Author: Virginia Martin
Doug Jones (D), Contributions in 2017 U.S. Senate Special Election
Doug Jones raised $11.71 million in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat. Here are campaign contributions of $5,000 and up collected in 2017 by Jones. Read more.
Roy Moore (R), Contributions in 2017 U.S. Senate Special Election
Roy Moore raised $5,152,464 in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat. Here are campaign contributions of $5,000 and up collected in 2017 by Moore. Read more.
Birmingham City Councilor Calls for Changes to Alabama Open Meetings Act
Dec. 19, 2017 — One Birmingham city councilor called Tuesday for a reevaluation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act, the state law requiring governmental meetings to be accessible to the public.
John Hilliard, the newly elected councilor for District 9, made his remarks at the council’s regularly scheduled meeting during discussion of an item that would allow members of council committees to appoint proxies when they are unable to attend a committee meeting.
The text of the resolution was not made available even to members of the council, and its sponsor, Councilor Lashunda Scales, was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
But before the council voted to delay the item, it became the springboard for a freewheeling discussion about the legalities involved with committee meetings. Read more.
IB School and More Money Are Good News for Birmingham School Board
The good news kept coming at Wednesday night’s Birmingham City Schools Board of Education meeting.
In addition to a city elementary school earning International Baccalaureate status and the system receiving more money in the city’s just-approved budget, Superintendent Lisa Herring and board members also enthused about new partnerships among Birmingham schools and businesses and nonprofits, and an “importance of education” tour by a high-achieving Woodlawn High School graduate. Read more.
A Walk Across the Park: Birmingham’s New Mayor Meets with JeffCo Commission
Dec. 14, 2017 – The Jefferson County Commission received a visit from a neighbor Thursday morning – Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.
“It’s 100 percent important,” Woodfin said. “Birmingham is the largest city in our county, so city and county should work together. … “We can’t be in a space where we’re operating in silos.”
Commissioner Sandra Little Brown, a former Birmingham City Council member, acknowledged that the lines of communication haven’t always been open from the two governmental sides of Linn Park.
“We represent the same people that you do,” Brown said. “I hope we can get the message to the council members.” Read more.
Family and Friends Nationwide Want to Know: What Do Alabamians Think About the Jones-Moore Campaign
As the voting numbers started to come in Tuesday night, so did calls, texts, and social media posts to Alabama residents from their out-of-state friends, family and acquaintances.
The fervor of the race between Doug Jones and Roy Moore in the special Senate election had captured the attention of the entire country.
Alabamians found themselves cast in the role of political analysts even before election night.
Early in the race, buzz seemed to be about the race’s effect on the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and candidates’ controversial statements. The national conversation exploded after the Washington Post published a story alleging sexual misconduct on the part of Republican candidate Roy Moore. National and international news outlets flocked to Alabama to cover the candidates.
Just as it happens when a big football game is played or a tornado touches down, everyday people became the micro-level information headquarters for their friends and family. Read more.
Rick Journey and Chanda Temple Joining Woodfin’s Staff
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has tapped television news reporter Rick Journey to serve as his director of communications. Former Birmingham City Schools spokeswoman Chanda Temple also has taken the position of public information officer.
“Our administration’s focus on servant leadership by putting people first starts with transparency and providing a clear message to our citizens and our employees that we will serve with the public’s best interest at the core of our work,” Woodfin said in a statement. “I am pleased to have Rick and Chanda be part of providing that clear message and joining an administration committed to core values of transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and customer service.” Read more.
Federal Court of Appeals Judges Grill Attorneys for Gardendale, NAACP in Hearing
ATLANTA — Both sides in the Gardendale school separation court case faced a panel of three federal judges at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, and those judges weren’t always buying what the attorneys were selling.
The oral arguments were part of the latest step in the legal process of Gardendale’s proposed separation from the Jefferson County School System, which would result in a municipally operated system with four schools. The plan is opposed by JefCoEd and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Both fear the separation would harm the county system’s efforts to achieve full and final legal racial desegregation and end federal court supervision that began in the 1970s.
Last April, U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala ruled that Gardendale could go on with the formation of its system but could take control of only two elementary schools at first and would gain complete control when she was satisfied that desegregation issues had made sufficient progress. She also found that the reason the city wanted to separate was racially motivated.
That partial decision didn’t satisfy either party. Gardendale appealed to the 11th Circuit, asking that they rule in favor of a full takeover right away. The NAACP wasn’t happy, either, arguing in their cross-appeal that the racial-motivation finding should have disqualified the city from breaking away.
The three-judge panel peppered attorney Aaron Gavin McLeod, representing Gardendale, with numerous questions about how the split would affect not only JefCoEd’s efforts to achieve complete desegregation, but also its finances. Justice William Pryor, in particular, seemed visibly dismayed at why Haikala’s “split decision” came to be.
“What law empowers a district judge to impose a partial separation that no party asked for?” he asked McLeod. Read more.
Moore Issues Video Statement Saying He Will Continue to Fight for the U.S. Senate Seat
Roy Moore said again Thursday that he would not concede the U.S. Senate election, issuing a video statement in which he said the race was too close, some ballots were still out, and he believed “the heart and soul of our country is at stake” in the election.
Vote tallies from Tuesday showed Doug Jones beating Moore by about 20,000 votes, but the vote will not be certified until Dec. 26 to Jan. 3.
Beware the Stampede! News Media From Across the Globe Flocked to Alabama for Special Senate Election
The man who had hours before pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Alabama political history was quipping Wednesday about business development, of sorts.
“Folks, once again, let me say this. I have appreciated all that you have done for the Alabama economy, coming down here.”
Democrat Doug Jones, newly elected to the U.S. Senate, was talking to the throngs of reporters, photographers and camera crews — collectively known as “the media” — who descended on Alabama from across the nation and around the world, representing an unprecedented interest in Alabama’s often-colorful politics. Read more.
