Cut ties, or step down

By Joe McAdory

Published: June 3, 2008

Saw a letter from PSC President candidate Matt Chancey to State Republican Chairman Mike Hubbard that not only raised questions about Hubbard’s business dealings with Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, but also called for Hubbard’s resignation from the GOP Chair if ties to the Cavanaugh campaign are not cut. That’s a pretty strong request.

Here is the letter:

May 30, 2008
Chairman Mike Hubbard
Alabama GOP
P.O. Box 55628
Birmingham, AL 35255

Dear Mike,
I was surprised to see that your firm, Network Creative Media, received substantial business from Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh’s campaign during this primary season. As you are well aware, Twinkle is in a three-way race for the Republican nomination for Public Service Commission President (I am one of the candidates).
As Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, do you not see the glaring conflict of interest and unprofessional conduct of a state chairman working for one Republican nominee over another in a primary?
Moreover, I find it extremely troubling that you would take such a partisan role in a race whose largest contributor, Stan Pate, has maxed out his contribution limit to liberal Democrat Vivian Davis Figures, who is running against Jeff Sessions for the U.S. Senate! Pate also maxed out his limit with John Edwards’ failed bid for the Democrat nomination for President.
If Stan Pate wants to give Twinkle lots of money, that’s his business, and if Twinkle wants to take his money after Stan spent a fortune trying to beat her former boss, Governor Bob Riley, that’s her business.
But I find it highly irregular that you would put yourself in a prominent role in Twinkle’s campaign when a state chairman’s job is to focus on building the party—a goal which is not helped when the Chairman takes an active role supporting and personally profiting from one candidate over another during a contested primary.
I respectfully request that you cut all business ties with the Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh campaign or that you step down as state chairman.
Sincerely,
Matt Chancey
Candidate
President, Public Service Commission

Chancey obviously brings up some good points. But is Hubbard doing anything wrong? I really do not know. Maybe the Ethics Commission has the answer, or perhaps were sought for counsel before any financial transactions were made. Who knows? I think the timing of the letter, basically written then found in mass emails on the eve of the primary, is interesting. One thing’s for sure, this makes for good political drama.

Regardless, Tuesday night’s winner will meet Democratic challenger Lucy Baxley in the general election.