Alabama Republicans politicians oppose “Gun Legislation” proposed by President Obama

“Republicans are a danger to the Common Interest of America!”

President Obama took a huge step toward ending gun violence on yesterday, by offering much needed legislation to curve the gun problem in America. Some of the legislation that the President signed into law as an executive order is legislation that is already on the books and needs to enforced.  

As the President and V ice President work to secure America and our citizens whether they are children or adults, Republicans and the NRA is already doing what they do best, opposing common sense legislation.

Republicans is looking to keep their A ratings with the NRA “National Rifle Association” so they can continue to get their political dollars in upcoming elections and future elections. When it comes to Republican politicians, it’s not about the citizens or your child; it’s about their political campaign account at a local bank in your neighborhood.

It’s a political shame and disgrace that Alabama Republicans has taken a stand against common sense legislation to protect American citizens and your children. There rather protect themselves politically than make sure you as a American citizens is secure in this nation. That’s no surprise though, because over there past several years, Republicans had really shown who they really are on important issues.

Here is a few comments and statements by your Republicans leaders from Alabama.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, said he opposed each of the proposals put forward by Obama.

“I will continue to strongly support the Second Amendment,” Rogers said. “Additionally, I strongly oppose any Executive Order issued by the President designed to circumvent the legislative process and limit gun rights.”

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, said he would “strongly oppose” any attempt to diminish Americans’ rights under the Second Amendment.

Not only those that represent Alabama in Washington is opposing the legislation, Alabama owns in Montgomery is doing the same.

I disagree with the President’s assumption that guns are the issue. Guns are not the problem and gun control is not the answer. To simply point a finger at guns and call for their outlaw is lazy, patently political and constitutionally dangerous, said Alabama House Speaker Hubbard.”

Not only have Alabama Republicans come out in opposition to the President proposed legislations, but Republicans all over the country is doing just that. Republicans are continuing to hinder the good of America to protect the interest of their political party.

When will the Republicans ever come to their common senses and recognize that the American citizens comes first and not a political interest or group. If they are not willing to support the American citizens then they do not deserve to be in Washington or any other political office. They too are a danger to society.

Mobile County Judge rules in Prichard Mayor favor over terminated chief

Former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner 

On Yesterday Mobile County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Charles Graddick made it official that Jimmie Gardner is no longer employed by the City of Prichard and his termination by Mayor Troy Ephriam was valid.

In a seven page court order issued by Judge Graddick, he cleared up the matter that has been fought by former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner. Judge Graddick ruled that Jimmie Gardner contract expired on November 20, 2012 and his tenure with the City of Prichard is no longer valid.

"We are satisfied," attorney Jerome Carter, who represented the city, said.

Judge Graddick also ordered Jimmie Gardner to turn over all personal property and evidence vault code with 24 hours, something he refused to do when he was officially terminated. City Attorney Jerome Carter said all property has since been turned over.

With all this turmoil over, that should have not been created in the first place. Jerome Carter who represented the city said the mayor will now work to appoint a new police chief. 

Honoring The Best Dream Ever

The Pack of 7 looking to fill House District 97

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has announced a special election for Alabama House District 97, which covers areas of Downtown Mobile.  The district has historically voted for Democrats in past elections, and been held by long time State Representative Dr. Yvonne Kennedy of Mobile.  This race is off to a partisan divide already.  

A pack of seven has qualified with the Democratic Party of Alabama to run for the now vacant seat in a special election to be held on Feb. 26, 2012. There is a wide range of candidates with many backgrounds, also with different views on issues that matter the most. Here is a list of candidates that has qualified.

William Carroll
Adline C. Clarke
Karlos Finley
Jeffery Ray Jones
Kimberly Williams Pettway
Ronnie L. Williams
Levi Wright, Jr. 

Dr. Yvonne Kennedy has carried a legacy in Mobile and Montgomery for many years fighting for the people and the disadvantaged citizens of Mobile County and the State of Alabama. The question to be answered is who will continue that legacy and carry a strong voice to Montgomery to represent the people and not the select few?

Already partisan politics is taking its place in this election, and it is believed by many over the past week, that the local Democratic Party wants a hand-picked candidate and not a candidate elected by the people.  One thing here on the Political Beacon, is that I have always and will continue to fight the status quo and bring you informed information. This election is important to Mobile and the African American community in general. However, we cannot afford to let personal and partisan politics take control.

Several candidates have already come out claiming that they have what it takes to carry on Dr. Yvonne Kennedy legacy in Montgomery, but do they really? Over the next few weeks we will take a fine look at these candidates and see what they really have to offer the voters and citizens of District 97.  There is an agenda, but is it an agenda for the people?

