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>ALABAMA PRIMARY DATE: JUNE 1, 2010
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Davis Gets Union Endorsement
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From Campaign 2010 -- Gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis has picked up an endorsement from a major union. The Democratic congressman received the support of Communications Workers of America Local 3902.
It represents about 2,500 workers in the Birmingham area. The local union president, Rhonda Taylor, said Friday that Davis has the integrity and ability to lead Alabama to a brighter future.
Davis faces Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks in the Democratic primary in June.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Chairman of State Republican Party Blasts Johnson's Claims about Riley Contributions
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From Campaign 2010 -- Mike Hubbard, the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, released a statement Thursday afternoon blasting Bill Johnson, one of his party's candidates for governor. Johnson had held news conferences earlier in the day to say that Republican Gov. Bob Riley accepted campaign contributions from Mississippi Indian casino operators.
Hubbard, who was a top advisor and fundraiser in both of Riley's campaigns, released the statement in response to what he calls the outrageous allegations lodged by Johnson. This is part of Hubbard's statement:
"During both the 2002 and 2006 Riley gubernatorial campaigns, I was involved at the highest levels in both fundraising and strategy and can tell you without hesitation that the allegations being made by Bill Johnson are a joke. His role, during both campaigns, was basically to oversee distribution of yard signs, bumper stickers and brochures."
Johnson is one of six Republican candidates running for governor.
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Johnson Says Riley Took Campaign Contributions from Mississippi Indian Casino Operators
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From Campaign 2010 -- Republican candidate for governor Bill Johnson, who was a member of Gov. Bob Riley's Cabinet, says Riley received campaign contributions in 2002 from Mississippi Indians who operate casinos. He says the money was intended to limit the casinos' competition in Alabama.
Johnson said Thursday that a senior official in Riley's 2002 campaign, Dan Gans, told him the tribe promised $3 million in donations, but didn't deliver all of it. He was unsure of the exact amount, but felt it has influenced Riley's fight to shut down electronic bingo operations in Alabama.
Gans, however, said Johnson was mistaken and no such conversation ever took place.
Riley aides say there were no donations from Mississippi Indians and their casino operations.
Toby Roth, political director of Riley's 2002 campaign, said Johnson wasn't in fundraising and in no position to know about contributions. He said Johnson is attacking his former boss and longtime friend to try to draw attention to his campaign in a crowded Republican field.
Johnson left his Cabinet post as director of the Alabama Dept. of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) in June to run for governor.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved.)
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Sparks Wins Endorsements from 28 Sheriffs
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From Campaign 2010 -- State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks has picked up endorsements from 28 sheriffs in his campaign to become Alabama's next governor.
The sheriffs gathered in Tuscaloosa on Thursday to make the endorsement of Sparks' Democratic candidacy.
Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said Sparks has worked with sheriffs for years and he is a friend of law enforcement.
The other sheriffs were from Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Colbert, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dallas, Dekalb, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Marion, Marshall, Pickens, Pike, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington and Winston counties.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Two Republicans Want State Rep. Seth Hammett's Seat
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From Campaign 2010 -- Two Republicans are vying for State Rep. Seth Hammett's seat that represents people in Covington and Escambia counties.
Republican Mike Jones made his campaign announcement on the courthouse square in Andalusia Tuesday morning in front of a large crowd of supporters. Jones is a former Andalusia City Councilman and an attorney.
Republican Greg White is also running for the seat. White was the county commission chairman for 13 years and is now an accountant in Andalusia.
"I think that my experience leading a local governmental entity will lend itself well to knowing the needs and understanding the relationships," White told CBS 8 News Tuesday.
"Seth started as a young man and so have I. We need someone who's able and willing to be in Montgomery just as long as Seth has been. And I'm able and I'm willing," Jones said.
Hammett announced in May that he will not run for re-election next year. Hammett also serves as Speaker of the House.
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State Republicans to Use Democrats' Convictions to Push Ethics Agenda
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From Campaign 2010 -- Alabama voters can expect to see the faces of some well-known Democratic felons in advertisements that Republicans plan to run before the 2010 legislative elections.
State Republican Party officials unveiled a video Tuesday that features images of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman; former state Reps. Bryant Melton and Sue Schmitz; former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford and other Democrats who have been convicted or pleaded guilty to government corruption charges.
