By Karen Williamson
Alabama Republican Party Executive Director John Ross told local Republicans Saturday morning that despite the failures of former Gov. Don Siegelman and the upcoming trial Monday of the former Secretary of State Nancy Worley, who is accused of violating election laws, he chose to take the high road and look to the future than rather discussing the pair.
“I think it’s sad that we’ve been in a position in this state where we’ve had elected officials that can’t be trusted,” he said. “They’ve done some things to benefit themselves while they have been in office.”
Ross has been in his position for only three months. State GOP Chairman Mike Hubbard recruited Ross after the two worked on Gov. Bob Riley’s first campaign in 2002. Ross said the pair worked closely together including on an inaugural event and during other events.
Prior to that, Ross worked on the staff of Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville. He described Aderholt as a person of integrity and character.
“I can certainly say after working for Robert Aderholt for three years, I don’t know a finer person,” said Ross drawing applause.
Ross said he and his wife loved Decatur, so their decision to move was difficult.
“The reason I did (move) was because I saw a lot of the same characteristics and qualities in Mike Hubbard,” said Ross. “I knew that if I took this job and came on I would have every resource I needed to make sure this party was great and move forward and do the kind of things we wanted to do.”
At the party Web site, www.algop.org, Mike Hubbard chastised Democrats for continuing to defend Siegelman “even after his felony convictions on government corruption charges.”
Hubbard said Siegelman’s four years in office were filled with scandals and unethical behavior.
“Don Siegelman’s closest aides and friends pled guilty to government corruption charges and willingly testified against him,” said Hubbard on the Web site.
The former governor is currently in federal prison in Atlanta serving a seven-year, four-month sentence.
Meanwhile, Worley’s trial begins Monday. She faces felony and misdemeanor charges for sending campaign letters, campaign contribution envelopes and bumper stickers to five of her employees in the secretary of state’s office.
The two issues he and Hubbard hear the most about at the state party level are illegal immigration and double dipping.
He praised U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions for his leadership to derail the immigration bill.
“He was the leader in the senate on that,” said Ross. “We need to get behind him and show him we support him,” drawing another round of applause.
Sessions is up for re-election in 2008.
On the double dipping issue, Gov. Bob Riley has recently proposed that legislators be banned from working at two-year colleges following a criminal investigation of the system. Ross said the reason the state is pursuing the issue is because corrections can be made by the State Board of Education.
Former House Member Bradley Byrne has been appointed Chancellor of the Alabama Post-Secondary Education System and is expected to make a recommendation on the issue later in the summer, Ross said.
Ross said he was often asked by people what they could do as individuals to help the party. While he said talking to people and volunteering was priceless, he asked attendees to promote the Capital Club where individuals donate $180 a year or $12 a month to the party.
Ross closed by speaking about the presidential primary.
“We’ve moved our primary up to February 5, so we’re one of the earlier states to do this,” said Ross. “We’re getting a lot of attention from candidates around the country.”
Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards have visited the state and Barack Obama will be in Birmingham on Monday campaigning. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean was in Alabama a few weeks ago. Ross said Hubbard offered to buy Dean a plane ticket anytime he wanted to visit the state.
“All he does is help our cause,” said Ross drawing laughter. “I think as people around the state begin to look at how the national Democrats stand on issues, they are going to begin to say that’s not how I feel.”
Ross said he received calls from reporters across the country regarding the upcoming presidential primary.
“It’s real gratifying to me that a guy in a suit sitting on the subway in New York on his way to work one morning is reading about what people and voters in Alabama think and how we feel on things,” Ross said. “Regardless of how you feel on the issues, that’s good for the state of Alabama.”
