Now that it’s
official and everyone may or may not know that Rep. Jo Bonner is retiring from
congress. Truly he is abandoning his office that the voters of South Alabama
elected him to full-fill almost if not a decade ago. Jo Bonner will make it
official when he resigns and leave office early on August 15, and take a new
job with the U. of Alabama.
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| Former Mobile Mayor Mike Dow |
As I
mentioned on yesterday that this is truly cowardly leadership and
representation by Congressman Bonner to abandon an elective office early
instead serving the out his term. Now the voters and citizens of the 1st
Congressional District of Alabama will have to spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars for a special election, and turn around and go back to the polls in
June of 2014 for another primary. But Republicans say they are all about saying
tax dollars and managing your tax dollars well. Really?
With a soon
to be special election on the horizon, candidates are already building their
campaigns behind closed doors, phones are ringing and donations are being
sought. I am certain that there will be an estimated eight to ten candidates in
this race if not more. The voters will hear from the young and old, newcomers
and political old heads. A choice has to be made, but will the choice be
confusing?
This special
election could be wild and ugly, and a candidate with little money and big name
recognition could actually win the race. How so, because after the crowded
field of Republicans and so call Republicans get through cutting throats, they
will be left scrambling to get cross the finish line. With Democrats all they
have to do is get started early as I sure the Republicans will, and unite
behind one candidate, raise money, create a good and solid public relations
team and campaign and they have a chance to win during the general election.
A poorly ran
campaign will not get you anywhere, and if the democrats are not rallied
together in unity and one message then it will be another campaign to write
off. In this special election the
Democrats will have to select a candidate that has some money already and can
devote it to a campaign, the candidate also must be a candidate with name
recognition, someone the people in this area has heard of before and have knowledge
about; candidate that will be moderate on some issues and be able to win over
both Republicans and Independents. Is it possible? – Yes!
Mike Dow is
the former Mayor
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| Lucy Buffett |
My other
choice would be Lucy Buffett a well known business owner in Gulf Shores and has
name recognition with her brother Jimmy Buffett. There is much love on the Gulf
Coast for “Buffett”. How her candidacy
would help, believe she would be a great moderate Democrat, a candidate that will
draw a large white voting block and pick into the voting block of conservatives
and independents in Baldwin Co. that would help her win the race. He is
beautiful and would appeal to the voters.
If either
decides against a run there is State Sen. Marc Keahey of Grove Hill and maybe
someone else that will have the courage to run. Whoever decides to run and jump
in the water, better be able to swim. The Democrats will need to mount a strong
campaign and put forth a real advertising campaign like it was their last race
in history early on.
For the
Republicans there are speculations that several big names may enter the race,
former candidate Dean Young, Circuit Judge Ben Brooks, former Sen. Bradley
Byrne, Commissioner Connie Hudson, State Rep. Chad Fincher, Sen. Bill
Hightower, County Sheriff Sam Cochran and more.
This will be
an interesting race to watch over the next few months. Get your notepad ready
to take notes, because I’m pretty sure you don’t want to miss this one.
