Republican Rep. Jim Barton resigns from Alabama State House

Another Republican is leaving office to take another lobbying job. And guess what – it’s costing you the taxpayers more money.  State Rep. Jim Barton, R-Mobile, said Wednesday that he is resigning from his Alabama House seat effective immediately to take a lobbying job with a Montgomery-based governmental affairs firm.

Rep. Jim Barton - Mobile

This is what he had to say about leaving. “Representing the citizens of District 104 for the past 13 years has been a great honor, and I am proud of the many legislative accomplishments my Republican colleagues and I have been able to realize since taking over the majority,” Barton said. “But as a father and husband, I have to put the needs of my family ahead of my own political ambitions, and the business opportunity that has been offered to me is one that I must pursue.”

Barton said he will be joining the Kinney Capitol Group, a lobbying and consulting firm that represents the Alabama Retail Association, among other business interests.  Barton, who serves as chairman of the influential House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, has held the House District 104 seat in south Mobile County since 2000. You tell me he worked hard to cut the State General Fund budget to and then turn around and post a bill for a special election that the citizens now have to pay for.

“Drafting a state budget with too many needs and too few resources is one of the most challenging and difficult jobs I’ve ever been given, but it has also been one of the most fulfilling,” Barton said. Really!

He ran unsuccessfully earlier this year in a special election for the state Senate District 35 seat, losing to Republican Bill Hightower of Mobile.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones & Challenger Sandy Stimpson running to the finish line in a close race

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones has announced that he will run for another term as Mobile mayor in 2013. Jones is being challenged by his strongest challenger since being in office Sandy Stimpson.

Mayor Sam Jones - Mobile

Mayor Jones made his announcement via letters to his supporters on glossy, full-color cards that depict a view of the Mobile skyline. With the election just a couple months away, not many people are talking about a Jones and Stimpson match up for my knowledge. But what may be going on behind closed doors of these campaign offices may be different.

Each candidate and their staff’s even volunteers are working the phones, churches, community organizations, businesses and entertainment professional on trying to secure support, votes, finances and endorsements. Signs are up around town and each candidate is fighting for votes in all neighborhoods across the city. It’s unclear on how many would be in the race for mayor, but it’s clear that Jones and Stimpson lead the pack.

Stimpson is expected to challenge Jones in campaign cash and campaigning this summer. Stimpson a local business owner and Jones the current mayor and longtime county commissioner for District 1 are in a fight to win big. Even though Jones may taught his recent involvement in landing the new Airbus plant, and several other big deals around town, Stimpson believes that the city is on the wrong track.

Sam Jones has been in office now for two terms and has some explaining to do to voters especially in the African American community on many issues.   Some of his own key voting block has concerns that he has not done enough for the black community as mayor more so as he has done for others. 


Mayoral Candidate Sandy Stimpson

Turning out the black voters and young voters will be the key to Jones re-election in August, early signs point to Stimpson having momentum in this race, and gaining support from black voters in Mobile. This race is expected to get ugly has the election get closer, and race may be a factor over other concerns.

Jones campaign slogan for 2013 is “We are too busy to be divided.” Stimpson is known to be a Republican and Jones a Democrat, the Mobile municipal election is non-partisan.

Political Beacon conducted a survey via phone to Mobile resident and voters, and if the election was held today Stimpson would force Jones into a run-off if a third candidate would enter the race. With a head to head matchup Jones wins re-election but not an easy one.  

We ask if the election was held today for Mayor of Mobile, who would you support?

SAM JONES – 44%
SANDY STIMPSON – 39%
OTHER – 17%

We ask in the survey do the potential voters know Sandy Stimpson?

Yes –  40%
No –  21%
Heard Of Him – 39%

1,087 potential voters were surveyed in this poll. The election will be held on August 27, 2013 from 7:00am – 7:00pm.

You all know that my last poll I done on the Prichard mayoral race last year was on point, I am not trying to make this my professional though - LOL.

Clarke, Finley advance to runoff in Alabama House District 97

Adline Clarke

Mobile, Alabama – In a short race to replace the late Dr. Yvonne Kennedy, two well known candidates advance to a runoff after Tuesday special election.

Adline Clarke and Karlos Finley will both square off to become the next State Representative to represent Alabama House District 97 as a Democrat in Montgomery. No Republicans qualified to run on the Republican ticket to challenge the Democratic nominee. This is expected to be a spirited campaign in the weeks to come.

Attorney Karlos Finley

Your “Political Beacon” had it right one more time, this race came down to the three candidate race that we projected in Adline Clarke, Karlos Finley and William Carroll. These three candidates shared the most votes in this race to represent District 97. Adline Clarke received the most votes coming in with 40% of the vote, Karlos Finley tagged in with 24% and William Carroll bounced in third place.

The most important news is that Democrats are mostly excited than Republicans, with a little over 9% of voters casted ballots in Tuesday special election, compared to 7% of Republicans that cast votes in the Republican primary for the special election of Senate District 35 in South Mobile County according to al.com.

Your Political Beacon will continue to keep you informed on this race as it unfolds. 

The Late Rep. Yvonne Kennedy well remembered

A pillow of our community with great Integrity and Character

 

More than 2,000 turned out on Saturday to mourn the death and celebrate the life of Rep. Yvonne Kennedy at the Mobile Convention Center. She was well remembered by many for the labor that she has put forth during her time here on earth, as a legislator, educator, civil and community activist.

Kennedy died on Saturday, Dec. 8, after a brief illness at the age of 67 at a Birmingham Hospital, according to family members. As a Democrat, Rep. Kennedy represented Mobile County, part of the 97th District, in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1979 until her death.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, Sen. Bobby Singleton,
Gov. Robert Bentley, and many others spoke of the late Rep. Yvonne Kennedy.

Rep. Yvonne Kennedy will be well missed in the Mobile area and Campground community. She will also be missed in the Montgomery where she fought hard for her community and district.

Yvonne Kennedy is survived by her brother, Joe L. Kennedy of Milwaukee, and two sisters, Floretta K. Moore of Mobile, and Brenda J. Kennedy of Montgomery.

Well done servant!