By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, US Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) claimed that fellow US Senate candidate Luther Strange’s forces are preparing to unleash millions of dollars in negative attack ads against Congressman Brooks and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (R).
Brooks’s campaign claimed that an Alabama citizen received a brushfire poll by Strange and that that citizen took notes, and reported its contents to Congressman Brooks. Brushfire polls help a campaign draft attack ads.
Congressman Brooks said, “President Trump campaigned on ‘draining the Swamp’ in DC. Well, ‘The Swamp’ is supporting Luther Strange, and they’re getting ready to unload millions of dollars in attacks on Judge Moore and me. Big Luther needs to tell his ‘Swamp Critter’ friends to stay out of Alabama. We can decide this election just fine on our own.”
According to the report from the Brooks campaign, after asking questions that promote Luther Strange, the brushfire poll explored potential negative attacks against Judge Roy Moore and Congressman Mo Brooks.
Brooks said, “The Strange Forces understand the threat posed by my unmatched record of proven conservative leadership coupled with my unblemished 30-year public service record of high ethical conduct. My record confirms that I have, and always will, put Alabama and America ahead of my own personal interests.”
Strange aligned Super PACs have already publicly committed to purchasing $2.4 million worth of advertising.
Former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange (R) was chosen as US Senator by former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) when Sen. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as US. Attorney General. Some have questioned whether or not it was ethical for Strange to accept an appointment to the US Senate from Gov. Bentley even though there was an Attorney General’s investigation into possible criminal ethics and campaign law violations by Bentley.
Bentley would later be forced to resign after an Alabama Ethics Commission investigation recommend to the Montgomery District Attorney’s office that Bentley be prosecuted for four felonies. Bentley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts rather than likely impeached by the Alabama House of Representatives, which had conducted its own independent investigation, and then possibly removed by the US Senate.
In campaign commercials, Strange has taken credit for both the Bentley investigation and removal as well as the conviction of Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn). In the Hubbard investigation and subsequent trial, Strange recused himself and appointed retired St. Clair County District Attorney Van Davis (R) as acting Attorney General for the Hubbard investigation due to his close ties to Hubbard, who was the Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party during Strange’s campaign for AG.
Rep. Brooks is currently serving his fourth term in the US House of Representatives.
Brooks previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives for three terms. When he was elected in 1982, Brooks was the only Republican member of the House north of Birmingham. Brooks also has been Madison County District Attorney, Madison County Commissioner, a law clerk, and Tuscaloosa County Assistant DA.
Rep. Brooks graduated from Grissom High School in 1972. He graduated from Duke University with a double major in political science and economics. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Alabama Law School.
Congressman Brooks serves on the Armed Services; Science, Space, and Technology; and Foreign Affairs Committees.
Mo Brooks is married to Martha Jenkins of Toledo. Martha is a retired CPA and a former middle school teach. Mo and Martha have four children and eight grandchildren.
There are eleven Republicans seeking the GOP nomination. They include: James Paul Beretta, Joseph F. Breault, Randy Brinson, Mo Brooks, Dom Gentile, Karen Haiden Jackson, Mary Maxwell, Roy Moore, Bryan Peeples, Trip Pittman, and Luther Strange. Eight Democrats are running for the office as well.
The Special Primary Election for the US Senate seat will take place on August 15, 2017. If necessary, the major party primary runoffs will be on September 26. The General Election will be December 12.
