Joe McAdory: Bandy, Harris announce re-election bid

Regarding Lee County Commissioner John Andrew Harris, State Representative George Bandy and himself, Alabama Senate District 28 candidate Johnny Ford declared in a press release, “We will make a good team for the future of Lee County.”

Ford, the former Tuskegee mayor and veteran of the State Legislature, announced last week the grand opening of the leaders’ joint Lee County headquarters at 1328 Auburn St. in Opelika. It’s good to see politicians work together, particularly from three different levels of government representing the same area.

I can’t help but wonder why all politicians can’t work together to make a “good team,” even if they don’t share the same campaign headquarters or the same political party.

Though Ford announced his plan to seek the Democratic Senate seat in July, Bandy and Harris announced their intentions Thursday to seek re-election to their respective posts.

Bandy has been a fixture in the Legislature since being elected in 1994. Harris is a veteran of city and county politics, serving on the Opelika City Council for many years before taking the post on the county commission in 1994.

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The Capital Survey Research Group, an arm of the Alabama Education Association, painted an interesting picture of Alabamians’ faith in state and federal government in a poll it released.

Roughly 60 percent of persons polled described their feelings toward federal government as disappointed, frustrated, angry or afraid. Ouch.

Only 38 percent of respondents had confidence “in the ability and ethics of the Alabama Legislature to fairly and productively conduct the business of the state.” Remember that when you vote next time people.

Nearly 65 percent supported the repealing of the 4 percent state sales tax on groceries. That bill, however, was voted down. And for a state lottery, 62.4 support the idea.

As for state satisfaction, 45 percent were satisfied with the direction of Alabama, while 45 percent were not. Nationally, 69 percent were dissatisfied with the direction of the U.S.
Gov. Bob Riley got a thumbs-up, with 68 percent of respondents either satisfied or very satisfied with his performance. President Obama’s performance earned a split review with 46 percent satisfied with his performance and 51 percent of respondents dissatisfied.

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Democratic Third Congressional District candidate Josh Segall will address the Lee County Democratic Club Wednesday at the Auburn University Club. The event, which is open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. with an $11 dinner.

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The Lee County Republican Club meets Oct. 27 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn at 6 p.m. with State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Kay Ivey slated to speak. An executive committee meeting follows at 7 p.m.

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Republican candidate for Lee County Family Court Mike Fellows, of Auburn, is hosting a family pumpkin hunt fundraiser today in the Dell Pumpkin Patch at Crosby Farm on Lee Road 61 in Loachapoka. The event will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“We thought this kind of event hits at the heart of our message, which is one of strengthening families and helping children,” Fellows said in a statement. “Everyone is invited. So, families can come out and hunt a pumpkin together, eat some free boiled peanuts, and learn a little about our campaign for families.”

Fellows is campaigning against Margaret Mayfield of Opelika. Fellows was appointed by Judge Richard Lane to serve as Family and Juvenile Court Referee in 2003. Mayfield is an attorney with the Lee County Department of Human Resources. Judge Lane is stepping down from his family court post next year.

Joe McAdory is editorial page editor for the Opelika-Auburn News. He can be reached at 737-2549 or jmcadory@oanow.com