I received a phone call this weekend from a couple of concerned citizens about a recent posting on the popular social media site (FaceBook), in regards to the House District 97 race by the Mobile County Democratic Party Chairman also State Representative Napoleon Bracy in his view of the candidates running. The statement reads as follows: “As the chairman of the Mobile County Democratic Party... I wonder how some people think they can run for HD97 without having enough respect to speak with me and the executive board members of the party about this election?”

Well Mr. Chairman, in all due respect the seat belongs to the people and not one individual. Whomever feels that they can and should or want to run for public office, have the right to do so and should not have to consult with anyone, unless they so choose to do so.

Whoever presents themselves to the people as best qualified, and whomever the people elect is the people’s business and not that of partisan politics and personal agendas.

This will be an interesting race to watch unfold as the time counts down to Election Day. The Political Beacon will be here to keep you informed on what’s happening and what matters the most in this election.

There is a witch hunt in Prichard by the group of (5); with a different perspective for the city

On last week there was a standing room crowd only at Prichard City Hall, and on this week it moved to the Courthouse and landed in Judge Charles Garrick courtroom on yesterday. 

There is a looming fight over former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner whom the newly elected mayor Troy Ephriam terminated due to a reasonable fact of law. (His contract had expired.)

For a man that once was the head of the local Mobile County NAACP, and was supposed to been fighting for equal justice and fairness, and even upholding the law, seems to not be abiding or willing to abide by the law himself.

In this battle for the police chief position in the city of Prichard should not be in the court hands in the first place. This is another show of a power grab by a certain group of people or individuals called the (Group of Five), which the city is trying to move away from and create a new image. But there is a fight and it’s all about power and control from the group of five.

Attorney E.J. Saad who is representing the former police chief said Gardner's firing was a "retaliation of bringing an ethics violation against the mayor."

Well it seems that attorneys will say what they clients want them to say, as long as they are getting paid and feel they can win a case. But the question is, whether what they are saying is true or not?

When I write my post I try and bring you facts and truth always. I attended a community meeting last fall a week before the city municipal runoff election for a new mayor, and then Chief Jimmie Gardner was a guest and spoke on behalf of the city and the police the department at Pure Word Church in Eight Mile in Council District 1. Here is what the chief said in quote … “We all know that there is an election coming up, and I don’t know if I will be your chief in the next administration or not, but I do hope so, because we have much to get done for the City of Prichard.”

It seems to me that back then the former police chief new the new mayor if elected, had a choice to pick whom he wanted to serve as his police chief for the City of Prichard.

Let us be informed that the former police chief filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission because his former boss loss an election, and he knew his job was on the line and his contract had not been properly approved by the council for an extension, so he knew if it was a matter of time if he is reappointed. Not only that, Jimmie Gardner also knew that complaints was being filed on him with the Ethics Commission as well for violations of campaign election laws, when he personally used city time and vehicles to install campaign tents for then mayor Ron Davis at his campaign headquarters on Wilson Ave. It don’t amaze me that he wanted to shift the burden and heat off himself and try to drum up some support in his favor.

Drumming up some support wasn’t hard to do, when he already had it. Jimmie Gardner is riding the support of all those former Prichard officials of Mayor Ron Davis administration, Councilwoman Ossa Edwards and former mayoral candidate Severia Campbell Morris, someone who I think is confused. Morris was critical of Gardner leadership and Ron Davis leadership in her reasoning for running for mayor.

On yesterday Ossa Edwards was the only councilwoman to testify on behalf of Gardner and said she supported the five-year agreements – which were presented while Ron Davis, Ephriam's political opponent, was still mayor – because of Gardner's performance.

"He exhibited professionalism, honesty and loyalty," Edwards said. "My belief is if it's not broken, why fix it?" quoted by the Mobile Register or AL.com.

Ossa Edwards it is broken, so it does needs to be fixed, meaning the contract is broken and not correct. I wonder do she needs to even be on the council and not understand the basics of governing and been there for now two terms.

Severia Campbell Morris is being used as the voice for the movement of supporters for Jimmie Gardner. She is organizing community meetings of basically the same people over and over again in different locations around the city. Not only that Severia Campbell Morris wants a recall election, how funny is that? I had to laugh hard on that one.

How can she petition for a recall election and be successful, when she didn’t even get enough support to even get herself in a decent run-off election to even try and lead the city of Prichard, not only that win an election.

Jimmie Gardner still claims he is the chief of Prichard, but with no contract. So I am still wondering myself, how? And you are not legally employed with a contract. And Ephriam attorney verified that on yesterday in court.

"His contract is no longer valid," Carter said about Gardner. "The temporary restraining order remains in effect. It's in the judge's hands. I think the law is clearly on our side."

Carter said a contract voted on by the City Council on Oct. 25 – 11 days before Ephriam was sworn in as mayor -- was invalid because it did not have the approval of four council members. Only three voted in favor of it. It was also a five year agreement, whereas previous agreements were no longer than two years.

The council also voted on Gardner's contract on March 22. Again, that vote did not muster four votes Carter claims is legally required for it to be valid.

More info you should know is, former Mayor Ron Davis tried to give everyone a five year extension for job security and favoritism that was a part of his appointed administration. However he was not successful in doing so. Ron Davis did not want the newly elected mayor to have any possible way to appoint a new administration without having to payout a lot of finances to do so.

Here is my point, there is a witch hunt out for the city of Prichard. If one man can’t control the city then no one should. They are trying to keep a dark cloud over the city, so the city cannot be prosperous. Ron Davis still wants to be the mayor and have a voice, Severia Campbell Morris wants to be the mayor and wants to have control, but she finds herself being used in this evil witch-hunt. Ossa Edwards the former mayor Ron Davis favorite councilwoman, still have a seat on the council and he is the voice for the former mayor and not the citizens of her district on the council.

All of these individuals need to let it go and abide by the law, the same law they wish to and want to represent. I question the character and integrity of Ron Davis, Jimmie Gardner, Severia Campbell Morris and Councilwoman Ossa Edwards, as they continue to fight against what’s right and use lies and false pretense to cover up the truth.

When the people of Prichard spoke, they spoke loud and clear, that they wanted new leadership and a new vision. And now you have it, with the group of (5) heartbroken, upset and picking fights over progress.

Quoted by Al.com from yesterday court session, "We are very disturbed over this whole situation," Severia Campbell Morris, president of the community group, said. "It will be a big issue in this city. It's not going away." It’s not a big issued when it comes to a mayor doing what’s right and abiding by the law. This is another testament of the witch-hunt of the group of (5). 

Prichard Mayor has a choice

A standing room crowd fills the council chambers for the Prichard City Council meeting this past Thursday, and none of the visitors and citizens attending the meeting was there for any other business but info on former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner termination.

Former Chief Jimmie Gardner

Former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner was terminated because his contract had expired and an extension was not approved by the City Council in October. However many in the city like the former mayor Ron Davis, his supporters and his former defeated rival Severia Campbell Morris is spear heading an attack on the newly elected mayor Troy Ephraim about Gardner termination. But it is no surprise the former Mayor Ron Davis will be in support of Gardner whom he hired as police chief during his administration.

A statement by Mayor Troy Ephraim stands out in this matter, "The citizens asked for a new direction for the city of Prichard," Ephriam said. "That's exactly what (the mayor's office is doing)."

By now regardless how the former Police Chief tries and decided to argue his termination and drum up support in his favor, the law stands and the citizens made a choice. In this previous election, I can’t recall that Jimmie Gardner was on the ballot for mayor.

Mayor Ephraim is right, the citizens of Prichard has made a choice and ask for a new direction when they elected Troy Ephraim as mayor by overwhelming margin.

In the midst of all this is Severia Campbell Morris a former candidate for mayor, she is a big supporter of Jimmie Gardner now that she has been defeated for mayor.  Not only does she support Jimmie Gardner, but she also now a big support of the former mayor Ron Davis. I now question the motives of Severia Campbell Morris, was she really running for mayor to make a change for the people of Prichard, are was she running just to capture votes to help Ron Davis. There is something very strange about Severia Campbell Morris.

I interviewed Severia Campbell Morris for a post here on the Political Beacon last fall when she was a candidate for mayor, some of those answers I did not post but I will post today to inform you on why I question her leadership and character.

Severia Campbell Morris is now the voice of the so-called movement that is supporting the former police chief of Prichard, and organizing the same people from her non-profit citizens group and people of Ron Davis camp to attack the mayor.

Severia Campbell-Morris now a resident of Prichard whom moved back here from Illinois has really came back here to stir up flames that she can’t put out.  

I recall last fall when I interview the former mayoral candidate, I asked her did she approve of the leadership of the current Police Chief and the Police Department. Campbell -Morris stated that she did not and that if she was elected mayor she would seek to overhaul the police department and possibly hire a new police chief, because she believes the City was headed in the wrong direction same as the mayor office.

Mayor Ron Davis did everything he could to try and keep Jimmie Gardner in the position. Regardless of the decision that was made by terminating Gardner, the newly Elected Mayor has the right to choose whom he pleases to represent the city and serve in his administration.

There is a lot that goes on that these crooked politicians do that they don’t want you the citizens and voters to know about. Maybe they think you just would look over it and pay it no attention and forget about it.

The council did not vote on Ephriam's termination order. A court hearing into whether Ephriam requires the City Council's endorsement of that move will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Mobile County courthouse downtown. A judge upheld a restraining order against Jimmie Gardner.

Once again the people of Prichard has spoken and new leadership should take place.