MUMBLINGS May 11, 2006

As the time for first primary elections, Tuesday, June 6th, approaches, politics in Baldwin and Alabama are becoming more exciting.

For the first time in history, the runoff primary election has been delayed. Usually the runoff is held three weeks after the first primary which would have put it Tuesday, June 27th. The legislature postponed it until Tuesday, July 18th so veterans would have plenty of time to vote absentee.

This was a good gesture on the part of the legislature but because of the comparatively few candidates this year, there won’t be many runoffs in the state and only three possibilities in Baldwin County.

Most candidates in Baldwin County will not have a runoff either because they only have one opponent or no opposition. As mentioned here, the probate judge and circuit judges have no opposition and this also includes Jody Wise Campbell the Circuit Clerk.

Also, Senator Bradley Byrne, Montrose and Representative District 96, Randy Davis of Daphne have no opposition. The other Baldwin County Legislators, including Senator Pat Lindsey of Butler, Steve McMillan, Representative, District 95; Joe Faust, Fairhope, Representative District 94; and Skippy White, Pollard, Representative District 66, each only has one opponent, making it unnecessary for a runoff.

However, there are three races with the possibilities of having a runoff. They are the race for sheriff which includes the incumbent, Jimmy Johnson, Hoss Mack and Ron Bankston. As you no doubt know, the sheriff’s race has livened up because of the controversy between Johnson and the new district attorney, Ms. Judy Newcomb. How this will affect the race is unknown but the fact that Johnson used bad language does not sit well with a lot of people. No doubt he has, by this time, apologized or will do so soon.

Two of the County Commissioners, Frank Burt and Ed Bishop have only one opponent. Richard Cox of Stockton is running against Burt and Robert Stoddard of Daphne is running against Bishop.

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However, the third district of the Loxley/Robertsdale area has two opponents running against Wayne Gruenloh, the incumbent, and they are Hilo Middleton of Loxley and Will McDaniel of Robertsdale.

In the race for the fourth district seat, there are Skip Gruber of Elberta, Sam Mitchell of Magnolia Springs, Steve Kirkpatrick of Elberta, and Kevin Murphy of Magnolia Springs. These are comparatively unknown candidates in the county as a whole. You remember county commissioners now must be voted on county wide, not just the district in which they live.

The incumbent of the fourth district, Albert Lipscomb of Magnolia Springs did not seek reelection but rather chose to run statewide for the important job of Agriculture Commissioner. For this position, he has no opposition in the primary but will face the incumbent, Democrat Ron Sparks of Montgomery in November.

Albert Lipscomb served Baldwin County in the state senate for 12 years and then was appointed county commissioner by Governor Bob Riley.

Lipscomb should be well known statewide and certainly should know how to run
the office which he seeks as he is a graduate in Agriculture from Auburn University. He also has wide support from conservatives and religious groups because he has long been an opponent of abortion and gambling. Hopefully, he will get strong support from his many friends in Baldwin.

Herewith, I make another prediction. Bradley Byrne has no opposition in his election for a second term in the state senate. Byrne has earned a good reputation from conservatives and others in Montgomery. Many have told me of his good reputation in the state capital. Before the next four-year period is over, you may expect to see his name highly publicized as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor or Governor of Alabama. Bradley remember, it takes no more energy to run for Governor than Lieutenant Governor. Experience tells me that it is no disgrace if you lose a race for the top political position in Alabama.

See you again soon, I hope.