State Rep. Joe Hubbard: Young Face of the Demcoratic Party

Watch a video of out-going Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham and newly elected state Rep. Joe Hubbard of Montgomery talking about the future of the party.

Hubbard was one the few Democrats in the country to unseat an incumbent Republican during the 2010 election cycle.

Turnham steps down, state Dems to elect new chairman

Alabama Democrats will elect a new chairman later this month after Joe Turnham informed executive committee members he will resign effective Jan. 29.
Turnham said he sent his letter resigning as chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party to state committee members on Wednesday. He said they would meet on Jan. 29 in downtown Montgomery to elect his successor.
He said the only candidate who has publicly expressed interest in running is former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mark Kennedy.
While the committee members will ultimately vote on his successor, Turnham said "I have a high level of comfort with Mark Kennedy."
He said he has talked to Kennedy several times and that he has the maturity, wisdom, drive and intellect "to really build the party at this tough fork in the road." Kennedy is the son-in-law of former Govs. George and Lurleen Wallace.
Turnham, who has served as chairman for three nonconsecutive terms, was elected to another term last year, but said he never intended to serve very long after the 2010 election. He was first elected in 1995.
"I nearly left after the '08 election," he said. "A lot of folks knew it was going to be a very challenging cycle. They asked me to stay on and I did."
Turnham said he is ready to move on with his personal and professional life, and to turn the party over to someone else.
He has been active in Democratic Party politics for decades, running four of his father's campaigns for the Legislature, twice being the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress, serving as a county chairman, and as state chairman. He also started the state's conservation lobby.
Turnham, 51, said he did all of that in the last 25 years.
"I am just physically and mentally and politically exhausted," he said. "It was probably the toughest cycle in two generations. ... I just know it is time for other people to step up in this environment and build."
Turnham said that last week he appointed attorney Ed Gentle, an Auburn and University of Alabama law school graduate and Rhodes scholar, to serve as party treasurer. He said that since the Legislature voted to overhaul campaign finance laws in the state that they have been assembling a "strong financial plan" for the party.
Turnham said he has been working on the transition to a new chairman for about two months.
Turnham said he was at the helm when the state elected the first Democratic governor since Wallace in 1998, elected the first female chief justice in 2006, won several other races statewide, and held the Legislature for two of those three terms.
"We've had some good times and some tough times," he said.
Turnham said the party has also helped to elect Democrats, including judges, county commissioners and superintendents, at the local level and has improved technology and outreach with its voter files.
Moving forward, Turnham said he hopes to help in several economic development ventures.
He acknowledged his time at the party has prepared him to work for a non-profit or a corporation. Turnham said he has developed some skills and "some pretty thick skin."
"The Democratic Party is a tough place to govern internally," he said, adding there are a "lot of competing factions and personalities."

