Alabama Politics » Tim James

18 months of campaigning ends for Tim James

Erin Dixon — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:23:16 +0000

“I have no regrets”, said Tim James this afternoon in Montgomery as he graciously dropped out of the race to be Alabama’s next governor. James who launched his campaign 18 month ago thanked his campaign staff, the capital press corps, and his family for their support. Speaking of the recount that cost him anywhere between $215,000 and $225,000, James said, “Unfortunately we didn’t change the totals, but we did do it right.” When asked if he would endorse one of his republican colleagues in the July 13^th runoff, James said, “We will just have to see where we go.”

James said he wants to encourage the legislature to look into election reform during their next session in 2011. He noted that it is better to have answers before a recount happens rather than to decide the answers during the process. Charging the state to look forward and find a way to elect good people in the fall, James said he was not sure what the future held for him. With a big smile, James said he knew one thing for certain, he can be found in Greenville for the next few weeks.

Bentley Team Questions Recount

Rick Journey — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:40:38 +0000

The new campaign manager for Rep. Robert Bentley (R-Tuscaloosa) questions the credibility of the recount in the Republican primary based on 16 unsealed ballot boxes in Jefferson county.

The AP reports today16 boxes of ballots were found unsealed. The AP story quotes Rep. Arthur Payne (R-Trussville) as saying the sheriff’s department explained to him seals are sometimes improperly secured or damaged when transported. Rep. Payne is monitoring the JeffCo recount for Rep. Bentley.

In a statement emailed to reporters this morning, Bentley campaign manager Bryan Sanders continued his criticism of the current process.

The email reads in part:

“The AP report confirming irregularities in the Jefferson County recount process makes it difficult to have confidence in this petition-based recount going forward.”

Sanders continued: “The AP report of irregularities in Jefferson County confirms our position that a petition-based recount administered by untrained volunteers is less accurate and less reliable than the original count administered by qualified election professionals sworn to uphold the Constitution of Alabama and of the United States.”

“Any discrepancies between the total number of votes cast in the recount and cast on election night need to be fully explained and understood or it will be impossible to have any confidence in the accuracy of the recount.”

State GOP spokesman Phillip Bryan says nearly half of the counties will hold the recount today. The remainder will hold the recount Wednesday with maybe two holding off until Thursday due to staffing issues.

Tim James paid for the recount after trailing Bentley by 167 votes. Bentley is set to face the June 1st primary leader, Bradley Byrne, in a July 13th runoff.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

Alabama GOP Recount Set for Tuesday

Rick Journey — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:37:02 +0000

Secretary of State Beth Chapman put it this way in an email to GOP chairman Mike Hubbard and the James and Bentley campaigns over the weekend:

“Mr. Tim James petitioned for a recount. The Republican Party chairman agreed to a recount, the Attorney General agreed to a recount, I have agreed to a recount…. A recount for Mr. James is the one thing that everyone has agreed to.”

Today, Attorney General Troy King complains of “misinformation” concerning his advisory opinion.

This is the statement his office released this morning:

“Tim James accused me of blocking his recount from going forward. That is simply not true. My Opinion said the recount could go forward, and, it is indeed going forward tomorrow. If Mr. James wishes to challenge the primary election after tomorrow’s recount, he is certainly free to do so. His challenge would be before the State Republican Party – not the Attorney General’s Office – and neither Mr. James nor the Republican Party is required to follow an Attorney General’s Opinion. The Opinion request was made by the Secretary of State for her guidance and it was written for that purpose alone.“

Republican party officials expect the recount to begin tomorrow, but believe it could last through Thursday.

Right now, Tim James campaign is waiting for the process to begin after a weekend of talking with Chapman and GOP chairman Mike Hubbard. A spokesman says the campaign cut the checks to go out to the counties to pay for the recount and filed a “statement of contest” to protect the campaigns rights in the event there is a contest of the vote.

The Bentley campaign made news over the weekend, overhauling staff. Campaign manager David Ferguson and comms director Steven Berry are out, Mike Huckabee son-in-law Bryan Sanders is in. Sanders works for Dresner, Wickers and Associates, which has advised the Bentley campaign. The change made Politico news today.