The sound of jail doors closing can be heard in the background during the video.
Alabama Republican Party chairman Mike Hubbard said the video would be used to emphasize Republicans' promise to make Alabama government more ethical.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Caylor Says She Won't Run for Fourth Term on State School Board
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From Campaign 2010 -- Former Huntsville schools superintendent Mary Jane Caylor says she will not seek a fourth term on the State Board of Education in next year's election.
Caylor has been involved with education in north Alabama since she began teaching at East Clinton Elementary School in 1962. She is a Democrat who has been on the state school board since 1995. She said it's time to step down.
Huntsville attorney Mary Scott Hunter says she will run for Caylor's seat. Huntsville educator Mary Ruth Yates says she's considering the race.
The state winner gets a four-year term on the nine-member board.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Birmingham Attorney Running for Attorney General
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From Campaign 2010 -- Birmingham attorney Giles Perkins is running for state attorney general as a Democrat.
Perkins entered a race Wednesday that already includes two Republicans -- incumbent Troy King and Birmingham attorney Luther Strange.
Perkins said U.S. Attorney Doug Jones of Birmingham will serve as his campaign chairman.
Perkins served as executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party in 1997-1998 and has been active in many campaigns, including John Edwards' and Barack Obama's presidential runs.
Two other Democrats, Montgomery attorney James Anderson and Mobile attorney Michel Nicrosi, have said they are considering the race.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Shelby, Sessions Supporting Strange for Attorney General
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From Campaign 2010 -- Alabama's two Republican U.S. senators are supporting Luther Strange in his campaign for attorney general against the GOP incumbent, Troy King.
The Birmingham News reported Wednesday that Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions are the featured guests at a Washington fund-raiser for Strange, a former lobbyist who was the party's nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006.
Shelby and Sessions helped King win three years ago, but are lining up behind his opponent this time in a rare switch by key party figures.
King said Wednesday he was "disappointed, but not surprised, that our Washington politicians would be supporting a Washington lobbyist." He described Strange as a "political insider" in Congress.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Sparks Wins Endorsement from Birmingham's First Black Mayor
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From Campaign 2010 -- Birmingham's first black mayor, Richard Arrington, says he will support state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks for governor rather than U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, who is trying to become Alabama's first black governor.
Arrington is planning a news conference with Sparks in Birmingham on Wednesday to officially announce the endorsement. But he told The Birmingham News on Tuesday that he believes Sparks will be the kind of governor who will work across racial lines and move Alabama forward.
Arrington was elected mayor of Birmingham in 1979.
Sparks and Davis meet in the Democratic primary on June 1.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Davis Calling for New State Constitution
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From Campaign 2010 -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Artur Davis is calling for a constitutional convention to rewrite Alabama's constitution.
Davis says the 1901 constitution is rooted in 1901 values, including the idea that local communities can't be trusted to make their own choices. He says that's why the Legislature had to meet in a summer special session to address Jefferson County's occupational tax.
Davis outlined his proposal Monday at Huntsville's Constitution Village. That's where Alabama's first constitutional convention was held in 1819.
Davis faces state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks in the Democratic primary on June 1.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Appeals Court Judge Kelli Wise Running for Supreme Court
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From Campaign 2010 -- Criminal appeals court Judge Kelli Wise has kicked off her Republican campaign for the Alabama Supreme Court by stressing her experience.
Wise launched her campaign Monday at the GOP headquarters in Montgomery. She was surrounded by representatives of some of the business groups that are backing her campaign, including the Alabama Civil Justice Reform Committee.
Wise was a staff attorney at the Supreme Court before being elected to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 2000. She was re-elected in 2006. Wise said that experience qualifies her to move up to the Supreme Court.
She is running for the seat currently held by Republican Patti Smith, who is not seeking another term. Several others are considering the race, but Wise is the first to start her campaign.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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King Wins Endorsement from Fraternal Order of Police
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From Campaign 2010 -- State Attorney General Troy King has picked up a campaign endorsement from the board of the Alabama Fraternal Order of Police.
FOP President Bill Davis said law enforcement officers in Alabama have no greater friend than King. Davis said the board decided to endorse King during a weekend meeting at Lake Guntersville.
King is seeking re-nomination in the Republican primary on June 1. He is opposed by Birmingham lawyer Luther Strange. No Democrats have entered the race yet.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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