, a primary in June and general election in November. “I promised to steady our ship of state. This means following the law, which clearly states the people should vote for a replacement U.S. Senator as soon as possible,” Ivey said in a statement. “The new US Senate special election dates this year are a victory for the rule of law.” Ivey signed the proclamation at 9:21 a.m. “This is not a hastily-made decision,” Ivey added. “I consulted legal counsel, the finance director, Speaker [Mac] McCutcheon, Senate President Del Marsh, and both budget chairmen since the cost to the General Fund could be great. However, following the law trumps the expense of a special election.” Alabama statute says that if a Senate seat vacancy occurs more than four months before a general election, the governor is required to call a special election “forthwith.” Bentley interpreted “forthwith” to mean an announcement, not the actual election. Senator Strange is taking the change of date in stride. “As I’ve said for months, I’m a candidate and I’m ready to run whether the election is next month or next year,” said Strange. “As the only announced candidate for this office, I will spend the next several months being the best Senator I can be, upholding Alabama values and working with President Donald Trump to drain the swamp and help make America great again. The people of Alabama deserve nothing less and ultimately it will be up to them to decide who will represent them in Washington.”
What’s next for the state of Alabama
As the dust settles from Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s resignation last week, Hastings Wyman writes about what’s next for the state in an article for Southern Political Report Online. Gov. Kay Ivey has had a successful first week in office according to Marty Connors, former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. “She fired the top cop, (Stan Stabler, a Bentley appointee who headed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency). “She fired Ron Sparks,” whom Bentley appointed to head an agency for Rural Economic Development. “And she fired Rebekah Mason’s husband, which is pretty significant.” Still the first, and possibly most important question going forward is whether Ivey will change the special election date for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Luther Strange. Many Alabamians view Strange’s appointment to the seat, and the unusually long incumbency given to him without an election, as just another example of the Bentley’s scandal-plagued tenure as governor. Ivey has the power to move the election to this year, according to the secretary of state, and that move could shake up Alabama politics in a big way. Ousted former state chief justice Roy Moore, who is currently deciding between running for governor or senate, could be enticed to run for the seat if its moved up. The other major political happening will be the emerging contest for governor in 2018. “Everything is very fluid right now,” says Connors. “How Kay Ivey governs will affect the next governor’s race… Had Kay not assumed the governorship, I don’t believe she would run for governor. Now that she’ll have the power of incumbency, she might,” he said. When it comes to the immediate future though, Wyman writes that Ivey and the Legislature “must put the Bentley matter behind them and move forward.” State Auditor Jim Ziegler still has some loose ends to tie up, including auditing the contents of three official residences used by Bentley once he’s removed his belongings, but it looks like the state is moving forward. “Ivey has already begun focusing on the state government’s business at hand, signing legislation that would give juries sole discretion whether to impose the death penalty, a power previously shared with presiding judges. And the GOP-controlled legislature now returns to a full agenda, which includes redrawing the lines in twelve legislative districts, funding the state’s Education Trust Fund, and passing the General Fund Budget,” Wyman writes.
Luther Strange reporting solid fundraising for 2018 Senate special election
Newly appointed U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, selected by Gov. Robert Bentley to replace Jeff Sessions after he became U.S. Attorney General, is posting robust fundraising numbers ahead of a 2018 special election. According to AL.com, Strange’s campaign expects to report raising $673,802 to the Federal Elections Commission, with $763,612 cash-on-hand. A primary for the special election is tentatively scheduled June 5, 2018, for the General Election Nov. 6, 2018. However, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey – who took over after Bentley’s resignation this week after accusations of ethics and campaign finance violations – could move the date up. While Strange is the only announced candidate so far, AL.com reports that before the appointment, nearly a dozen people have expressed interest in the Senate race. In February, Bentley appointed Strange to the Senate seat in February only four months after Strange, who was Alabama Attorney General at the time, called on the House committee to suspend its investigation of the governor’s impeachment, claiming his office was conducting “necessary related work.” The controversial appointment led attorney Sam McClure to file an ethics complaint with the Alabama State Bar. Steve Marshall, Bentley’s choice to replace Strange as AG, has confirmed to reporters his office is conducting an investigation into the governor.
