Municipal elections are today for Huntsville and many other cities.  Polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM.

My only recommendation is Tommy Battle for Huntsville mayor.

What a strange headline.  Anyway, according to Dale Jackson at WVNN Senator Jeff Sessions will be at an area Kangaroo gas station today.  The event is open to the public.

What: Pumping Gas and Speaking To Huntsville Area Drivers about High Energy Costs

When: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. CT

Where: Kangaroo Gas Station, 540 Jordan Lane

It might be your only chance to see Tommy Battle take on Loretta Spencer, so pay attention.  Oh, and the Madison candidates will be there too.

The Committee of 100 & NewsChannel 19 have joined forces to present a live debate with the candidates for mayor in Huntsville and Madison this election year. Two separate races, two separate debates in one live program that will be shown on the big screen at Monaco Pictures at Bridge Street.

The candidates will debate live from the NewsChannel 19 studios on Tuesday, August 12, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

The debates will be aired live on Newschannel 19 and streamed live on whnt.com and in a unique opportunity shown live on the big screen of Monaco Pictures’ Prive 1 Theater. NewsChannel 19 will provide live (broadcast) and internet capability for the public to pose questions from the Monaco Pictures’ Scene Lounge to the candidates back at the NewsChannel 19 studios.

As a side note, the article goes on to say that “The Committee of 100 is a group of 180 local business leaders …”  180 business leaders in the Committee of 100.  Because that isn’t confusing.

The Alabama Republican Primary Runoff will be held this Tuesday, July 15th.  Here is a copy of the Madison County sample ballot.  I didn’t endorse any candidates before the primary.  I was a guest on a radio program that morning discussing the races and did not feel it would be appropriate.  This time I have no reason to not offer up my preferred candidates.

AL-05 Congressional Race

The big race on the ballot is for the 5th district congressional seat Republican nomination.  Wayne Parker nearly won the primary outright in a field of six contenders, but came up 1% of the vote shy of doing so.  He will almost certainly defeat Cheryl Baswell Guthrie in the runoff.  Wayne is clearly the better of the two Republicans and has secured endorsements from two of his primary opponents: Angelo Mancuso and George Barry.

I recommend Wayne Parker.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

I’ll just say that I’m not a big fan of voting for judges.  I don’t consider myself skilled at assessing their qualifications.  Both Beth Kellum and Lucie McLemore seem capable of doing a fine job in this capacity.  That said, I’m voting for Beth Kellum.

Public Service Commission President

This has been a rather strange race.  Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, who won the most votes in the three-way primary, is certainly a faithful member of the Republican party and has made that quite clear in all her advertising.  She has also curiously run ads boasting that she is pro-life (this is Alabama, after all), which has no significance in this race since last I checked Alabama Power and other entities she would oversee don’t perform abortions.  Matt Chancey came in second in the primary and it seems that most of the criticism about him has come as a result of his more conservative religious beliefs and some of his wife’s thoughts on women’s roles.  Cavanaugh’s party ties will help in the runoff when only the faithful come out to vote.  But, I do think that Matt has better ideas on how to keep our utility rates low by encouraging things like expanding nuclear power.

I recommend Matt Chancey.

Madison County Tax Collector

This race pits Angela Stafford against Cory Brown.  Stafford has worked for the Tax Collector’s office for nearly a decade and has offered up some good ideas for improving operations there.  But Brown has proposed a better idea: consolidating the offices of the Tax Collector and Tax Assessor into a single Revenue Commissioner office like other parts of the state.  That will save us, the taxpayers, serious money.

I recommend Cory Brown.

(Full disclosure: I believe strongly enough in Brown that I will be working my polling place for him on Tuesday.)

Reactionary Update:

AL-05 Congressional Race

I went to middle school with Wayne Parker, played on the same basketball team at the YMCA with him, have a Parker yard sign and bumper sticker.  Note that at times I’ve been positively impressed by Cheryl, plus I like ads featuring monkeys (okay, chimpanzees).

I’m voting for Wayne Parker.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

Beth Kellum was kind enough to speak with me for almost 30 minutes after one of her speeches. I’m certain that she knows the job of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Note that Lucie McLemore has a judge’s demeanor (which is a good thing for a judge - thoughtful and reserved). 

