Baxley kicks off campaign for Alabama governor

[Thom Little]

Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley kicked off her Democratic campaign for governor Wednesday, saying it's time for Alabama to have another female governor after four decades of men in the state's highest office.

Baxley, Alabama's first female lieutenant governor, is seeking to become the state's second woman governor. Lurleen Wallace became the first, but she won the 1966 race as a stand-in for her husband, Gov. George C. Wallace, who was barred by law from succeeding himself at that time.

"For the past 40 years, we have picked governors by saying, `Well, the new guy can't possibly be as bad as the old guy.'" Baxley said. "Well, this year I don't think the new guy should be a guy at all. I think it should be a woman, and I am that woman."

Baxley is making her first race for governor, but she's no stranger to gubernatorial campaigns. Her ex-husband, former Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1978 and 1986. They divorced after the 1986 race, and she is now married to Jim Smith.


http://www.al.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1136399347305110.xml&storylist=

[Retired AF Dem]

1. It sure would be nice

if she would take a stand about SOMETHING, anything.

[AUYellowDog]

2. She has

You can read her platform here:

http://www.lucybaxley.com/newsletters/newsletter5.htm

[jody]

4. Baxley's platform is not clear. She says "Provide a state death benefit

for survivors of veterans killed in the line of duty."

Alabama already does that by providing four years of college to survivors, see "Alabama G.I. and Dependents' Educational Benefit Act."

VA does much the same so the two programs may be duplicative but Baxley's platform does not say specifically what she would do that is not already done. Moreover, I don't agree that Alabama tax payers should pay costs associated with injuries to Guard troops while on federal duty, that's a federal cost.

[nealmhughes]

3. Actually she has an issues link on her homepage, too.

She supports a Bible literacy program for those who want it. This being the Most Serene Christian Republic of Alabama, I would assume that volunteer SBC pastors would teach it. Her comments on health care are meaningless, feelgood hot air. No mention on full funding for ADAP. No comment on raising Alabama's minimum wage.
To be honest, it isn't much different from Riley's platform.
Her rhetoric on restoring faith in government is good. I'm a bit worried about the school discipline portion, as it doesn't really seem to mean much. Is it that big a problem in Alabama?

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. To be honest,

I didn't see anything there to get all excited about. I was hoping for more. Is she a moderate?

[AUYellowDog]

6. She has to be

If you're not a moderate in Alabama, you can't win. Hell, I'm tempted to say that if you're not a conservative, you can't win, but Artur has been succesful.

There's a saying I'm familiar with, and I'm begining to believe it's true: "An Alabama Democrat is just a New York Republican."

Brandon

[Daylin Byak]

7. What are you talking about....

Artur Davis isn't liberal, he's flat out conservative and that's why he's the new rising star of the DLC.

But hey being a conservative Democrat is how you get votes in 'Bama(not to mention the whole deep south) from Howell Heflin to Richard Shelby(before the switch)they were Democrats and were flat out conswrvative.

If everything goes our way Davis could be the Democratic nominee to face Jeff Sessions in 2008.

[nealmhughes]

8. We need to remember Alabama's long tradition of populist politics.

Reuben Kolb, for example was probably elected governor twice at the turn of the 20th century but got the election stolen by bourbons in the southern half of the state. Let's not forget Big Jim Folsom, either. George started out as a liberal populist, but decided to play the race card and look at what that got him...
Alabama was founded on Jacksonian political policies, but my what our following constitutions have got us... "Alabama has been f.u. since they moved the capitol from Huntsville" one local historian told me once. They did that in 1820.

[unsavedtrash]

9. I need to get a lucy sign and bumper sticker. Where is her Tuscaloosa

office?

[Syrinx]

10. here's the contact person

I'm not sure if she has a Tuscaloosa campaign office per se. But this is the Tuscaloosa County contact information from her website. I hope this helps.

Mr. Claude Burns
[e-mail]
[phone]