Jim Sumner

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA—Former Alabama Ethics Commission Director, Jim Sumner, testified authoritatively and effectively with devastating consequences for the defense on Day Five of the criminal trial of Speaker Mike Hubbard. In spite of Hubbard’s attorney, Bill Baxley, attempting to marginalize Sumner’s testimony, Judge Jacob Walker, III sided with the State and … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—On his first Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission (in 2010), Sen. Phil Williams (R-Rainbow) listed no professional or consulting clients. However, on his latest filing for 2014, he enumerated 43. Williams’ clients include: 3 Loan and/or Finance Companies worth between $1,000 – $10,000 … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—It is not widely know that the Alabama Ethic Commission provides confidential opinions to public officials, especially legislators…but they do. Under former Director Jim Sumner, verbal advice was given from time to time without the weight of protection. Under the new administration of Tom Albritton, that private advice comes … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The former dean of the Cumberland School of Law, Judge John Carroll has accepted a position as the acting Director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, replacing the retiring Jim Sumner. On Wednesday, August 28, the Commission voted to offer the acting director position to the recently retired Cumberland Law … Continued

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Jim Sumner, director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, received the Council of Governmental Ethics Law’s annual COGEL award this year. He was presented the award while on a visit to their meeting in Quebec City on December 11th. Sumner has been the director of the ethics commission since 1997, … Continued

  By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter In a recent report by Mike Cason, at Al.com, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said they are considering “tighter restriction on former lawmakers working as State House lobbyists.” This is akin to an idiom of improbability, like when pigs fly or cows … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—When Rep. Jay Love helped push through the Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) favored by for-profit charter school companies, he may have already been planning his departure for the more lucrative world of “education reform from the private sector.” Love (R-Montgomery) announced last week that he is resigning his house … Continued