Grassroots Round-Up
In elections, a Grassroots campaign is defined as a political process which originates from the common people as opposed to campaigns supported by larger organizations or wealthy individuals with concentrated vested interests in particular policies.
Let’s RoundUp those roots and see what happened this year.
New Jersey’s Bob James campaign web site states that his “…is a grassroots campaign”
Those roots seem to run pretty deep with over $30,000 in campaign contributions which included donations from Ammons & Blackmon Construction of Spanish Fort, the Fairhope Paving Company, Daphne City Planning Commission member Larry Chason (who is also a member of James’ campaign committee), Daphne City attorney Jay Ross (who is representing the city against TimberCreek Land Company in their suit against the blocked sub-division) and “in-kind” payments from Daphne Mayor Fred Small.
DC born and Atlanta bred Tucker Dorsey didn’t pretend to run a grassroots campaign but he does say he “… will be willing to make difficult decisions that will insure that Baldwin County remains financially secure.” Also, that he believes “...the county must reduce its debt. Baldwin County currently owes more than $178 million. “
His campaign was certainly financially secure with over $67,000 in contributions. Interestingly less than $1,700 of that come from within his own district..!
Contributors included a Liberal (pun intended) sprinkling of construction companies and other people with special interests in the building and property business including Allen Cox, Asphalt Services of Spanish Fort, and Ammons & Blackmon Construction.
Conecuh County native Frank Burt didn’t have any opposition, but that didn’t deter his supporters giving him over $23,000. Almost a third of that total came from generous people outside District 1, including $1,000 from Richard Miller (of TimberCreek Land Company fame) on 7th July – well after the deadline when someone could have run against Mr. Burt.
Another notable contributor, again after the deadline, was Baldwin County Sewer Service LLC.
Compare those kinds of numbers with the contributions made to third generation Baldwin stalwart Charles Gruber. He didn’t even need to raise $5,000 to resoundingly win the only contested commission seat in the general election. $2,500 of that total came from the Baldwin County Republican Party (did they back any of the other Commissioners? I couldn’t find any evidence that they did).
Gruber also received $500 from… you guessed it - Ammons & Blackmon Construction. The Spanish Fort company certainly covered all the bases by backlng every candidate in every contested seat.
Like Burt, Gruber also received a contribution from Baldwin County Sewer Service LLC but his campaign reports show that he returned the money.
A discussion on contributions wouldn’t be complete without mention of Blackburn & Conner.
The Bay Minette based law firm contributed $250 to James and a massive $2,000 to Dorsey.
Why does that name ring a bell, you may ask?
Well, the Commission (minus Gruber of course) decided to get rid of its in-house legal department which was costing around $85 per hour and retain the services of Blackburn & Conner at $225 per hour. After ten hours billable work they should start showing a good profit on their investment in the new Commissioners.
I don’t have the facts so this is only hearsay, but I read on the web that Blackburn and Conner have never won a case against Baldwin County. Hmmmm..!
To badly misquote Shakespeare: “There is something rotten in the county of Baldwin”
Allegedly.
Unfortunately this is the legal and political environment in which we exist and in our blissful ignorance - tolerate.
I repeat; until the democratic system is changed that limits the voter to be allowed to vote ONLY for the representative from his or her district, this practice will continue to thrive and the voters will gleefully support "the change" until the true facts are revealed. But by then it is too late!
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