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

UPDATED: Four Democrats switch, giving Republicans supermajority in House

Four Democrats in the Alabama House of Representatives switched parties on Monday, giving Republicans the necessary majorities in both chambers of the Legislature to bring up their agenda and to shut down delays from Democrats if they vote as a bloc.
Alan Boothe of Troy, Mike Millican of Hamilton, Lesley Vance of Phenix City, and Steve Hurst of Munford announced their switch, which was reported by the Montgomery Advertiser on Friday.
About 20 Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and the likely choice for the next speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Hubbard of Auburn, were at the announcement.
The legislators said they would be able to better serve their constituents in the Republican Party, which they said better represents their beliefs. They said they believe in small businesses and small government.
"To serve my people the best I can, I felt the Republican Party was the place for me," Boothe said.
They said the people of their districts, the people of Alabama and people nationwide spoke on Nov. 2, when there were sweeping Republican victories.
Boothe, who has not had opposition in his district in the last three elections, said he was listening to the voters.
"There was a message sent on Nov. 2 and that was that people want a change in Montgomery," he said. " ... If you do not listen, if you do not pay attention, you're not doing your job."
Hubbard, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, said those four men approached them about switching. He said no other Democrats have approached them.
Hubbard said they do not want opportunists, but wanted like-minded conservatives, which he said is evident in those four legislators by their voting record. He said none of the men were promised anything and that they did not discuss committee assignments or any other arrangements.
Hubbard said he talked to the four Democrats about their motivations.
"They're switching for one reason," he said. "They are philosophically aligned with the Republican Party."
The Alabama Democratic Party criticized the move of the men, which just won reelection with the physical and financial help and votes of Democrats.
Republicans in the Legislature "have put on a full-court press to push all white Democrats to change parties after the election," according to a statement from the Alabama Democratic Party. The switch also demonstrates the partisanship that can be expected from the Republican majority with intentions of impugning the rights and voices of those Democrats who did not switch over, according to the Alabama Democratic Party.
"These gentlemen have been my friends for a long time and I respect each of them personally, but I am saddened and hurt by their decision today," Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham said in the statement.
If the four legislators believe that the ideals of the Republican Party are better for them, Democrats said they could resign and seek reelection in a special election as a Republican. They would have to win the primary and the general election "and let the voters of their districts validate their switch today," according to the statement.
"I think each of these gentlemen could have been elected as Republicans anyway," Hubbard said.
The Alabama Democratic Party also pointed out that Hurst received more than $50,000 from the Democratic House caucus in his re-election bid. Also, party officials pointed out, Boothe and Millican had no opposition this year.
Republicans would not be punitive and they would "go to great pains to not do to them what they've done to us," Hubbard said.
He said they will require Republicans to vote in a bloc to bring up legislation that is on the caucus's agenda, but "we never tell a member how to vote on final passage." He said it is important for the caucus to stand together on issues important to the members.
"Holding everybody together is tougher than you think," Hubbard said.
When asked about using cloture — a move to stop delays from the other side — Hubbard said "it is certainly a weapon we have."
"We have to learn to be in the majority," he said.
Hubbard said they plan to use the same rules as Democrats regarding the makeup of committees. And with no more than 15 members on each committee, he expects there to be 10 Republican members on those panels. Also, like the Democrats, he expects to have Republicans chairing all of the committees.
Hubbard said the Republicans have been able to grow in large part due to party switchers. He said there were 36 Republicans in the House when he was elected in 1998.
"It hasn't been that long ago since we were definitely in the minority," Hubbard said.
Republicans had 44 members in the House caucus before the Nov. 2 election, but now have 66.
Republicans control 22 of the 35 seats in the Alabama Senate.
Boothe, who was first elected in 1998, said he was inspired, along with the strong statement by voters on Nov. 2, by the friendship he established with Gov.-elect Robert Bentley when they sat next to each other in the Alabama House, where Bentley served for two terms. Boothe said he wants to work with Bentley to pass his conservative agenda rather than against him as part of the "loyal opposition" of Democrats.
Boothe, who represents Pike and Dale counties, said he came to his decision after some "soul searching." He believes he would have switched regardless of which party became the majority.
Vance, who was elected in 1994, was chairman of the House Banking and Insurance Committee for the last eight years.
Hurst, who was first elected in 1998, was convinced to switch by Rogers, a longtime friend. Hurst represents parts of Calhoun and Talladega counties.
"What I'm doing is not for Steve Hurst, it's for the people of my district," he said.
Rogers, a former state legislator from Saks who was minority leader at the time, said he has worked on Vance and Hurst for years.
"These people vote just like a Republican," Rogers said.
Vance, who represents parts of Lee and Russell counties, said going to the Republican Party was really his only option. He said, as he went from polling location to polling location on Nov. 2, that voter after voter told him he was the only Democrat they were voting for and that they would vote straight party if it were not for him.
"These people were telling me something," Vance said.
Millican, who was elected in 1990 and represents Marion and Winston counties, said his district has grown more and more conservative. He said he also talked to Bentley. Millican said Bentley told him that if people question his actions, that they should check his record because it is more conservative than Bentley's.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

