Armistead selects new executive director for state GOP

Timothy James "TJ" Maloney will become executive director of the Alabama Republican Party on Monday, the party announced Thursday.
New Party Chairman Bill Armistead, a former state senator, said he made his choice after a thorough search for the person with the necessary experience and skills to direct the daily operations of the party.
“We have a strong team shaping up, and TJ has the experience and knowledge to take the helm,” Armistead said. “His prior experience in Alabama, having run a congressional campaign in 2008, is a real plus for us."
Maloney worked in 2008 as campaign manager for Wayne Parker in his unsuccessful bid to defeat Parker Griffith for the 5th Congressional District seat.
Maloney, who is relocating from Virginia for the job, has worked extensively in politics the corporate world.
"He has a reputation of being a solid team player and a hard-working leader, unconcerned about who receives credit,” Armistead said.
Maloney said he enjoyed his previous campaign work in Alabama and “coming back to Alabama is like coming home for me."
“I enjoyed living here when working on a previous campaign, and I'm glad to be back,” he said. “There are exciting things happening in Alabama and there is much to accomplish.”
John Ross worked as the executive director when Mike Hubbard was chairman of the party. Hubbard, who is now speaker of the House and presided over historic Republican wins in November, did not run for another term.
Armistead defeated state Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery in the contest to succeed Hubbard.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

Bright scores better than other Democrats on Club for Growth report

Freshman U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright of Montgomery scored better than any other Democrat on a scorecard from the Club for Growth, which supports low-tax, pro-growth Republicans who want limited government.
He also scored better than about two dozen Republicans including two Alabama Republicans, Rep. Mike Rogers of Saks and Rep. Parker Griffith of Huntsville. He also finished well ahead of Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham.
Bright was in the middle of the pack among Alabama's seven congressmen.
Rep. Jo Bonner of Mobile finished ahead of the pack with a score of 90 percent.
Bright, with a score of 64 percent, was one of only three Democrats in Congress with a score of 50 percent or higher. The other Democrats are Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi and Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho.
Bright ranked 155th among the 435 members of the House.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, for example, scored a 7 percent. Some members, including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Rep. John Conyers of Michigan scored 0.
Alabama's two U.S. senators, Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, finished with strong scores.
Sessions had a 100 percent score while Shelby had an 83 percent.
The Club looked at lawmakers' records on "pro-growth policies" including reducing income tax rates, repealing the death tax, limited government through limited spending, social security reform with personal retirement accounts, free trade, lawsuit abuse, tort reform, education choice, and regulatory reform and deregulation.
Members who refused earmarks were also awarded points.
The lawmakers who score 90 percent or higher receive the Defender of Economic Freedom award.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

Sparks campaign manager resigns

Gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks announced Friday that he accepted the resignation of Sharon Wheeler as his campaign manager and said Rick Dent, who had advised the campaign since January, would assume the position.
Authorities arrested Wheeler early Thursday for allegedly having a blood alcohol level above the legal level of .08 percent. She was pulled over for illegal lane usage.
"She wishes to focus on her situation and does not want to become a distraction from our effort," Sparks said in a statement. "I agree that this decision is what's best for both Sharon and the campaign for which she has worked so hard. She is an extremely talented individual, who has done a tremendous job on my behalf and I hate to lose her.
"I don't drink. Drinking and driving is a serious offense and can never be tolerated. Everyone makes mistakes. Sharon is entitled to a presumption of innocence and I will support her in any way that I can. I wish her only the best."
Wheeler joined Sparks' campaign after resigning as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith of Huntsville after he switched parties to become a Republican. She also previously served as the chief of staff for then-Senate President Pro Tem Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe.
Recently, Dent has been a consultant for the Senate Democratic Caucus.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen