Citizen files complaint with State Agencies against Mayor Ron Davis and Chief of Police Jimmie Gardner

 What will the story be to this, from those tied to 

Mayor Davis Administration & Campaign?

With a tight election just a few days away the citizens of Prichard is seeking a change for the better, but they seem to be getting the same ole dirty politics as usual. One citizen of Prichard is demanding answers from government agencies that oversee the state laws on campaign election laws and violations. 

Several complaints have been filed with the General Counsel on the State Ethics Commission and the Attorney General Office alleging campaign election law violations by the City of Prichard Police Chief Jimmie Gardner, city employees and the current mayor Ron Davis Campaign, who is currently seeking re-election on Tuesday.

The complaint filed with the State Agencies alleges that a vehicle driven, owned and issued by the city government was parked in front of the campaign headquarters of Ron Davis on Wilson Ave in Prichard, Alabama. Also the complaint alleges that a person seen in the photos provided are those of the Police Chief himself preparing a campaign tent for an event on the rear end of the campaign building and property, wearing blue clothing. 

There are answers that have to be provided not only by Prichard Police Chief but Mayor Ron Davis himself. This is not just a complaint that looks as if someone is just making up to make news, but it looks as though it is facts and someone needs to talk. A citizen that has requested to keep his name anonymous has submitted photos to support his claims alleged in his complaint. In the news release the anonymous citizen states that he seen the Chief at the campaign headquarters preparing the tent and he decided to stop and take a photo for proof to support his claim.

According to state law it is a violation of the State Code of Ethics and Campaign Election laws. No city employee should be assembling any campaign equipment or material for a candidate or in this case the Mayor that is up for re-election.

What is so surprising to all this is Chief Gardner will have to answer to why the city issued vehicle that is issued to him for his use is parked on the property or Ron Davis Campaign headquarters at the time. The tag number is simply the answer to whom the vehicle belongs to, so he can’t argue that he wasn’t there. What lie will this team come up with now, just days before the election?

Pursuant to Section 17-1-4 Code of Alabama, City employees cannot be engaged in political activities while performing the business of the City and on duty. Allegedly, the City of Prichard is financially, strapped and citizens want to know why the City of Prichard’s taxpayers have to pay for on-duty workers doing political work for Mayor Ron Davis, an elected official, whose fiscal accountability has been less than desirable.

Section 17-1-4, Code of Alabama 1975, allows municipal employees the right to participate in municipal elections. To be a candidate, the employee must take an unpaid leave of absence or use personal leave or compensatory time. Employees who violate this provision must be dismissed. Employees may not use public funds or property for political activity. AGO 1993-00108. Supervisors may not coerce employees to campaign. Employees who campaign must do so on their own time.

Chief Gardner was not and is not on unpaid leave of absence or have not used personal leave or compensatory time. The law simply states above that any employee who violate this provision must be dismissed.

Based on Section 17-1-4, this activity is totally illegal and unethical. Someone from the mayor campaign, the mayor office and the city needs to answer to why?

Voters in Prichard favor Troy Ephraim for Mayor in new poll

The race for Prichard next mayor is on and the voters is pretty firm on who they are supporting to be the next mayor of their struggling city.

Councilman Troy Ephraim 

With the run-off election to be held on October 23, 2012 throughout the City of Prichard, the “POLITICAL BEACON" conducted another poll on the race for mayor to see once again what the voters of Prichard have in mind. We conducted a general poll of 612 likely registered voters in the City of Prichard from September 15-September 28 and we ask the likely voters who is their choice for Mayor of Prichard.

It is a clear choice for the likely registered voters, with the many problems facing the City of Prichard are still fresh on the citizens and voters’ minds, they have not forgotten about the word “Change”. Councilman Troy Ephraim once again lead in the poll, this time by a wider margin.  Here are the results from our most recent poll.

Troy Ephraim - 51%
Ron Davis – 43%
Undecided - 6%

Councilman Troy Ephraim is favored by 51% of the 612 likely registered voters we polled for the upcoming runoff election, with incumbent mayor Ron Davis trailing by 8 points in the most recent poll conducted by the Political Beacon, shows that people are dissatisfied with the current leadership and status quo of the City. However there are 6% percent of those likely voters are still undecided, those voters must vote for one or the other and each candidate must work to court those potential voters.

What will matter the most in this upcoming run-off election is the voter turnout. Each candidate must turnout their respective voters and supporters on October 23rd. Troy Ephraim carry majority of the voters on Election Day September 11th, but not enough to avoid a runoff with Ron Davis.

Mayor Ron Davis 

The Political Beacon conducted a similar poll of 327 likely registered voters back in August before the regular scheduled election of August 28^th, before it was canceled due to the potential threat of Hurricane Isaac. In that poll it showed a tight race with Ephraim edging out Davis by 2% percent.  

This round of voting is the final say in the race for Prichard next mayor. No more runoffs winner takes all. So if this election means anything to you then you as a voter in Prichard need to make your way to polls on Election Day.

We also ask the 612 likely voters which of the following issues matters to you the most in this election.

Water & Sewer Rates:   26%
Jobs:   12%
Infrastructure:   22%
Crime:    23%
Economic Development:   16%
Other:    1%

High water and sewer rates and crime has been plaguing the City of Prichard for quite some time now and it’s the number one concern on the likely voters mind at 26%, and Crime came in second with 23% and Infrastructure taking its place with a tight 3^rd.

We also asked the likely voters, has the candidates done enough to put forth their plan on lowering water and sewer rates in the City?

Yes – 34%
No - 59%
Somewhat – 7%

Both candidates have just a few more weeks to make their case to the voters on why he should be the next Mayor of Prichard. It is very important for all voters and citizens in the City of Prichard be active and exercise your right to vote, because it indeed matters.

The polls will open on October 23, 2012 from 7am -7pm. You are more than welcome to call the city hall for your respective polling precinct.