By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Wednesday, former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin (R) sent out an email announcing her plans if elected as attorney general.
โI have been traveling around the state meeting and talking with many Alabamians who are resonating with my message about why I am running as Attorney General. The AG quite simply โguardsโ the rule of law and your safety,โ Martin said.
Martin said that she would guard, โYour constitutional freedoms from assault by the left liberals or guarding against federal overreach, the prison doors and ensuring local convictions obtained by your DA are upheld on appeals & criminals serve their time, your tax dollars from wasteful spending and corrupt officials, your personal identity from computer hacks and the sanctuary of your home against domestic violence.โ
โOctober is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and one important reason I am running for Attorney General is to be a voice for victimsโ rights,โ she also said. Martin said that 18 percent of violent crimes in Alabama in 2016 were domestic violence assaults. โLetโs protect our homes, our freedom and tell the โstatus quoโ politicians we are on guard! Elect me as your Attorney General, and I will be your Alabama Guardian.โ
โDomestic Violence is Family Violence. In 2016, 11 percent of homicides involved domestic violence and 43 people died. There were 238 rapes. Forty-two percent of the victims were girlfriends and ex-girlfriends and 37 percent were men. Eighteen percent of all violent crime in 2016, in Alabama was related to domestic violence. It is the gateway to child abuse, sexual exploitation and human trafficking,โ Martin wrote.
โI have prosecuted domestic violence cases. As a municipal judge and Circuit Court Judge, I presided over hundreds of domestic violence cases. Iโve heard every excuse imaginable. In 1990s, I served on Governor Fob Jamesโ Task Force on Domestic Violence. I also chaired the committee to write the first โbench manualโ on domestic violence for the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. It was my honor to serve as a board member for Safe Place, my local domestic violence center. While our laws have been updated, there is more to do! It is time we had an Attorney General who can add her voice for the victims and time we reduce domestic violence. For more information on Domestic Violence visit these sites: 2016 Domestic Violence in Alabama by County Report and 2016 Domestic Violence in Alabama Statistical Report.โ
Martin is a former U.S. Attorney, a former Deputy Alabama attorney general and a former judge. This, however, is a very competitive Republican field for attorney general.
Martin came in to September with $245,348 in campaign funds. In September, she raised $34,845 and ended the month after expenditures with $271,229 in cash on hand.
Incumbent Attorney General Steve Marshall came into September with $219,595. He raised $83,400 in cash contributions during the month, but spent $29,710 and finished with $273,327. Marshall is a former Marshall County district attorney.
AG Marshall was appointed to the office by former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) after Bentley had appointed former Attorney General Luther Strange (R) to the U.S. Senate to replace Jeff Sessions (R).
Chess Bedsole began the month of September with a $300,000 personal loan. In September, he raised $175,300, and spent $73,434. Bedsole entered this month with $402,070.
Sam McLure only raised $2,510 in September and has only $3,884 in cash on hand.
Bedsole, Marshall, Mclure and Martin are all running for the Republican nomination for attorney general.
Democratic attorney general candidate, James Christie, has a beginning balance of $27,305 and raised $3,305 in September. Christie only spent $500 and entered October with $30,415.
At this point, James Christie is the only Democratic candidate for attorney general.
The major party primaries are on June 5, 2018.