Dem chair not stepping down ... yet

Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham said he has not resigned from his position, but is "tired and very ready to move on."
"I told a lot of Democrats privately that I do not plan to serve much longer," Turnham said. He said he did not plan to stay too long after the election regardless of whether Democrats won or lost.
Some rumors circulated in the blogosphere that Turnham stepped down after the drubbing that Democrats received on Nov. 2, but he said that was false.
"I would never just resign and walk out the door," he said.
He attributed the sweeping Democratic losses to the national climate.
"It was a rough day," Turnham said.
Read more of the Montgomery Advertiser's interview with Turnham in the newspaper and online on Sunday. He talks about the upcoming stable of Democratic candidates, about getting new blood into the party, and about successes during his tenure.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

Bright mum on Pelosi comment

Former Montgomery mayor and freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright created an uproar with comments he made jokingly earlier this week about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
During a question and answer session following his speech to the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Bright was asked about his support for Pelosi. After a laundry list of reasons why Pelosi might not be in the running for speaker, Bright said "heck, she might even get sick and die."
The comments, made to the audience and repeated by Bright to Montgomery Advertiser reporter Cosby Woodruff, were first reported on the Advertiser’s political blog, "South Union Street," but have received attention from the Washington Post, the Drudge Report, the Associated Press, CBS News, Rush Limbaugh, and a variety of Websites and blogs. "South Union Street" had received more than 325,000 hits by 7 p.m. Thursday.
The chamber audience laughed at the comments. Bright also reiterated to Woodruff after the speech that he was joking.
Bright, who is facing a tough reelection campaign against Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby this fall, joked during the breakfast that Pelosi might lose her own election, decide not to run for the speaker's job or otherwise not be available.
"I don't like to cross bridges until I get to them," Bright said when answering the question about Pelosi at the Eggs and Issues breakfast. "Maybe she won't even be a candidate."
Bright, a Democrat, has voted with Republicans on most major issues and has been labeled as one of the most independent members of Congress, but has been criticized by Republicans in his conservative district for voting for Pelosi as speaker.
"Bobby Bright's statement yesterday was an undisciplined comment at a time when America needs a disciplined approach to get our economy back on track, stop runaway Washington spending, and remain focused on creating jobs," Roby said in a statement.
A spokesman for Bright said Thursday that "we're not commenting any further."
Auburn University Montgomery political scientist Brad Moody said he didn’t think that Bright's comments would have much effect on his quest to be re-elected to a second term in Congress, though his opponent is clearly running against Pelosi.
Moody said he does have some other things working against him including a political climate that is anti-incumbency and an economy that is still struggling.
"To me that is going to hurt a lot more," he said.
Moody said Bright has voted conservatively as a Democrat, but his position on the issues are not clear.
"We know what he's against, but what is he for," Moody asked. "I think that's a whole lot more important than whether he will or will not vote for Nancy Pelosi for another term as speaker of the House."
Bright is the first Democrat since the 1960s to represent the conservative district, which includes parts of Montgomery and southeast Alabama.
His reelection battle is expected to be one of the most competitive this fall.
With Bright voting with Republicans on most major issues including the health care and banking overhauls, the GOP has turned to criticism of him voting for Pelosi as speaker.
Bright has refused to answer whether he would vote for Pelosi again as speaker. In 2008, he refused to answer which candidate he would vote for for president, vowing not to burn bridges and to work with whoever was elected, and would not say if he would vote for Pelosi, but did say he would prefer a conservative Blue Dog Democrat as speaker.
Roby, a Republican, is in her second term on the council.
"Clearly Bobby Bright will say anything and do anything to get out from under the tanking popularity of Nancy Pelosi and her job-killing agenda," Roby continued in her statement. " ... There's only one way we can put an end to the Pelosi agenda, and that’s by changing the party running Congress, starting right here in Alabama's 2nd District."
One of Pelosi's most frequent critics is calling on Bright to apologize to her.
"Bobby Bright's comments -- even if made in jest -- are indefensible," said Andy Sere, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement.
The last time an Alabama congressman received so much attention because of something he said about Pelosi wasn't all that long ago.
Last year, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Saks referred to Pelosi as "crazy," "mean as a snake" and "Tom DeLay in a skirt," because of what he believed was her partisan leadership of the Democratic majority.
"I personally think she's crazy," Rogers said of Pelosi, eliciting chuckles from a group he was speaking to at Auburn University Montgomery.
His comments, like Bright's, were first reported on the Advertiser's "South Union Street" blog and then picked up nationally. The post garnered hundreds of thousands of comments from people all over the country, mostly supporters of Rogers' view on Pelosi.
The head of the Alabama Democratic Party, Joe Turnham, immediately issued a press release demanding that Rogers apologize to Pelosi.
"At some point, you have to maintain professional decorum and at least reach out and try to work with folks ...," Turnham said at the time. "She is the speaker of the House of Representatives."
No such demands for an apology were issued Thursday.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen, Markeshia Ricks and Cosby Woodruff

