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MUMBLINGS February 17, 2005
Like angel food cake, you can tire of politics and
football.
For months, millions of Americans have enjoyed seeing and
talking about the great game of football. Thankfully the football season is
over for a few months. But, by the time it rolls around again, it will create a
lot of interest and excitement.
Last year, we tired of elections.
Fortunately, this is an "off year."
However, Mobile is creating lively talk
about the election for a mayor and councilmen. Although most of Baldwin could
care less about what Mobile does, this is not so in western Baldwin, commonly
referred to as the Eastern Shore. Although, usually out of bounds for
commenting on Mobile politics, this column might have something to say about it
as campaigns heat up. After all, Mobile is important to Baldwin County and it's
progress.
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The other three categories of political
interest, county, state and national will have elections next year. In the
meantime, much talk will be made about who will run for the various
offices.
Little is being discussed about it at this
time, but Baldwin will have several offices to vote on in 2006.
Even though our four County Commissioners
were elected last year, they only serve two years. This results from the fact
the courts ruled that our seven-member commissioner system should be switched
back to the four-member commissioners, like we had in1933- 1988, in order to
get it back even with other elections in the county.
Commissioners who are elected must live in
their own home district but must run county wide. In my opinion this is good
since they are responsible to our whole county. This is such a growing,
progressive area; each member should be interested in it. The incumbents Frank
Burt, Ed Bishop, Albert Lipscomb & Wayne A. Gruenloh, will probably be
running again. However, Lipscomb may be interested in a statewide race. Being a
farmer and a graduate of Auburn University, he is known to have interest in the
race of Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. He would certainly have
strong support in his native home county.
I won't, however, try to name all the
vacant positions, all of which must be filled next year. In addition to the
County Commissioners, there will be our Sheriff and legislative delegations
positions, as well as others.
Our present House members are the dean of
the group, Steve McMillan, and Joe Faust, Randy Davis, Frank P. White, and Greg
Albritton.
Our present senators are Bradley Byrne and
Pat Lindsey. As of this time, it is assumed that all will seek re-election and
may have opposition.
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