Former State Senator Roger Bedford has died
Former State Senator Roger Bedford Jr. has died. Bedford was 67. He was diagnosed with cancer in September. At one time, Bedford was one of the four or five most powerful people in the state Legislature for a number of years. Bedford was first elected to the State Senate in 1982 when he was only 25. He was re-elected in 1986. He did not seek re-election in 1990 due to a cancer diagnosis. After defeating cancer, he ran again for the Senate and was elected in 1994. He would go on to serve eight terms in the Alabama State Senate. Bedford, a White rural Democrat – back when White rural Democrats aligned with Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert and the Alabama Education Association (AEA) dominated the Legislature – quickly rose in prominence statewide. In 1996, he ran for the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat when Sen. Howell Heflin (D-Alabama) retired. Bedford, mainly due to his AEA support, defeated Congressman Glenn Browder (D-AL04) in the Democratic primary. However, Bedford lost the general election to then-Alabama Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Bedford remained in the State Senate, where he continued to grow in power and influence until 2010, when Republicans gained control of both Houses of the Legislature after 135 years of Democratic Party control. Bedford was one of the few White rural Democrats in the Alabama Senate to survive the 2010 election. He served as Senate Minority Leader from 2011 to 2013. He did not survive the 2014 election when Dr. Larry Stutts unseated him in the 2014 election by just 13 votes. Bedford’s wife died last year after a long illness. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Walt Maddox, former Governor Don Siegelman join forces in Selma
Combining forces, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox and former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman spoke together on Tuesday at the opening of the African-American Episcopal Church Conference in Selma, Ala. Both men spoke to the attendees about the upcoming November general election, Maddox for his own campaign and Siegelman for his son, Joseph Siegelman‘s campaign for Attorney General. “I’m running for Governor because we hear the shouts,” Maddox said during his speech at the historic Brown Chapel AME Church according to his campaign website. “We hear shouts of the ballot box in Montgomery. We hear shouts about the mental health system across the state of Alabama. We hear the shouts about the hospitals in Alabama that are closing.” “Do you hear the shouts?” Maddox continued. “Our problems in Alabama deserve a solution. As Christians, we hear those shouts. If I’m elected Governor of Alabama, we will honor those shouts.” You can watch Maddox’s full speech here. Siegelman spoke for his son’s campaign, and told attendees to vote for Maddox as next governor, “My son’s a Civil Rights Attorney in the Johnny Cochran firm,” Siegelman told the crowd according to the Selma Times-Journal. “He works for the people and I’m real proud of him.” “Vote Walt Maddox as the next Governor of Alabama,” he continued. Siegelman’s endorsement of Maddox is just one in a list of Democratic leaders who have endorsed him over the course of his candidacy. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin endorsed him in May, saying he influenced how he governs his city, “Walt’s ability to convince people to work together – black and white, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican – has inspired how I seek to lead Birmingham to a new era of excellence,” Woodfin said according to AL.com. Former Alabama Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks, Mobile-Democrat Sen. Vivian Figures, and former state Sen. Roger Bedford have also endorsed Maddox in his bid governor.
Walt Maddox receives endorsement from Ron Sparks, other Alabama influencers
Walt Maddox‘s campaign announced on the backing of former Alabama Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks on Monday. “Walt has compassion and he has leadership. He stood in the streets of Tuscaloosa in its darkest hours and darkest days. He showed compassion, leadership, and strength to rebuild the city,” said Sparks. “He will never put party over the people of Alabama.” Maddox hinted that should he be elected, Sparks might be asked to join his administration. “I am honored to receive the endorsement of Ron Sparks,” said Maddox. “Ron has been a political force in Alabama for years and he shares our vision for a better Alabama. He will be an invaluable asset to this campaign and to my administration should I be elected governor.” This is just one of many endorsements Maddox has received recently; last week he revived an endorsement from Mobile-Democrat Sen. Vivian Figures, and in March received and endorsement from Russellville-Democrat, former state Sen. Roger Bedford. “I am honored and proud to endorse Mayor Walt Maddox to be our next governor,” said Figures. “I know he is ready to serve all of the people of AL, because he’s not filled with empty rhetoric, but has a plan that will move AL to the next level.” Bedford said, “I know first-hand that Walt Maddox has what it takes. He has a proven record in Tuscaloosa and is a new fresh face we need in Montgomery. He has the knowledge, demeanor, and work ethic to make a difference and will make us proud to call him our governor.” Maddox will face former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, along with Christopher Countryman, James Fields, Doug Smith and Anthony White in the June 5 Democratic primary. The winner will go on to face the Republican nominee in the general election, to be selected among: Gov. Kay Ivey, Tommy Battle, Bill Hightower, or Scott Dawson.
Former state Sen. Roger Bedford endorses Walt Maddox
Russellville-Democrat, former state Sen. Roger Bedford on Friday announced he was endorsing Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox for Governor of Alabama. Bedford says Maddox is the “new fresh face we need in Montgomery.” “I know first-hand that Walt Maddox has what it takes. He has a proven record in Tuscaloosa and is a new fresh face we need in Montgomery,” said Bedford. “He has the knowledge, demeanor, and work ethic to make a difference and will make us proud to call him our governor.” Bedford represented northwest Alabama for 20 years — from 1994 to 2014 — during which time he served as minority leader from 2011 to 2013.In 1996 he was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, but was ultimately defeated by Republican Jeff Sessions. Maddox said he is honored to have the endorsement. “As one of the longest serving state Senators in Alabama history, Roger Bedford is one of the most respected Democrats in this state and I am honored to have his endorsement,” he said in a statement. Bedford’s endorsement adds to Maddox’s growing list of endorsements from influential leaders across the state. Maddox will face former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, along with Christopher Countryman, James Fields, Doug Smith and Anthony White in the June 5 Democratic primary. The winner will go on to face the Republican nominee in the general election, to be selected among: Gov. Kay Ivey, Tommy Battle, Bill Hightower, Scott Dawson, or Michael McAllister.
Former state Sen. Roger Bedford to retire from campaign trail
With a political career spanning more than three decades, former state Sen. Roger Bedford is retiring from the campaign trail. “It’s been my highest honor to serve the people of Northwest Alabama for 30 years, and I will continue to support people who are working for what is right for the people of Alabama,” the Russellville Democrat told the Times Daily last week. “But I’m retiring from campaigning.” Bedford, who turns 61 next month, was first elected to the state Senate in 1982 when he was 25, becoming the youngest person in Alabama history to be elected to the Legislature. He served Senate District 6 through 1990 when a battle with cancer forced a brief hiatus. After his recovery, he returned to the Senate for another two decades — from 1994 until 2014 — when he lost a bid for re-election to Tuscumbia Republican Sen. Larry Stutts by only 60 votes. “I’m very grateful to my family and friends who have helped and supported me over the years,” Bedford added. “But I’m at peace with this decision. I’ve been away from it for four years, and I have really enjoyed working, spending time with my wife, Maudie, my son, Roge, and getting more involved in work at my church as a deacon.” As a practicing lawyer, Bedford serves as the city attorney for Red Bay and for the Franklin County Commission, as well as acting as a municipal judge in Russellville and Hackleburg.
