Posted on 09/18/2005 6:48:10 PM PDT by LdSentinal
MONTGOMERY - Former Gov. Don Siegelman is no longer using the word "if" when he talks about running for governor next year.
"I intend to be a candidate for governor in 2006," Siegelman told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Washington, where he was raising money for his campaign. "I have listened to the people of Alabama. I have learned that a good many of them want me in this race."
He wants to get the campaign for governor started early and has suggested a series of debates, starting in November, featuring the major players he expects to join him in the run for the governor's mansion - Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, incumbent Gov. Bob Riley and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. He said one set of debates could feature the Democratic candidates, while the Republicans square off in a separate event.
Baxley, who has been campaigning for several months, is expected to face off against Siegelman in the Democratic primary June 6. Riley has yet to announce if he will seek re-election and be a candidate in the Republican primary. Moore has said he is "praying about" whether he should run.
"I think it's important for those people who intend to be candidates to begin to have conversations about the issues that are important to this state," Siegelman said.
Debates would most likely help Siegelman, who could rely on knowledge gathered during 20 years in elected office, said Jess Brown, a political science professor at Athens State University.
"Given his background in the public limelight and as many debates as he has been in, I think he would feel comfortable in that arena," Brown said. He said debates might particularly help him in a Democratic primary race against Baxley, a former state treasurer, who he said is not as experienced at reacting during a debate.
Siegelman comes out looking strong even if the other candidates turn down his offer to debate, Brown said.
Siegelman said the debates would give the candidates a chance to discuss their proposed solutions to problems facing Alabama, including recruiting new industries, funding education and providing services for senior citizens.
"We need to talk about how we're going to pay for these things - how we're going to fully fund Medicaid," Siegelman said.
Siegelman has said he was hesitating about committing to the campaign because of the strain it would put on his family, but he said his family is behind his decision to run for governor.
Siegelman's earlier administration also has been the subject of a federal grand jury that has been meeting off and on since last summer. Federal prosecutors have said they hope to wrap up the grand jury's work this month. Siegelman says the grand jury investigation is part of a longrunning smear campaign against him.
Must have missed this in the article ... is Siegelman a Demoncrat or a Republican?
He will lose..The worst guv ever in Bama....even worse than Lurleen...Riley is crap but at least he is our crap...Moore has no shot so dont even bother with it
Democrat. At one point he was indicted for Medicaid fraud conspiracy, but the government dropped the charges because they didn't have enough evidence. Other than that, he didn't shine as a governor.
Siegelman is a Democrat.
Ah, it figures ... I can hear his ugly rhetoric now ... .
Moore has no shot so dont even bother with it.
Recent polls in Alabama disagree with you. A poll last spring showed that in a race between Moore and Riley, Moore would win by 8 points. In a race between Siegleman and Moore, Siegleman loses by even more.
Riley will be a one-termer. Sure there are a lot of folks who don't like Moore, but don't forget that around 200,000 more voters voted for Moore for Chief Justice in 2000 than voted for Riley for Governor in 2002. If Riley had supported Moore when the monument was an issue, Riley would not have Moore to run against him.
I think it's all a moot point since we're probably going to have to get used to saying Governor Lucy...
Why can't we have "None of the above" as an option on the ballot?
If it wins, the election must be held again, but the previous candidates are not allowed to run, and the office remains unfilled until someone besides "None of the above" wins the election.
"None of the above" is the ONLY candidate who will address the problems of Alabama.
Here's a hint:
"Siegelman's earlier administration also has been the subject of a federal grand jury that has been meeting off and on since last summer."
Sounds like it might be worse than NEW JERSEY and this is a VERY corrupt state.
I would not be so quick to rule Moore out. He has a large base in Alabama who would love to get a chance to vote him into office.
I think it's all a moot point since we're probably going to have to get used to saying Governor Lucy...
Could be worse...after all, everyone loves Lucy...
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