The frontrunner in the June 1st primary, Bradley Byrne is on the Gulf Coast today, it would appear far, far away from the recount.

His campaign has posted a new commercial called Protect in recent days.

Read more of Rick Journey’s political blogs here.

Tim James Asking for Recount

Jonathan Hardison — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:39:34 +0000

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James announced Monday night he will seek a recount of the votes cast in last Tuesday’s primary election.

James, in an email to supporters Monday night, said he did not expect the race to be as close as it is.

“Needless to say, last week’s primary election was a surprise,” James said. “We didn’t expect the race to be as close as it is, with a margin of some 200 votes. But, we’re moving forward.”

James is currently in third place, 208 votes behind Robert Bentley. If the vote totals stand after provisional ballots are counted this week, Bentley will face Bradley Byrne in a runoff on July 13th.

“What’s apparent now is that we will need to recount the vote,” James said in the statement. “There is nearly a 100% chance that when you recount votes, especially with as many as 492,000 cast in this primary, the numbers will change.

“My No. 1 concern is knowing whether we won or lost,” James said. “Today, I spoke with Dr. Robert Bentley. No matter who’s up or down tomorrow after provisional ballots are counted, there will be a recount.

“I do not want to win this race unless I win this race. I am not out to change votes. I just want to make sure there is an accurate count.”

James did ask for his supporters to help pay for the cost of a recount. The state Republican party would be in charge of the recount, and party officials estimate the recount could cost between $300,000 and $600,000.

“If it’s up to us to pay for a recount, it will be costly,” James said. “That’s why I am reaching out to you tonight. Please consider whatever you can give at this time and make a contribution to my campaign.”

In an interview last week, Alabama GOP chairman Mike Hubbard said of a possible recount, “It will be a logistical challenge, there’s no doubt. We would have to hire workers and hire overseers to comply and do it in a short amount of time.”

Provisional ballots are scheduled to be counted Tuesday, then the final vote tally certified by each county will be sent to the state Republican party headquarters in Birmingham for final certification with the Secretary of State on Friday.

AL GOP considering rule change to stop crossover voting

Jonathan Hardison — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:25:08 +0000

It could be more than a week before we find out who will face Bradley Byrne in the runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Secretary of State Beth Chapman today said provisional ballots will be counted and the vote certified next Tuesday or Wednesday, and only after that could Tim James or Robert Bentley ask for a recount.
Right now Bentley leads James by 208 votes.
The state GOP is gearing up for what could be a big logistical nightmare and is thinking about changing its rules on who is allowed to vote in that runoff because of all of this.
Republican party officials say they are concerned that Democrats and possibly even the AEA might try to influence the outcome of the runoff election because of the AEA’s dislike for Bradley Byrne. Byrne has campaigned on his pledge to fight the AEA’s influence on state government.
Right now, Alabama Republicans allow what’s called “crossover voting,” meaning anyone can vote in their runoff elections, even if they voted in the Democratic primary on June 1st. Democrats put a rule in place several years ago that prohibits that, and Republican party chair Mike Hubbard today said he thinks the Republicans should do the same before the July 13th runoff.
“I think that’s something we ought to consider,” Hubbard said Wednesday. “And I think it makes sense, I don’t know anybody who would have a problem with that. It just stands to reason if you voted in Democrat primary, then you shouldn’t be able to come over and have an influence in who the Republican nominee is.”
The state party could put that rule in place anytime in the next couple of weeks.
Once the primary vote is certified next Tuesday, this really becomes the Alabama Republican Party’s show. If James remains in third place by just a few hundred votes, he could ask for a recount, but the Hubbard says he has to ask for it by next Friday, and be willing to pay for the whole process.
That’s just the start of what promises to be a very busy next few days at party headquarters in Homewood.
“We don’t know if a recount is going to be requested,” Hubbard said. “The earliest it could would be next Tuesday after the provisional ballots have been counted. So we’ll just have to see if there is a request, and if there is we’ll be prepared to execute it if that’s what need’s to be done.”
If James or Bentley requested a recount after Tuesday’s certification, it would be up to the state party to run the process, with the candidate picking up the tab that could run between $300,000 and $600,000.
It will be a logistical challenge, there’s no doubt,” Hubbard said. “We would have to hire workers and hire overseers to comply and do it in a short amount of time.”
The recount would involve having representatives from the state party as well as from each campaign in every county to watch the votes being counted. Hubbard says his party would like to finish all that by the end of next week.
So what do Bentley, James, and for that matter Byrne do now during this uncertainty with the clock ticking on their 6 week spring to the runoff?
“I think this is just a natural time for there to be a quiet time, if you will,” Hubbard said. “You always need to be working behind the scenes, working on your campaign and making sure you have your operations together. But it’s not a time when you’re actually out doing a whole lot of campaigning with the media.”

