Alabama A&M President fired

Fired by the Board

The board of Trustees of Alabama A&M on Monday voted to terminate the contract of University President Robert Jennings. Jennings has been the subject of an investigation for alleged payroll improprieties for more than a year. No interim president has been named.

Davis says hold up to House Judicary Committee

Democratic Rep. Artur Davis of Birmingham warned House Democrats Monday against calling Don Siegelman to testify before Congress, saying Republicans would use the occasion to try to embarrass the former Alabama governor. In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., Davis said it would be "extremely unwise" to open Siegelman up to fresh attacks and could jeopardize his appeal. Davis said the appearance would probably turn into a partisan debate over Siegelman's guilt or innocence and shift attention from the committee's true goal of determining whether Republican politics influenced his prosecution on corruption charges.

Davis said the committee should focus on getting testimony from political operatives, particularly from former chief White House adviser Karl Rove. Siegelman's testimony would probably provide little new information about Justice Department behavior, he said.

Anderson running for Revenue Commissioner of Baldwin County

Vowing to fight democrats if elected

Russ Anderson of Gulf Shores has qualified to run for the position of Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner as a republican for the June 3rd primary.

Mr. Anderson is a former Naval Officer who has been Captain of two U.S Navy ships. He also was human resources officer at one of the Navy’s biggest training facilities and ran a very large Navy budgeting office in the Pentagon which included frequent testimony before various Armed Services Committees in the Congress. He holds a Masters Degree in Management from Salve Regina University as well as a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Anderson was a resident of Pensacola Florida throughout his naval career and has resided in Baldwin County for the last 12 years. His wife Lanno is a Mobile native.

"If you elect me Revenue Commissioner I guarantee you we will fight the state Democrats on the beaches, on the eastern shore, on the western border and on the beautiful farms of north Baldwin County. If you elect me Revenue Commissioner I will see to it that no Baldwin County taxpayer pays one cent in taxes over the minimum required by law. If you elect me no state official will intimidate me or pull the wool over my eyes with obscure regulations. If you elect me you will elect a strong fiscal conservative who will be the voice of taxpayers in Baldwin County."

"If elected I promise to send the state carpetbaggers back to Montgomery with empty pockets and a one way bus ticket. Our property values in Baldwin County have plummeted. The first round of appraisals after I take office will reflect that and, your property taxes will be lowered accordingly."

Incumbent Commissioner Phil Nix a republican is expected to seek re-election and Ron Scott who just quit his job with the Baldwin Co. Planning & Zoning Dept. announced he is running, no word on any democrat to seek that post as of yet.

Oden out; Lucy and Twinkle in for PSC President

Now that State Rep. Jeremy Oden has decided not to run for president of the Alabama Public Service Commission puts two well known women on the ballot for PSC President in 2008. The Republican from Eva said Friday he had received lots of encouragement to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Jim Sullivan, but he intends to honor his commitment to represent his north Alabama House district for a four-year term. Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley and former state Republican Party Chairwoman Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh are seeking the PSC presidency.

No guns on Campuses

The Senate Education Committee voted down three bills sponsored by Republican Sen. Hank Erwin of Montevallo on this past Wednesday. The votes came after Alabama university officials said they would make campuses unsafe.The bills were voted down largely along party lines, with Republicans mostly supporting them and Democrats opposing them. This bill if passed would have allow guns to carry around on campus in Alabama to protect our kids.

Bus carrying students crashes near Birmingham this morning

A charter bus carrying 46 elementary school children on a field trip to the Tennessee Aquarium ran off Interstate 59 and overturned Friday, injuring four people. Forty-nine people in all were on the bus, including two teachers.

Troopers are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred at 7:30 a.m. CDT about 30 miles northeast of Birmingham. Students from Bryan Elementary School in Jefferson County were traveling to the aquarium in Chattanooga, Tenn. Three buses were traveling together. One bus left the road, hit a guard rail and overturned on the right shoulder.

Our prayers are with those kids, teachers, driver and families.

Is Baldwin County Schools planning to cut jobs

Baldwin Co. Schools may have to cut up to 100 positions

Baldwin County Schools superintendant said Thursday that the school system may cut many as 100 positions before classes start in August, if the state budget projections become a reality. The school system employs about 4,000 people, including about 2,100 teachers. The job cuts will surround teachers positions.

