Comments on: Thoughts on the WHNT AL-05 candidate forum

By: wayne

wayne — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:51:07 +0000

He also has the Parker Griffith Foundation which gave money to organizations within his senate district, i believe pretty close to and prior to the senate election. Please correct if I am wrong. I am not affiliated with any candidate

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:25:54 +0000

Yes, Griffith donates his salary to area schools. BUT, remember the circumstances surrounding the pay raise. It was the very first thing that legislators did after the elections (and one of the few things they actually accomplished at all last year). They didn’t say one word about it ahead of time. They tried to ram it through in a coordinated effort so as to avoid any public discourse on the matter. It was the exact opposite of open, transparent, representative government. Parker Griffith participated in this operation.

I probably would have supported the pay raise, much like I supported Huntsville officials raising their own pay, if they had done it in an appropriate manner. What they (the legislature) did was shameful and was an amazing display of arrogance and contempt for voters.

While Griffith donates his salary – and don’t get me wrong, it is a virtuous choice – I’m cynical and I view it as him having a larger fund with which to buy votes from area residents.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:12:47 +0000

Full disclosure (it's a policy): Sean is affiliated with Parker Griffith's campaign.

By: Reactionary

Reactionary — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:00:05 +0000

I’m against term limits too – freedom of speech.

Griffith’s ‘Doctor’s find solutions’ TV ad says nothing, but implies that since “cancer is non-partisan”, maybe he’d be non-partisan. He’s definitely going to be tough to beat.

I haven’t yet decided for whom to vote in the GOP Primary. IMO if anyone can take it without a runoff on June 3, it’s Wayne Parker, but I’m almost hoping for a run-off to narrow the field.

I’m disappointed in the candidates who chose not to reply to the Flashpoint questionnaire.

By: wayne

wayne — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:52:26 +0000

Wayne Parker is going to have to distinguish himself for PG somehow.

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:20:27 +0000

I think it’s worth to mention that Parker Griffith donates all his salary (after taxes, of course) to area schools, and will do the same for anything earned during the special session in Montgomery on Tuesday.

By: dan t

dan t — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:21:05 +0000

I saw that where Wayne Parker said he was against term limits. I think he was the only one who said that. Also I found the format to be a little odd. They had them all bunched together…it just didnt look right.

By: AL-05 Candidates’ Debate Last Night » Doc’s Political Parlor

AL-05 Candidates’ Debate Last Night » Doc’s Political Parlor — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:47:51 +0000

[...] participated in a 90 minute debate last night. The Huntsville Times has an account of it here. Flashpoint and Left in Alabama offer their takes on it as well. (See the comments at Left in Alabama where the [...]