County View

By Jeff Poor

Here we go again. The 2008 election cycle is already heating up and we are barely two months out of the 2006 midterm cycle. Things have finally sorted themselves after this last election, but the potential for a special election in District 1 and fundraising efforts about to kick into gear for 2008 have created a non-stop political campaign environment in Mobile.

I suppose if this journalism thing doesn’t work out for me, I’m going into the campaign sign business. Think of all the money to be made there.

Bayou La Batre takes on Dean and enter Spencer Collier?

The city leadership of Bayou La Batre unanimously passed a resolution last week proclaiming dissatisfaction with their representation in county government. That has some folks within the Republican establishment concerned about Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean’s ability to hang onto his seat in upcoming 2008 elections.

Dean insists all the rhetoric about his representation (or lack thereof) is nothing more than a political trick going into the 2008 election. Mayor Stanley Wright and Councilman Henry Barnes, the two most vocal about Dean, both of Bayou La Batre, allegedly have an eye on Dean’s seat.

“This is my fourth campaign and every time, there are claims of not enough representation,” Dean said. “I think I’m going to prove myself in the south part of the county.”

Dean has been vocal about locating the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. racetrack and entertainment complex in Mobile County. Only problem is the track is going to be located well within District 1, near Prichard a long way away from Dean’s district and some constituents in Dean’s district are scratching their heads.

Dean makes the case the leaders in the Bayou and Coden have forgotten what he has accomplished – many newly-paved roads, post-hurricane debris pick-up, the negotiation that saved the municipalities in his district a lot of taxpayer money and efforts to build new community centers in Coden, Grand Bay and Tillman’s Corner.

Gary Tanner, who is out of a job since losing the State Senate District 35 seat to Ben Brooks, is rumored to challenge Dean for the District 3 seat in 2008. Tanner served from 1993 to 2000 on the commission and would be a tough opponent for the incumbent.

It’s no secret an effort is underway to recruit State Rep. Spencer Collier to run on the Republican ticket, although he has repeatedly deflected overtures to run since taking the helm of the Alabama Safety Institute.

“Bottom line is no,” said Collier. “I’m not going to run for county commission.”

Collier seemed clearly agitated by the claims his proposal to expand the county commission from three to five seats is an attempt to somehow open the door for him to be more successful in any bid to win a place on the commission.

One Republican official, not wanting to be publicly named, compared Collier’s statements about making a run for county commission to the statements Nick Saban made shortly before his departure from the Miami Dolphins to coach the University of Alabama football team. He was emphatic about having no desire to come to Tuscaloosa and look where Saban is now.

Juan Chastang’s troubles

The Justice Department raised objections to Gov. Bob Riley’s 2005 appointment of Juan Chastang to the seat Sam Jones vacated when he was elected mayor, based on the provisions set forth by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Department of Justice last week said it feels Chastang’s appointment disenfranchised the voters of the predominantly black district that traditionally votes Democratic in elections. Attorney General Troy King is appealing the ruling by the Justice Department directly to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, but assuming the appeal is denied, Chastang will be forced into a special election.

“We feel that we can appeal,” Chastang said. “I feel confident and it is a clear-cut case. We were abiding by the law from the beginning.”

The funds to finance this legal battle is not coming out of county coffers, something Commissioner Mike Dean wished to have emphasized.

This will present myriad problems for any hope Chastang has of keeping the District 1 seat beyond the 2008 elections. With the new early 2008 primary, set for Mardi Gras 2008, to make Alabama a player in the 2008 Presidential race, candidates are allowed to start raising money for 2008 as early as next month. If Chastang is forced to run in a special election, he’ll have to worry about the costs of two elections within a year, which would a very expensive obstacle to overcome.

You are entering Semmes City Limits

All the talk of the City of Mobile annexing unincorporated portions of west Mobile and beyond has created a movement for Semmes to incorporate. Commissioner Stephen Nodine seems warm to the idea, but wants to make sure the people understand the consequences associated with incorporation.

“It’s a growing community and the people in that area would like their own identity,” Nodine said.

According to Nodine, the boundaries could go as far south as Airport Boulevard along Schillinger Road to the Creekwood and Dominion neighborhoods. But, Nodine doesn’t think it will change the City of Mobile’s already aggressive efforts to annex western areas adjacent to Mobile.

“I think they’ve been trying to do that for the last 10 years,” Nodine said.

If Mobile were to annex a quarter-mile beyond Schillinger Road, the Semmes Community would fall under Mobile Police and Fire Protection, however they would also be subject to City of Mobile Planning Commission and that’s something that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of some Semmes residents. Some in the community would prefer to be able to make their planning and zoning decision.

There would be no representation for Semmes residents under the jurisdiction of Mobile’s planning commission. Should this effort be successful, there would certainly have to be some sort of sales tax hike to bankroll a city government, but as that part of the county grows, it is very viable.

Aside from the Wal-Mart on Schillinger Road, there’s the possibility that the flea market could be part of Semmes and isn’t that the epicenter commerce in Mobile? That alone could sustain a small municipality.

Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.

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