Why is this happening? Well the Baldwin school system will receive $13 million less from the state next year if the Legislature passes Gov. Bob Riley's proposed education budget, said Superintendent Faron Hollinger. The governor has proposed an education budget that would chop spending for K-12 and higher education by $400 million. Riley representatives have said that state revenues are being harmed by national economic woes.

What do Councilman Richardson has to say?

Two twin sisters have been charged in alleged teacher attack, but was the two suppose to have been removed from the school?

Dynesha and Dykesha Harris, both 17, were arrested after school officials say they got in altercation with two other students. Investigators say a teacher trying to break up the fight was injured when he was hit by a broomstick the Harris sisters were using as a weapon. Estle requested to transfer Dynesha and Dykesha Harris last summer after their brother was arrested for his involvement in an unrelated teacher attack in May 2007.

The transfer was stopped by Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson, who wrote letters to the Mobile County School Board, the school superintendent and the NAACP. Richardson called Estle's reason for wanting to transfer the twins "inadequate," and he said it lacked substance. Richardson appears to have forgotten the letters he has written to several individuals. No, no, no, I did not, I did not," replied Richardson.

Why did Estle speak up at the meeting with the Harris family, Councilman Richardson, then Supertindent Dodge and Mobile Co. NAACP President Jimmie Gardner? He agreed to let the Harris sisters back in school at Murphy High School. The question again is why didn’t Mr. Estle
Principal of Murphy High School in Mobile speak up and demand the students to be moved way before now.

My take on this matter: Each child in this city, county, state or nation should have the fundamental right to attend any school he or she wish. I believe that the transfer request and the charges is a another attack on the Harris family because of the two girls brother incident at that school last year.

He is coming home

Is they getting nervious, talking about those Republicans? They are finally letting Former Alabama Governor come home.

The political beacon has learned that Former Gov. Don Siegelman will be released from prison, after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted him an appeal bond. We will bring you more on this as it develops.

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attorneys have until May 23 to file Siegelman and Scrushy appeal briefs

The political beacon has learned that a federal court has given attorneys for former Gov. Don Siegelman and HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy until May 23 to file briefs in the appeal of their 2006 convictions. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday issued the filing deadline. Prosecutors have 60 days after May 23 to file a response. Defense lawyers have 45 days after that to file a second brief. Siegelman and Scrushy have been in prison for almost nine months. Siegelman was sentenced to seven years and four months, and Scrushy was sentenced to six years and 10 months.

Move out in 60 days

At the end of the spring semester, dozens of students and families renting homes from the University of South Alabama will have to move out. Earlier this month, the school sent notices to those living in 19 homes in the Hillsdale community. USA says it is getting out of the single family housing rental business. Soon all the u-s-a rental homes will be torn down. The Political Beacon has discovered that once the homes are torn down, the land will be used for the new Jags football team field house and storage facility. Some students are highly upset over this move by the USA board.

What are Commissioner Mike Dean and State Rep. Spencer Collier doing for South Mobile County?

Grand Bay area residents are worried that they been lied to over and over again by their elected official. Commissioner Mike Dean who represents the area on the Mobile County Commission has been promising the citizens of the Grand Bay area that he will do whatever he can to fix their bad dirt roads, but has the commissioner delivered on his promises? The answer is no!

Commissioner Dean has promised over a period of time that the County will do what it can to fix the bad dirt roads. Because of those bad dirt roads Grand Bay area residents has lost their children school bus transportation to school, mail service and their garbage pickup could be next. Would commissioner Dean want to live like that, I don’t think so. Now Commissioner Dean is blaming the problem on the State, and advocating that it is a private road and the state has give the county permission to perform work on the road with allocated funds. Dean says as long as it comes with its own funding, he's all for it.

As county commissioner, Dean and State Rep. Collier need to work together to solve this issue with its residents on whatever level it takes to make sure that the citizens in South Mobile County receive its share of tax dollars to repair their roads and improve their community living conditions.

The beginning of school system job cuts and confusion in Satsuma over area students

The City of Satsuma just north of Saraland says no to transfer of students to former Shaw High School and the Mobile County school board at its Tuesday night meeting approved possibly cutting 54 positions -- ranging from carpenter to social worker to assistant superintendent -- in the system's central office as a result of an expected budget crunch.

Satsuma City Councilman E.L. Phillips said that if their middle school students from his community are bused to Shaw High in northwest Mobile next year, his city may follow Saraland in splitting from the system at last night meeting. "We're going to keep our kids, with or without you," Phillips told the school board members last evening in Satsuma at Robert E. Lee Elementary School. Phillips said he also believes the system is being punished. Satsuma Mayor Billy Bush also spoke against busing. The mayor urged the board not to bus kids to former Shaw High School as well.

School Board member Hazel Fournier said that she was offended by a Satsuma resident comment, that the City of Satsuma would change if their kids were bused to Shaw High School. All of this comes when the system needs unity the most with an unbalanced budget. The system needs to come together and balance the budget that will provide a decent education to our children and provide them with the resources they needed to do so. Hazel Fournier have represented the Satsuma area and northwest Mobile County on the Mobile County School Board for about 18 years, Saraland which was also a part of Ms. Fournier district before they split from the Mobile County School System in 2006 has started its owns local city school system. Is Ms. Fournier doing enough on the School Board and at Central Office to represent her district? The school board has $51 Million dollars sitting waiting to be allocated to district for new school construction, which means she should seek funding for a new middle school for that area and its students do that they would remain in their communities. Saraland broke away because they felt their area students were being left out.

Supt. Nichols is doing good job in my sense by starting to eliminate some of those positions at the Central Office, most of positions are not needed, and some of those duties needs to be put on those do nothing that is sitting there collecting tax payers dollars and hindering our children educational process. But I do disagree with the plan to cut administrators and teachers position we need them in our schools. I strongly believe that the school board and Dr. Nichols need to sit down and examine all the non-sense spending and not to overlook it, but take action on it and I believe it will save the system millions of dollars. The board needs to speak up and stop protecting the wasteful spending and expose the wasteful spending.

The system could have made repairs to the former Blount High School to house those students in North Mobile County area instead of leasing it to another source, just temporarily at least. That would be closer that busing those students all the way out to Shaw High School campus. Time will speak for itself on the board decision on effective leadership. Every school board candidate this year is touting change, new ideas and effective leadership for our system and children, the question is will they really deliver on that promise.

Political Newcomer running for District 3 School Board Seat

Prichard resident and college student LaVeeshia Pittman has announced her candidacy for the District 3 seat on the Mobile County school board. Pittman, a Democrat, said she believes it's time for a "new look, with new ideas" to sit at the board table.

"If you're ready for a school board member that will work for the children and not the politicians, a board member who will be more fiscally responsible with taxpayers' money, a board member that ... will work hard to provide ample resources to increase student achievements for all students countywide," she said, "then I am your candidate."

Reginald Crenshaw a program director at Bishop State Community College and Fred Marshall local business owner and former longtime Principal of Leflore High School is also running for the same seat in the June 3rd Primary.

Pittman said she believes that every child, educator, parent and teacher in District 3 should have effective leadership that will unite the community, government and schools. As the school system faces major budget cuts, Pittman said, she will work to bring unity to the school board and balance the budget to protect administrative and teaching jobs in Mobile County. She said she would also try to get better school facilities for children in her district.

Pittman has a 4-year-old son who is in pre-kindergarten at Whitley Elementary in Prichard.
She is an ambassador at Bishop State, where she is also president of the campus Students in Free Enterprise chapter. She is a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

"I feel that it's time for a change," Pittman said. "I just really want to get down to business and try to just help the children." Ms. Pittman is also scheduled to join the Democratic Coalition of the South on Sat. March 29th to officially kickoff her campaign at the Prichard Public Library in Downtown Prichard at 3:30pm.

You can visit her online website at http://www.pittman2008.synthasite.com/.

Predictions are strong for 2008 voter turnout in the general election.

Every state has seen a record turnout just for the presidential and state primaries in 2008; just imagine what the turnout would be this November.

After a primary season marked by record-shattering voter turnout, election officials across the country are bracing for what might be an Election Day like no other. Many state and local election officials expect turnout in the Nov. 4 presidential election to exceed that of 2004, when voter turnout hit 61 percent — which was the highest level since 1968, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate.

While election administrators love to see higher-than-usual voter participation, the prospect of a turnout wave in November has many officials biting their nails over whether they’ll be able to handle it. Throughout the protracted presidential primary season, complaints ranging from long lines at polls to ballot irregularities frequently surfaced, in addition to concerns voiced over the reliability of electronic voting systems, now even shortage of ballots. Though states have made significant strides since the 2000 Florida presidential election debacle, voting procedures are still deficient in many respects — even after passage of the Help America Vote Act, which directed the federal government to pony up money to prepare states for Election Day.

In Alabama we seen a record turnout for a primary on February 5th, I really believe that the early primary this year paid off. Voters showed up at the polls. This November Alabama voter turnout may reach over 75%. The question is what will your local democratic or republican leaders do to make sure the process is fair to all voters who show up on Election Day? Will they make that your vote is being accounted for, that there is enough ballots at the precincts, or that the hours may be extended if need to be. Call your local official or leaders and voice your concerns and ask the tough questions because it’s your tax dollars that is paying for this process.

Is the City of Mobile going to far with you and your pets?

The City of Mobile has proposed a City ordinance that proposes a $25 fine on pet owners who can’t control their dog barking and leaving poop in other people yards and property. Which mean you must clean up after your pets and keep them quite, if you can’t then here come the fine. Incessant barking for 10 minutes would lead to a warning on the first occasion, a $75 fine the second time and a $150 fine each time thereafter. Both ordinances are expected to be sent to the public services committee for fine tuning before coming back to the council to be voted on.

The first violation would result in a written warning and the second a $75 fine, according to the ordinance. Any subsequent violations would require a court appearance, when a judge could issue a minimum $150 fine, up to six months of community service or both. The ordinance would also allow officials to fine people who walk a dog on public property without having the necessary tools to pick up after the pooch. There is already an ordinance in place, why not enforce that ordinance.A police officer or animal control officer would have to witness the infraction to enforce the law, the question is do you think this is a waste of taxpayer’s dollars. I surely believe so; Councilmember’s could have come up with a much better proposal than this. Because this is outrageous!

We will wait to see how and if this moves on, I will bring you another update as information comes available.

They are at it again

Did it end in 2007? At least we thought it did, well they are at it again today this time in Washington, DC before the United States Supreme Court. Governor Bob Riley and Attorney Troy King have state attorneys arguing on his behalf that his appointment to the Mobile County Commission District 1 seat was legit and that the lower court was wrong to remove Mr. Juan Chastang from office.

Gov. Riley a republican appointed republican African American Juan Chastang to fill the vacancy in District 1 on the County Commission in 2005 after Sam Jones was elected as Mayor of Mobile. After that appointment several local State Representatives filed a lawsuit to stop the appointment of Chastang and that a local election would held to fill the vacancy in District 1 a majority black and democratic district.

We hope that the United States Supreme Court would decide this case immediately, and be fair in its decision it renders in this case. What we see is that partisan politics again on the rise, seeking to end fair choice and elections by the American people. Here on the political beacon we believe that every elected office in this country should be elected by the people and not handpicked. I pray and hope that the ACLU, the Justice Department and the NAACP would make good arguments today to the United State Supreme Court Justices, which would keep America’s election fair and open not only in Alabama but across this nation. We should not disenfranchise any ethnical group or community in this country from the elective process, we all should have equal rights.

As this story develops I will bring you more.

Berry to run for State School Board District 1

Kenyon Berry, Sr. a local minister, Asst. Director of Brokered Transportation for Wave Transit of Mobile, Youth Director for Democratic Coalition of the South and a member of the A.O.H Church of God, Inc. is making his first political run for public office.

Mr. Berry has announced that he will be a democratic candidate on the 2008 primary ballots for State School Board District 1 Seat currently held by republican Randy McKinney of Baldwin County. District one on the State school board covers all of Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia Counties.

Mr. Berry says the most important issues of his campaign is to seek District 1 fair share of educational funding, restore the integrity, honesty and effective leadership district 1 needs and deserves, creating a new District 1 community and educational network initiative and seeking additional funds to create more technical and vocational trade schools in District 1 to train our area high schools for the skills needed in the growing workforce demand and college preparations.