Republicans push forward with plan to take over Legislature

Alabama Republicans are targeting more than 20 legislative seats as part of their goal to take control of the Legislature in the November election.
The Alabama Republican Party rolled out the latest phase of its Campaign 2010 program on Monday, trying to inform voters that "136 years is long enough" and launching the website http://www.136years.com/.
"That is a message we intend to send throughout the state of Alabama," said state Rep. Mike Hubbard, who is also chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.
Democrats have controlled the Legislature for 136 years. They hold an eight-vote advantage in the 140-member House and a three-vote margin in the 35-member Senate.
Republicans launched Campaign 2010 in 2007, seeking to raise $4 million, to recruit quality candidates and to target specific districts.
Joe Turnham, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, said Democratic legislators have balanced budgets in the worst economic environment since the Great Depression without major layoffs, helped save the state's Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program, reformed juvenile justice laws, and worked with Republican Gov. Bob Riley to help land major economic development projects.
Instead of "chest-thumping," Turnham said people need to be talking about how to put people back to work, the large anticipated budget shortfalls in the state, and cleaning up the Gulf after the oil spill.
Hubbard said the party is currently targeting about 15 seats in the House of Representatives and eight or nine Senate seats, which he said they will probably trim down to six.
Looking at polling, he said there is an opportunity to win virtually all of them.
Hubbard believes the retirement of some Democratic lawmakers, the national political climate and President Obama's low approval rating also bolster the Republicans' chances.
Those targeted Senate seats include that of Sen. Wendell Mitchell, a Luverne Democrat who represents portions of Elmore and Autauga counties; the east Alabama district represented by Kim Benefield of Woodland, who is retiring; and the district represented by Sen. Ted Little of Auburn.
Turnham said Democrats here, unlike those in most other southern states, have stopped Republicans from taking control of the Legislature.
Because they are in power, Democrats "have more ground to defend," he said. That, Turnham said, creates more opportunities for Republicans.
He said the Democrats will also be on the offensive.
"There are a number of bright starts running in these Republican districts," Turnham said. " ... They're going to have to play some defense too."

Republicans have also hurt themselves in areas like the Wiregrass where they removed Sen. Harri Anne Smith from the party's ballot, Turnham said.
The state GOP has raised more than $4 million, which was the goal and more than the party has ever raised, Hubbard said. The party did spend to pick up seats in special elections, picking up one seat in the Senate and two in the House. Those wins, the chairman said, are evidence their plan has worked.
Turnham said the Democrats have done well to defend Democratic seats in Republican-leaning districts in other special elections.
Hubbard said the Republicans have spent some of that money on the special elections, polling, data and looking at the districts they intend to target. He said they continue to raise money.
"We won't be able to match the Democrats," Hubbard said.
He said the Democrats can lean on the Alabama Education Association, which is run by two vice chairmen of the Alabama Democratic Party, for financial help. The AEA heavily funds legislative races and other campaigns.
Turnham said about a third of Alabamians are independent so neither party will be able to win on partisan rhetoric.
Turnham said the Democrats have recruited quality candidates who can speak to the issues of the day.
Hubbard also slammed the Democrats' Covenant for the Future, a 2006 campaign promise to bring up certain issues early in the next legislative session if Democrats remained in the majority. The Democrats did not pass substantial reforms outlined in the covenant.
They did, however, give themselves a pay and expense allowance increase of 62 percent, Hubbard said.
Turnham said Democrats tried to make progress on many of the issues in the covenant.
He said Republicans have worked to deny people the right to vote on whether to tax and regulate gambling, whether to remove the state sales tax on groceries, and whether they want a constitutional convention to rewrite the state's constitution.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen