By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, Alabama State Representative Jim McClendon (R) from Springville spoke to the gathered St. Clair County Republican Executive Committee in Pell City. McClendon said that he and Senator Gerald Dial (R) from Lineville had just finished testifying that week before the three judge federal panel in the challenge to the state’s redistricting trial.
McClendon said that Judge Bill Pryor was the presiding judge on the panel. Rep. McClendon said, “I expect to hear something in a month or so. I feel comfortable with what we have done. General Dial and I spent three years trying to put something together that could get through DOJ and the courts.”
Rep. McClendon said that the redistricting case is actually two lawsuits. The Alabama Legislative Black Caucus sued the state over the redistricting plan, which they argue limits Black influence in the legislature. Demetrius Newton (D) also sued. Rep. Newton’s Birmingham district HD 53 is moving to Madison County and McClendon understands why Rep. Newton is unhappy with that plan.
McClendon said that Rep. Joe Hubbard’s (D) HD 73 also is moving. In his case from Montgomery to the middle of Shelby County. McClendon told the St. Clair County Republican Executive Committee that he expected to hear something from the court in a month or so. Rep. McClendon said that MSNBC called him to be on their television new network and on air he told them that the Supreme County verdict in the Shelby County versus Eric Holder case was, “A glorious day down here in Alabama.” “They have not called me back.”
Rep. McClendon said that he will be leaving his House District 50 seat in 2014, but that redistricting had made HD 50 one of the most conservative districts in Alabama. Rep. McClendon announced that he is running for the State Senate to represent District 11.
McClendon said that his campaign, “Will be our first chance to have a Senator that lives and represents St. Clair County.” McClendon said that he will be running against one of the most liberal senators in Montgomery in incumbent Jerry Fielding (R) from Sylacauga. Fielding was elected as a Democrat in 2010, but switched parties in 2012. McClendon said that his campaign will be having fundraisers in September in both Moody and Pell City.
On Friday St. Clair County Republicans received an announcement that Jerry Fielding would be holding a fundraiser on Thursday, August 22. State Senator Del Marsh and Jabo Wagoner will be special guests. Also on Thursday, the Democratic candidate for Senate District 11, Ron Crumpton met with the St. Clair County Democratic Party to promote his candidacy for Fielding’s seat. Crumpton will be on the Democratic Primary ballot on June 3 if another Democrat qualifies for the Seat. McClendon and Fielding will face each other in the Republican Party Primary that day. The winner will face Crumpton (assuming he is the Democratic nominee) in November 2014.
