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Race to fill Byrne's seat in State Senate underway
One candidate not accepting contributions from anyone
The contest is now between the two runoff candidates, Randy McKinney, a Gulf Shores realtor and a member of the State Board of Education, and Eastern Shore businessman Lee "Trip" Pittman, a former member of the State Commission on Higher Education. McKinney got the most votes in the first primary election, winning 36 percent of the vote to Pittman's 30 percent. The other candidates were Ed Bishop, 15 percent; Albert Lipscomb, 14 percent; and Don McGriff, 5 percent. An unusual aspect of this race is that Pittman is refusing to accept campaign contributions from political action committees (PACs). "I'm going to Montgomery to represent Baldwin County, not hang out with lobbyists. I'm not taking PAC money," he says. He is also limiting all contributions to $2,500 per individual. A great deal of McKinney's support and money is coming from the big lobbying machines, ALFA, the Business Council of Alabama, and the Alabama Association of Realtors. In a recent interview McKinney referred to ALFA as "the Farmer's Federation," saying they sat down with all the candidates and decided to support him. One political observer in the capital city suggested Pittman go on the air with a commercial with only four words…"Call ALFA, McKinney did." The ALFA issue resonates with more than farmers and insurance along the Gulf Coast because of the many cancelled insurance policies from ALFA and other insurance companies. McKinney counters that the BCA, ALFA and other big organizations sat down with all the candidates and just like him they all asked for their money and support. Pittman says he would take their support, but would not take their PAC money. He says that even though he may agree with these organizations most of the time there may be occasions that they do not represent the interests of the people. The winner will face a Democrat, Fairhope attorney A.J. Cooper Jr., in the Oct. 16 general election. Cooper was unopposed for his party's nomination. However, the overwhelming odds are in favor of the GOP Primary winner. Favorable numbers for governor, senators Although President Bush's favorable numbers in Alabama have dropped below the 50 percent level, the numbers for Gov. Bob Riley and the state's two U. S. Senators remain high. In the most recent Survey USA polling, 52 percent disapproved of the way the President was handling his job, while 46 percent approved. The polling of 600 adults was conducted August 10-12 and the margin or error was a plus-minus 4.1 percent. On the other hand, Gov. Riley and Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions had much better polling results. The latest USA Survey for Riley showed him with a 64 percent approval number with only 32 percent disapproval. Sen. Sessions had 58 percent approval, 33 percent disapproval and Sen. Shelby had 57 percent approval vs. 33 percent disapproval. The polling for the governor and the senators was conducted in July. USA Survey polling in Alabama is sponsored by WKRG-TV, Mobile-Pensacola. Exxon/Mobil decision near It has been rumored around the capital city that the appeal of the state's multi-million dollar verdict against the giant oil company, Exxon/Mobil may be close to being released. Two Montgomery juries found the company guilty of fraud against Alabama taxpayers for underpaying royalty fees due the state. The State Supreme Court nullified the first jury verdict and sent it back for retrial on a technicality. It is my prediction that the high court will nullify the jury's punitive damages, reduced by the trial judge from 11.8 billion to about three billion, and let the actual damages of about $65 million stand. Bob Martin is editor and
publisher of The Montgomery
Independent. E-mail him at:
bob@montgomeryindependent.
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