BCA's ProgressPAC Announces 2006 Candidate Endorsements

In the 2006 General Elections, the Board of Directors of ProgressPAC, the political action committee of the Business Council of Alabama, has endorsed seven candidates for constitutional offices, 11 candidates for the judiciary, and 92 candidates for the Alabama Legislature. A downloadable Pocket Voter Guide is available on our site.

ProgressPAC endorsements are made on the basis of recommendations by BCA members who live and work in the communities the candidates serve, or will serve if elected. As participants on the ProgressPAC Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) in their area, BCA members at the local level take an active role in determining which candidates are willing to stand-up for business and industry by supporting positive, pro-growth public policy that will fuel the engine of progress and economic development in Alabama. A volunteer local business leader chairs each RAC and brings his or her committee recommendations to the ProgressPAC board of directors for final consideration and approval.

"We are pleased to enter the 2006 election cycle with the endorsement of these candidates who have proven they understand the vital importance of a strong business environment to Alabama's future," said ProgressPAC Chairwoman Carol Gordy, CEO of Natural Decorations, Inc. in Brewton. "In addition to our legislative endorsements to date, we are proud to have endorsed candidates for key constitutional offices, along with several members of Alabama's judiciary who are proven conservative jurists, and whose only agendas are dedication to the rule of law and fairness under the law for all Alabamians."

Gov. Bob Riley is one of the constitutional officers to receive the ProgressPAC 'seal of approval.' "This organization endorsed Gov. Riley in 2002 and we are proud to do so again," Gordy said. "Without question, this governor has done all he said he would do, and more. Our economy is strong and getting stronger; our new and dynamic work force development system is being recognized as a model nationwide; the Riley administration has cut millions of dollars in wasteful government spending; he has implemented smarter budgeting procedures; and he is working hard to better prepare our children to compete globally and meet the technological challenges of the future. We believe Alabama is definitely on the right track and Gov. Riley is the right leader at the right time to keep us moving forward."

The ProgressPAC board also voted to endorse several other candidates for Constitutional offices. In addition to its endorsements of incumbents Treasurer Kay Ivey and Attorney General Troy King, ProgressPAC also endorsed Birmingham attorney Luther Strange in the race for Lieutenant Governor, Beth Chapman for Secretary of State, Samantha "Sam" Shaw for State Auditor and incumbent Ron Sparks for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industry.

In races for the Alabama judiciary, the ProgressPAC board has to date endorsed:

Alabama Supreme Court:  
  Incumbent Supreme Court
Chief Justice Drayton Nabers 
   
  Incumbent Supreme Court
Associate Justice Lyn Stuart,  for Place 5
   
  Incumbent Supreme Court
Associate Justice Champ Lyons, for Place 2
   
  Incumbent Supreme Court
Associate Justice Tom Woodall, for Place 3
    
  Incumbent Alabama Civil Appeals Court
Judge Glenn Murdock, for Place 4
   
Alabama Court of  Civil Appeals: 
  Terry Moore, for Place 1
  Incumbent Court of Civil Appeals Judge Craig Pittman, for Place 2
   Terri Willingham Thomas, for Place 3
 
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals: 
  Incumbent Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Greg Shaw, for Place 1
 Incumbent Court of Criminals Appeals Judge Kelli Wise, for Place 2
   Judge Deborah Bell Paseur, for Place 3
 

For the Alabama Legislature:

On the recommendations of BCA's nine Regional Advisory Committees, the ProgressPAC board has endorsed the following candidates for the Alabama Legislature:

For the Alabama Senate (alphabetically): Incumbent senators Lowell Barron, District 8; Tom Butler, District 2; Bradley Byrne, District 32; Larry Dixon, District 25; Hank Erwin, District 14; Vivian Figures, District 33; Steve French, District 15; Jimmy Holley, District 31; Del Marsh, District 12; E.B. McClain, District 19; Larry Means, District 10; Wendell Mitchell, District 30; Hinton Mitchem, District 9; Jim Preuitt, District 11; Bobby Singleton, District, 24; Harri Anne Smith, District 29; Jabo Waggoner, District 16; and candidates Scott Beason, District 15; Ben Brooks, District 35; Rep. Rusty Glover, District 34; Parker Griffith, District 7;  Jim Ingram, District 13; John McMillan, District 22; and Arthur Orr, District 3.

For the Alabama House of Representatives (alphabetically): Incumbent representatives Gerald Allen, District 62; Mike Ball, District 10; Jim Barton, District 104; Warren Beck, District 87; Marcel Black, District 3; Alan Boothe, District 89; Duwayne Bridges, District 38; Steve Clouse, District 93; Spencer "Jack" Collier, District 105; Randy Davis, District 96; Paul DeMarco, District 46;  Bill Dukes, District 8; Priscilla Dunn, District 56; Joe Faust, District 94;Lea Fite, District 40; Craig Ford, District 28; Blaine Galliher, District 30; Victor Gaston, District 100; Mac Gipson, District 88; David Grimes, District 73; Ken Guin, District 14; Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, District 92; Micky Hammon, District 4; Mike Hill, District 41; Ralph Howard, District 72; Mike Hubbard, District 79; Steve Hurst, District 35; Tammy Irons, District 1; Jamie Ison, District 101; Ron Johnson, District 33; John Knight, District 77; Richard Laird, District 37; Jay Love, District 74; Jimmy Martin, District 42; Barry Mask, District 31; Jim McClendon, District 50; Mary Sue McClurkin, District 43; Frank McDaniel, District 26; Steve McMillan, District 95; Mike Millican, District 17; Pat Moore, District 15; Johnny Mack Morrow, District 18; Charles Newton, District 90; Arthur Payne, District 44; Oliver Robinson, District 58; John Rogers, District 52; Yusuf Salaam, District 67; Howard Sanderford, District 20;  Sue Schmitz, District 6; William Thigpen, District 16; Lesley Vance, District 80; Cam Ward, District 49; Jack Williams, District 47; Nick Williams, District 65;  Randy Wood, District 36; and candidates Alan Baker, District 66; Greg Canfield, District 48; Mike Curtis, District 2; Owen Drake, District 45; Chad Fincher, District 102; Alan Harper, District 61; Benjamin Lewis, District 86; A.J. McCampbell, District 71;  Mac McCutcheon, District 25; Pat Moore, District 15; Harold Raley, District 85; Henry A. White, District 5; and Greg Wren, District 75.