Gov. Bob Riley mulling 9 names to replace new U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks on Madison County Commission
Published: Thursday, December 30, 2010, 7:00 AM
By
Challen Stephens, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, AL — If Gov. Bob Riley intends to tap a replacement for Mo Brooks, he’ll have to make his choice soon.
So far, at least nine people have expressed interest in stepping into the seat representing south Huntsville on the Madison County Commission.
Among the early contenders for Riley’s approval are Lisa Parker, the wife of three-time GOP congressional candidate Wayne Parker, Frances Taylor, a Republican candidate for state representative this year, and Phil Riddick, chair of the political action committee of the South Huntsville Civic Association.
“My name is in the hat,” confirmed Riddick, who is the son of former Probate Judge Frank Riddick. “We’ve haven’t heard a whole lot.”
Taylor and others haven’t had any feedback yet, either. But Todd Stacey, Riley’s spokesman, said that Riley has to wait until Brooks officially vacates the seat in order to make an appointment.
Brooks, elected to Congress in November, held the seat for the last 14 years. The commission plays a significant role in a growing county, as commissioners decide all manner of road projects, as well oversee the sheriff’s budget and the courthouse. The work is hardly without compensation, as Brooks’ part-time office pays $66,600 a year.
Riley told The Times editorial board last month that he planned to make the appointment before his term expires on Jan 17. Otherwise he could be forced to leave the decision to Governor-elect Robert Bentley.
Brooks, while driving up to Washington on Monday, said that he planned to resign from the commission on Jan. 5, the same day he is sworn into Congress.
That leaves Riley a 12-day window.
But sources in Montgomery say Riley has had plenty of time, as several people had already contacted Riley before Brooks had even won a congressional seat. In fact, some supporters openly approached Brooks on election night, before the results were in, to ask about securing the commission seat.
What is clear is that this seat, just like every contested seat in Madison County last month, is headed toward a Republican. And that means the push to raise the countywide sales tax would be unlikely to find a new champion.
The commissioners have been at the center of a years-long public wrangle, as school and business leaders have teamed up to ask the commission to raise the sales tax rate to support public schools. In dramatic fashion, the effort twice died at the commission for want of a single vote. Brooks was an unwavering “no” vote.
Brooks said he’s staying out of the decision. “I have not had any communications directly or indirectly with Gov. Riley’s office,” he said last week. “I know too many of the people involved.”
But Brooks did say specifically that his successor should oppose any tax increase.
Walt Hennessy, a member of U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith’s staff, and Ken Gawronski Jr., a candidate for state school board earlier this year, are also interested.
“I want to be able to give back to the community, represent my friends, family, neighbors,” said Gawronski, who said he opposed increasing taxes in down economic times.
James Brown, a banker for 33 years and a Huntsville native, has also expressed his interest to Montgomery.
“I think Mo Brooks has represented that district pretty well,” said Brown on Monday. “And I want to make sure we have someone in there who continues to look after the interest of that district.”
The local business folks in the Committee of 100, whose members have supported the tax increase, recommended Vince Dickens of Camber Corporation for the slot. Dickens is a member of the Young Professionals arm of the Committee of 100. Dickens didn’t return a call for comment.
“During the interview Vince demonstrated specific knowledge on issues facing the county,” said Dave Hargrove, chairman of Committee of 100 political action committee. “Specifically he was open to discussing solutions relative to our public schools funding crisis.”
Hargrove said the Committee interviewed nine candidates, including former mayoral candidate Michael Polemeni and small business owner Mark Splawn.
It’s an impossible to name a frontrunner. Parker’s husband, Wayne Parker, notably endorsed Brooks during the last congressional campaign. And her father, former Texas Congressman Bill Archer, had already placed a call to Montgomery last month, according to Riley.
But sources in Montgomery say Riddick is receiving support from Huntsville groups, including real estate agents, while Taylor, vice president of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women, has political connections in Montgomery.
And the Committee of 100, said Hargrove, while writing Riley to recommend Dickens, also found something to compliment in others, such as Riddick, Parker and Splawn.
In the end, whoever Riley picks comes into a sizable political advantage. Commissioners in this county don’t tend to be voted out of office, in part because urban commissioners pass out cash to voters. That’s hundreds of thousands each year in discretionary support for all sorts of charities and schools and PTAs and pet projects, most within their small district.
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