I’m voting for Beth Kellum.

Public Service Commission President

The PSC Presidency seems to me to be more of an administrative job, with some PR.  IMO Twinkle knows State Government well enough to perform the job; note that I expect great things from Matt Chancey (run for and win an office).

I’m voting for Twinkle Cavanaugh.

Madison County Tax Collector

I like the idea of efficient Government and I think that combining the Tax Collector and Tax Assessor offices is a good plan.  I’ve met Cory Brown, and aside from appreciating his gardening knowledge (he used to host the Saturday morning WVNN garden show), I like his energy and ideas. I have a Brown yard sign, plus I will also be working polling places on Tuesday. Note that Angela Stafford is competent and would be a good choice.

I’m voting for Cory Brown.

Alabama State representative and guitar picker Mike Ball will be playing at a concert in the park in Madison with his band, the Madison Mountaintop Band, on Monday, 16 June 2008.

Where: Village Green Gazebo, Historic Downtown Madison

When: 16 June 2008, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Details: Madison Arts Council

From WHNT:

Set aside the night of Thursday, May 22. Watch The Valley Votes 2008: The Debate from 6:30 to 8:00pm. You’ll meet all eight candidates running for the 5th Congressional District.

NewsChannel 19 and WHNT.com have teamed up with the AARP, The Huntsville Times, AL.com and the Huntsville Young Professionals to bring you this exciting opportunity!

You can email in questions now. This is your chance to learn about the six Republicans and two Democratic candidates, and see where each of them stand on issues that affect you.

Jackson Way Styling Salon

Andrew Jackson Way at Stevens

Floyd Hardin, the ‘Mayor of Five Points’, invites his friends to enjoy:

• Chicken by Mark Craig and Blake Dorning
• Fish and Famous Hushpuppies by Joe Whisante
• BBQ by Danny Grider and Jeff Brewer
• Lemonade and Drinks

Servers will be local politicians. There will be plenty of politickin’.

The Republican Women of Madison will sponsor a Congressional District 5 Republican Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Radisson Inn on Madison Blvd. Madison, AL. Dr. Gaylen Pugh will moderate the Forum. The six candidates will each have 10 minutes to present their platform followed by questions from the audience.

George C. Barry will be holding a question and answer session on Friday, 11 April from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at his campaign headquarters in Huntsville. This will be an open forum and appetizers will be served. The campaign headquarters is located at 2611 Artie Dr, Suite 2-3 in Huntsville.

The announcement I got included his “contract” with prospective voters:

Contract between George C. Barry and the Citizens of Congressional District 5

In the past few decades, we’ve seen a steep decline in the honor and statesmanship of our politicians. Politics has never been totally clean - where there is power, there is greed. However, we always had enough legislators to maintain our Liberty and put the people above their political self-interests and personal agendas. No more. Most elected officials vote for THEIR pocket books, not for a free, strong United States of America. That is why I am running for Congress. That is why I am making this Commitment to You.

I believe in my country. I believe in its people. I believe in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness that has been chipped away by our elected officials. I believe that you will help me because you too crave the freedom of days gone by. In return, I will vow to defend our Constitution honorably, with integrity and use any power I’m given to promote the Liberty and Way of Life we’ve lost.

I will never vote to raise taxes.

I will fight to have our dangerous, porous borders closed immediately.

I will never vote to borrow more money and increase our national debt.

I will never take a government/taxpayer paid junket.

I will work fervently to abolish our abusive income tax, capital gains tax and death tax.

I will opt out of the lucrative Congressional Pension Plan.

I will work to implement a FAIR trade policy that stops penalizing U.S. companies.

I will never vote for benefits or pay increases for myself or other members of Congress.

I will never vote for an unbalanced budget.

I will do every thing within my power to keep the United States from becoming part of the North American Union.

Former city councilman Tommy Battle is set to announce his bid to be mayor of Huntsville tomorrow…

What: Battle for Mayor Press Conference
 
When: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:00-11:45 AM
 
Where: The Huntsville Depot - Eunice’s Country Kitchen (house on the west side of the property between the Railroad Depot and the Roundhouse)
 
Directions: The Historic Huntsville Depot is located on the corner of Monroe and Church Street. Park on the Church Street side and the houses are clearly visible.