Election Return Party Video

Erin Dixon — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:26:04 +0000

Gubernatorial candidates Tim James, Roy Moore, Bradley Byrne, and Ron Sparks all chose to hold their election return parties in the capital city. Here is some early video from their campaign parties. More videos will come later in the evening.

Follow Us On Election Night

Erin Dixon — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:29:56 +0000

Looking for election return results on June 1^st? Look no further, we will post all results on this blog.
Want to see video of candidates at their election return parties and even some acceptance and concession speeches? We will have it right here.
Desperate for up to the minute tweets on election returns? That’s right, AlabamaPolitics will have that for you.

On election night we will keep you up to date with returns, video, and happenings across the state. Stay with us, we will take care of you on June 1.

Bradley Byrne Campaign Responds to Tim James

Rick Journey — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:46:14 +0000

The Bradley Byrne campaign just released a statement from Comms/Policy Director Marty Sullivan concerning Tim James, the Toll Bridge commercial reaction and calls for an apology to James father, the former governor Fob James.

“The facts speak for themselves. Without the law his father supported and helped pass, and without the contract his father signed just days before leaving office, Tim James has a bridge to nowhere. He’s spent months on the campaign trail telling Alabamians this project was built – 13 miles in months -without ‘one red cent’ of taxpayer money. That’s just not true. It’s Tim James who owes an apology – to the people of Alabama.”

Earlier today, James called for Byrne to apologize to his father, Fob, “because he has questioned the integrity of an honest man.”

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

Tim James Attacks Bradley Byrne Ad

Rick Journey — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:58:37 +0000

“We’re getting attacked by my opponent who is desperate and pathetic.”

Those words from Tim James in a conference call this afternoon in reaction to a new Bradley Byrne commercial.

“The man is lying through his teeth,” Tim James says about his Republican rival for the nomination for governor.

The commercial calls James involvement in the private Foley Beach Express a Montgomery insider deal made possible by the fact James father, Fob James, was governor at the time. Byrne also takes issue with James claims about public funding. While federal dollars were used, the Byrne camp maintains James has previously boasted no public funds were used.

Former Foley engineer Dave Rowell and former mayor now probate judge Tim Russell, joined James on the conference call today.

“It would have been tougher,” James says, had Foley not secured federal funding that built the 7 1/2 miles of road that connects the toll bridge/road. Still, Tim James insists his father’s influence played no role in the project and funding was not complete until 6 months after Fob James had left office.

Foley’s former mayor says it was, in fact, also difficult to be involved in a project that involved the son of a governor because of caution from Montgomery.

Russell says “in my 61 years this project has been one of the most successful public works projects for south Baldwin county.”

James started the day with a campaign stop in Vestavia Hills where he called on Byrne to apologize to his father, the former governor, for questioning the integrity of an “honest man.”

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

AL GOP: James, Moore, Bentley and Byrne on TV this week

Rick Journey — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:21:02 +0000

Tim James launches a new campaign commercial called Language today.

We’ve noticed Roy Moore is now up in Birmingham with one of his musical spots. This one from Elements of Difference.

Moore is also touting an endorsement from retired racing legend Bobby Allison.

Dr. Robert Bentley has returned to television this week with the One Candidate spot.

Monday, Bradley Byrne responded to The Liberal Bradley Byrne spots with this commercial.

The response ad comes as Sebastian Kitchen reports in The Montgomery Advertiser that PAC’s heavily funded by the AEA contributed to the True Republican PAC, which launched the anti-Byrne commercial.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.