Possible Opponents Eyeing AG Troy King's job

The Associated Press ^ | 6/18/2005 | Phillip Rawls

[AzaleaCity5691]

Possible opponents eyeing AG Troy King's job 6/18/2005, 5:42 p.m. CT By PHILLIP RAWLS The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's appointed attorney general, Republican Troy King, is busy touring the state, laying the groundwork for a campaign next year, but others are considering whether they want to try to keep his service short.

Both Democrats and Republicans say they are contemplating a run for attorney general next year, when King plans to seek a full four-year term.

On the Democratic side, Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson says he's forming a campaign committee and hopes to make an announcement soon.

Tyson has spent 25 years in elective office — 14 years on the State Board of Education and 11 as DA in Alabama's second largest county. "The 25 years give me a vantage point that others just don't have," he said Friday.

On the Republican side, Montgomery attorneys Will Sellers and Mark Montiel say they've received encouragement to run, but have made no decision. Sellers, who has worked in many Republican campaigns, has never run for statewide office before, but Montiel, a former appointed judge on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, made an unsuccessful statewide campaign for the post.

Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Terry Butts, who represent Roy Moore in the legal battle over his Ten Commandments monument, had looked at possibly running for attorney general, but then he switched his sights in March to the lieutenant governor's race. Now, with Republican Public Service Commissioner George Wallace Jr. looking at the lieutenant governor's race, some Republicans are encouraging Butts to take another look at the attorney general's contest.

So far, Butts has announced no change in plans, but he hasn't filed campaign paperwork for the lieutenant governor's race either.

CONTINUED

[Theodore R.]

Well, is Roy Moore going to run for governor or not?

[AzaleaCity5691]

He'll run (and I'll be voting against him)

But, I do agree with the part about him probably running a slate. Just like he did last year in the Supreme Court races. Roy doesn't just want to be Governor, he wants all his people in office too so he'll have no opposition. He's a hell of alot like Wallace in that regard.

Next years elections are going to be a battle royale, in the GOP between the Moore and anti-Moore, and in the Dems, because well, Don Siegelman will do whatever he has to to win that nomination, and even if he loses, he is going to have Baxley's negatives up real high. Siegelman's campaign is actually based on "Bob and Lucy will raise your taxes, I won't"

Which means it's another campaign that will center around the lottery (the only issue he's ever had)

Both races are going to get nasty real quick, I think the beneficiaries of business money will primarily be Riley and Siegelman, and the beneficiaries of trial lawyer money will be primarily Roy and Baxley, though more of that money will go to Baxley.

[moog]

He'll run (and I'll be voting against him) But, I do agree with the part about him probably running a slate. Just like he did last year in the Supreme Court races. Roy doesn't just want to be Governor, he wants all his people in office too so he'll have no opposition. He's a hell of alot like Wallace in that regard. Next years elections are going to be a battle royale, in the GOP between the Moore and anti-Moore, and in the Dems, because well, Don Siegelman will do whatever he has to to win that nomination, and even if he loses, he is going to have Baxley's negatives up real high. Siegelman's campaign is actually based on "Bob and Lucy will raise your taxes, I won't" Which means it's another campaign that will center around the lottery (the only issue he's ever had) Both races are going to get nasty real quick, I think the beneficiaries of business money will primarily be Riley and Siegelman, and the beneficiaries of trial lawyer money will be primarily Roy and Baxley, though more of that money will go to Baxley.

Don't you just love politics??

[Kuksool]

A wild card factor that could influence the primaries would be the gay marriage amendment vote. The referendum is going to drive up voter turnout. And it wouldn't necessarily help Judge Roy Moore. Baxley, and Riley also support the gay marriage ban as well.