Voters React to House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s Indictment
We continue to follow the arrest of House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Tuesday afternoon, Hubbard spoke to a crowd of supporters, addressing his indictment and calling it a political witch hunt. While voters have mixed feelings about his arrest.
It was just a few months ago that Alabama was listed as one of the ten most politically corrupt states by Fortune Magazine. Mike Hubbard’s indictment isn’t doing anything to get us away from that title. So we asked voters if they believe his arrest is giving Alabama a black eye.
A day after Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard was arrested on 23 counts of felony ethics violations, Alabamians are talking about the indictment.
“If he did the crime, he better do the time,” said one Montgomery resident.
After a two year investigation into Mike Hubbard… that cost about 5 million dollars, some voters are saying some public corruption is wasting taxpayer money.
“When you vote for them for one thing and they do something else, it just takes money out of your pocket,” says Jackie Oliver.
Though some residents were more sympathetic toward Hubbard.
“I hope when it’s all said and done, for the greater good of our state, that those that are being accused would be found not guilty and just let them run a fair campaign and let them do their job,” says K.K. Middleton. “But if they have been found guilty, I also pray that mercy will fall on them as well.”
Political Analyst Steve Flowers says Hubbard’s indictment may affect the way some Alabamians vote.
“It’s a very powerful position but he had corralled as much power as anybody I’ve ever seen,” Flowers explains. “It’s almost like he had the whole republican majority voting with him. There’s an old adage in politics that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Which is why Linda Rickald tells us she refuses to vote, because she says she doesn’t trust any politicians.
“They are just out to get what they can. And I mean, we’re poor people. We have to survive the best way we can and they’re not trying to make it no easier.”
Mike Hubbard has denied that he’s guilty of any of those 23 charges. His attorney tells us they are looking forward to political victory and legal victory.
