Some Ala. Democrats seek candidate for governor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Some key Alabama Democrats not content with their choice of Artur Davis or Ron Sparks for governor keep encouraging others to enter the race.

One of Alabama's best known circuit judges, Charles Price of Montgomery, is the latest to join the list of those being recruited.

Price told The Associated Press that he recently received a visit from members of the black wing of the state Democratic Party, the Alabama Democratic Conference, encouraging him to consider the Democratic race for governor. The delegation included ADC Chairman Joe Reed, who's also associate executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association and a vice chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Price said Tuesday he hasn't made a decision. But he added, "The county courthouse is where my heart is and where my devotion is."

Price, who has been a judge for 26 years, received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 1997 because of his ruling that required then-Circuit Judge Roy Moore to remove a Ten Commandments plaque from his courtroom or put other historical documents around it.

Price's home county recently recognized his service by naming the courthouse in his honor.

Price is African-American, like Davis, a Birmingham congressman seeking to become Alabama's first black governor. Sparks, a two-term agriculture commissioner, is white.

Reed said Wednesday he contacted Price because he's respected throughout the state, he's been supported by the Alabama Democratic Conference for many years, and the ADC wants to encourage more black politicians like Price to seek statewide office.

All statewide offices are currently held by whites.

Jess Brown, a veteran political scientist at Athens State University, said Davis did not come up through the traditional African-American political organizations in Alabama. The recruitment of other candidates could mean the leaders of those organizations "view Congressman Davis as being pretty independent of them," and they are looking for someone from within their ranks, Brown said.

The recruitment of other Democrats began after Democratic Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. made a surprise announcement April 1 that he would seek re-election rather than running for governor.

The next day, state Senate budget chairman Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, announced that he was getting approached by many people, including members of the State Democratic Executive Committee, to consider the race now that Folsom was out. Bedford, who is white, eventually decided to seek re-election to the Senate.

Democratic Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb also had discussions with key Democrats, including Paul Hubbert, executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association and a vice chairman of the state Democratic Party. She announced recently that she's considering entering the governor's race.

Davis' spokeswoman, Anna Ruth Williams, said Wednesday he had no comment on the latest development.

But last month, Davis complained that some political insiders were recruiting other candidates because they felt threatened by his candidacy. "If we were still in the era when political insiders determined who the nominee would be, I wouldn't have a chance," Davis told The Birmingham News after an appearance in Birmingham.

Sparks said Wednesday it's not surprising that party leaders would recruit other candidates because Republican Gov. Bob Riley can't run again and the seat is open.

"As far as Joe Reed or other leaders going out, I have no problem with that," Sparks said