Judge Vance out raises Judge Roy Moore in Chief Justice race

With the race for Chief Justice just a few weeks away, Democratic Judge Robert Vance pulls ahead of former Chief Justice Roy Moore in campaign cash.

Judge Robert "Bob" Vance

Judge Robert Vance only has been in the race less than 60 days after replacing attorney Harry Lyons on the ballot by the Alabama Democratic Party.  This race is clearly a race on leadership.  Jefferson County Circuit Judge Robert Vance, Jr. has $433,910 in his campaign coffers going into the peak of campaign season. Moore has only $192,894.

Moore's largest September contributors included $25,000 from Pete Hana of Hana Steel, $10,000 from Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate and $20,000 from Michael Peroutka, who was the Constitution Party candidate for president in 2004, according to campaign reports filed today. 

Vance's larger individual donations included $5,000 from T Michael and Gillian Goodrich; $5,000 from the law firm of Heninger, Garrison and Davis LLC and $7,500 from Franklin PAC, which received money from a Birmingham lawyer and other sources.

Voters and Citizens of Alabama remember Roy Moore for his controversial stand and refusal to remove the Ten Commandments monument from the Supreme Court building. And he was ousted from office.

Visit Judge Robert Moore campaign at http://judgebobvance.nationbuilder.com

Democrat Lucy Baxley seeking another term as the State Public Service Commission President

Major newspapers in the State of Alabama have written off Democrats because of the recent takeover of majority of public elected offices in Alabama by Republicans. However, that’s no surprise the same major newspapers outlets been supporting Republicans all along.

PSC President Lucy Baxley

Lucy Baxley is a wonderful candidate and public servant, serving currently as the President of the Public Service Commission in Montgomery. The former Lt. Governor is working on behalf of the citizens of this state. Just image if a all republican panel take over the Public Service Commission and they favor all the big utility companies, what burden they would put on the backs of the poor and working class in Alabama.

Lucy Baxley is working to keep lower utility rates and tough regulations to protect the citizens of this state. Republicans are seeking to do away with regulations that protect the citizens. They will also vote in favor of big utility companies to raise rates on the citizens of this state.

Baxley recently told a reporter in an interview "I'm not the last Democrat," said the 74-year-old president of the Alabama Public Service Commission. "But I know I'm the last Democrat holding state office, if that's what you mean. And I know, like the buffalo, they're hunting me. She's hoping to kill off my kind."

Lucy Baxley is being challenged by Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh. A 46-year-old Republican, who also is a member of the Public Service Commission.

It is indeed a race that pits two women from two different generations and two very different political ideologies, but two women who share a passion for politics and who have tangled before.

That’s why it’s important to go out and vote in large numbers on November 6, 2012. It matters!

Visit Lucy Baxley campaign online at  http://lucybaxley2012.com.

Mayor Ron Davis playing funny politics to try and get re-elected

The questions is can Ron Davis be trusted?

On the past week I was in Prichard and I was riding the streets of this struggling city, and I notice a couple of bill boards signs that the current mayor has put up in reference to trying to win a third term. Not only did he put up bill boards, he has published a few non-truth telling flyers.  

One of those signs is located on Prichard Lane headed to the city hall, a Route the mayor takes to work every morning to the office where he says he is going to lead the people of Prichard each day in honest leadership. But how can you lead the people in honest leadership telling lies and being dishonest?

Mayor Ron Davis 

The signs simply read that “Ron Davis is all for Lower Water Rates and Dissolving the Water and Sewer Board of Prichard, and his opponent is not; because his opponent is a sitting member of the water board.”

Not only that, Mayor Ron Davis and his campaign has released a new flyer bashing and lying about his opponent Troy Ephriam in regards to the water and sewer board. 

I wrote this article because I want the people of Prichard to know the truth and vote with your heart and the city needs. Mayor Ron Davis is getting desperate and he beginning to tell more lies than the past…point blank.

Mayor Ron Davis has never been in favor of lowering water and sewer rates, he has never came out publicly and said I am in favor of lowering the city water and sewer rates. Nor did he ever say he was in favor of dissolving the city water and sewer board. Now that the people are speaking out against it, he wants to change the tone of the race as if he is in support of lower water and sewer rates.

See what politicians like Ron Davis wants to do or think they can do is continue to lie to poor and working class citizens and take their votes for granted.

Mayor Davis has been in office now for 8 years, and he had those years to fix or correct these problems, he failed just like he failed on a number of other things.

Councilman Troy Ephriam is not a current sitting member of the water and sewer board of Prichard. And he has not sat on that board since 2008. Troy Ephriam is in support of what the citizens and businesses of Prichard want. He is not in favor of keeping the board into existence and having the burden of high water and sewer rates on the backs of citizens. Ephriam is in favor of lower water and sewer rates.

Ask mayor Ron Davis what has he done to lower your water and sewer rates over the past 8 years. Don’t be fooled by these dirty desperate politics of the status quo politicians?

Prichard it’s time for a change and a change for the betterment of Prichard.

I also took a ride down Wilson Ave, have anyone seen the four way traffic failure on Wilson Ave near the city hall, in the heart of the downtown area of the City. The current city administration has put old stop signs up for traffic control.

Can you trust mayor Ron Davis with four more years in City Hall, after all the lies, poor leadership and same ole politics?

The people of Prichard must know what is best for them, and what’s best to move the city forward.

It’s time for a new Prichard, citizens please don’t be fooled with this status quo politics. 

Lorenzo Martin leads in the District 1 Council race

On October 23^rd, 2012 the citizens of Prichard will head back to the polls in a runoff election to cast their votes for their next Council member in District 1 of Prichard, Alabama.

The “POLITICAL BEACON “conducted a poll on the race for the City Council seat District 1 to see what the voters of District 1 have in mind. We conducted a general poll of 208 likely registered voters within District 1 from September 15-September 28 and we ask the likely voters who is their choice for their next Council member.

In the recent poll we conducted this is a tight race between both candidates, Lorenzo Martin edges out Herman Towner.

Lorenzo Martin - 44%
Herman Towner – 41%
Undecided - 15%

Lorenzo Martin is favored by 44% of the 208 likely registered voters we polled for the upcoming runoff election, with incumbent councilman Herman Towner trailing by 3 points in the most recent poll conducted by the Political Beacon.

Martin is seeking to win his first elected public office, and Herman Towner is currently a member of the City Council for the City of Prichard, which he wants to serve another term.

The Political Beacon asked whether a lack of leadership from the current council and their current council member on the environmental issue, was affecting their choice for their next council member.

Yes – 53%
No - 40%
Maybe – 7%

We also asked the likely voters if they was satisfied with the current leadership of their Council member on the City Council overall.

Yes – 39%
No – 48%
Somewhat – 13%

On October 23^rd the citizens and voters of District 1 will have a chance to go out and make their case, for what is better for them.

Again this is another race where each candidate have to turn out the vote in their favor on Election Day.

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.

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.