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John Ross

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Lovvorn’s Consultant Linked to Hubbard’s Machine

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Republican primary to elect a replacement for disgraced lawmaker and convicted felon Rep. Mike Hubbard will be held on Tuesday. Jay Conner, Joe Lovvorn, Sandy Toomer and Brett Smith are all in the running to represent District 79, but parts of the former Hubbard machine are pushing Lovvorn … Continued
September 12, 2016

Ethics Commission Inserts Itself in Superintendent Selection, As Do Others

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Selecting the next State Superintendent of the Department of Education is playing out with Machiavellian intrigue, as an ethics complaint filed against Dr. Craig Pouncey, a candidate for superintendent, emerged to cloud the proceedings. Allegations made anonymously include falsifying authorship of his Doctoral Dissertation and a wide-range of conspiracies. … Continued
August 9, 2016

Senator Dial Calls on Board to Ignore Special Interests in Superintendent Selection

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY— State Senator Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) sent a letter on Wednesday, cautioning members of the State Board of Education to ignore the corrupting influence of special interest groups and legislators, who are working to influence the appointment of a new Superintendent of Education. In his letter Dial wrote, “I … Continued
July 8, 2016

What Happened in Vegas: Troy Professor’s Mission to “Bring Down” RSA

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The leadership of the Republican supermajority wants to reform the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA). Along the way, their efforts have been buoyed by, The Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University. The Johnson Center is one of many institutions which is funded by the Charles … Continued
June 27, 2016

Remembering Those Who “Like Mike” and Wanted To Protect Him

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Fifteen members of the State House of Representatives, one Senator and a US Congressman attended the pep rally for Mike Hubbard the day after he was indicted on 23 felony counts of public corruption. In February of this year, 37 House members signed a letter to US Attorney General … Continued
June 16, 2016

Hubbard Trial Day Five: Sumner Fries Hubbard

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
June 1, 2016

Who are the Players for Day Five?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Today begins the fifth day in the felony criminal trial against Speaker Mike Hubbard, who is charged with 23 counts of public corruption. The State, on Friday, released the names of twelve witnesses who will give testimony on a range of topics including Hubbard’s role in placing 23 words … Continued
May 31, 2016

Hubbard Trial: Day Two “100,000 Reasons”

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA—”A bad day for the defense” is how one prominent defense attorney described Day Two of the Mike Hubbard felony trial. Hubbard’s former chief of staff, Josh Blades, was the State’s star witness on this second day of testimony. Blades revealed Hubbard’s actions regarding the adding of 23 words … Continued
May 26, 2016

Hubbard’s Scheme to Enrich Himself Was Aided Primarily by Former Gov. Riley

  By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Mere months after passing the self-proclaimed toughest ethics laws in the nation, it appears that Speaker Mike Hubbard colluded with former Governor Bob Riley to circumvent those very laws. This, according to the State’s response to Hubbard’s request to have the 23 felony charges against him dismissed on … Continued
September 23, 2015