Mr. Berry said the reason he decided to run is because of the children that he care about is so important in this day and time.

If Mr. Berry is the Democratic Party nominee to face the republican in the general election in November for the State school board he will likely face Mr. Randy McKinney on the GOP ticket. Mr. McKinney is vulnerable this round, as you may remember Mr. McKinney ran for the vacant senate seat left open by Bradley Byrne in Baldwin County in 2007 and lost to political newcomer and businessman Trip Pittman. Not only that Mr. McKinney who is claimed to be working hand in hand with the Governor, had the Governor backing who carried Baldwin County in the 2006 Governor election, why didn’t the Governor endorsement help Mr. McKinney. There is word that others may square off with Mr. McKinney in the GOP primary, which may knock Mr. McKinney out of the race all together and be defeated during the primaries.

I talked to several local resident of Baldwin County some whom live in the same neighborhood as Mr. McKinney and they tell me that Mr. McKinney is just out of touch with the citizens and the educational system. As more become available we will bring it to you first right here on the political beacon.

Mr. Berry will officially kickoff his campaign on Sat. Mar. 29th at the Prichard Public Library beginning at 3:30pm.

Belle & Manzie to square off for District 4 School Board Seat

Two ministers seeking office to represent district 4 on local school board:

The Rev. Fleet Belle and Rev. Charles Levon Manzie set to square off for the Mobile County School Board seat to represent district 4. Rev. Belle who represents district 4 now on the school board was appointed by the school board to represent district 4 after David Thomas was removed from office in 2006. Rev. Belle is the pastor of Rock of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Mobile, AL, this is Rev. Belle first political run for public office well as Rev. Manize.
Rev. Belle said that its a challenge and there are important issues that lie ahead as he seek to retain his seat on the school board.

Rev. Charles Levon Manzie, is a local minister and member of St. Joseph Baptist Church in Whistler, Alabama. Rev. Manize said he is seeking the office to better the education of the children in district 4 and the county, and to restore the integrity and accountability to the school board.

As this race for school board district 4 moves on, look for the $51 million dollars that the state allocated for new school construction to be an issue at hand for both candidates. On last Tuesday Rev. Manzie hosted his campaign kickoff and fundraiser reception with nearly 200 people showing up to support his candidacy. At this point no monetary announcement has been made in regards to the recent fundraiser.

No campaign kickoff events has not been announced by the Belle campaign, but if one develop you will be the first to know right here on the political beacon.

Clarke Co. District 4 County Commission Race

Terri Tidwell of Gainestown announced at the County Democratic Executive Committee meeting last Thursday that she is a candidate for the office. Incumbent commissioner Joe Hunt is seeking re-election both are democrats. Other candidates are rumored to enter the race, however have not come forth yet.

Campaign 2008 Kick Off Scheduled

The Democratic Coalition of the South has scheduled its first ever 2008 Campaign Kickoff. The coalition will be officially kicking off the candidacy of its Youth Director Rev. Kenyon Berry, Sr. who is seeking the State School Board Representative District 1 post as a democrat, and Ms. LaVeeshia Pittman who is seeking Mobile Co. District 3 School Board seat.

This event will be held at the Prichard Public Library (Meeting Room) at 3:30pm located at 300 Love Joy Loop in Downtown Prichard, Alabama on Sat. March 29, 2008. The event is free and open to the public. Other candidates vying for office in the democratic primary is scheduled to be on hand as well.

For more information you can contact Mr. Gary Johnson at johnsonmobile27@gmail.com

Local Businessman Wants To Be District 3 County Commissioner

John Graham a local Mobile area businessman and former candidate for Sheriff is now seeking to oust Republican Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean on June 3rd. John Graham has entered the race as a republican and is the only challenger to Mike Dean in the June primary so far.

John Graham says budget accountability, business development, youth programs and senior citizen programs are only a few of the many areas District 3 needs improving in.

Incumbent Commissioner Mike Dean also a republican is seeking re-election.

This will be an interesting race to watch in the primaries as this race moves forward, expect homeowners insurance issues to come up that has been in the mix after Hurricane Katrina, citizens are still having problems with their prospective insurance carriers, but the question is what will the next elected commissioner do to help land and homeowners in south Mobile County.

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