Hillary Clinton announces Alabama leadership team
More than 60 Alabama officials, including U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham and a couple dozen state lawmakers, were tapped to build Hillary Clinton's campaign organization in the state, the Clinton campaign announced Friday.
The launch of Clinton's "Alabama Leadership Council" comes a month after the former secretary of state and Democratic front-runner visited Hoover to give a speech to the Alabama Democratic Conference convention at the Wynfrey Hotel. In her speech, Clinton called the state's decision to close 31 driver's license offices "a blast from the Jim Crow past," and slammed Alabama's voter ID laws. Clinton is also set to visit the state Dec. 1, when she's scheduled to be in Montgomery to help mark the 60th anniversary of the bus boycott.
The council "will serve as the in-state leadership for the campaign, amplifying the campaign's national voice to Alabama families aiding the campaign with rapid response, organization building, grassroots organizing events, recruiting volunteer leaders, and identifying leaders for get out the vote activities," the Clinton campaign said. The leadership council members "share Clinton's commitment to fighting for Alabama families, including raising wages for the middle class, her plan to reform health care to reduce prescription drug costs, her passion for reforming the criminal justice system and her belief that debt should never be a barrier for students going to college and much more."
Sewell, the top elected official on the council and an early endorser of Clinton, said the former secretary of state is "the most qualified candidate to run for president."
"Hillary Clinton understands the needs of working families, and whether it's her plan to make college more affordable, defend our voting rights, reform our criminal justice system, or help in raising incomes, it's clear she is a proven fighter for underserved and underrepresented communities," she said. "Hillary Clinton shares the values of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, and I am confident in her ability to tackle the tough issues facing our nation."
Republicans used the announcement to slam Clinton's positions and record as secretary of state.
"Hillary Clinton's Alabama leadership team should explain why they stand with a candidate who refuses to break from the President's failed strategy to defeat ISIS," Republican National Committee spokeswoman Ali Pardo said in a statement. "Even as the Obama-Clinton foreign policy lies in tatters, Clinton continues to double down on the existing Obama strategy and show why she cannot be trusted to keep America safe."
State Rep. Dario Melton, D-Selma, is among five state senators and 25 state lawmakers on the council and praised Clinton for her Hoover visit.
"I was proud to see Hillary Clinton reaching out to the people of Alabama by coming to break bread with the Alabama Democratic family," he said. "Her dedication to working with Democrats even in deeply red states shows that she understands the weight and worth of each and every vote, and will be a president for all Americans."
Birmingham Mayor William Bell, who shared the stage with Clinton at the Wynfrey, said the Democratic front-runner "has demonstrated that she has the knowledge and compassion to lead this country. To that end, I along with other political leaders are forming the Alabama Leadership Council to assist her in this noble effort to become the next president."
Leanne Townsend, a grassroots organizer who was the first person hired by Clinton's campaign in Alabama back in May, said Clinton is "the obvious candidate to energize grassroots leaders and to begin to rebuild unity among the sometimes splintered Democrats of Alabama."
The initial members of the Alabama Leadership Council also include former Gov. Jim Folsom, Jr., former Congressman Earl Hilliard, Sr., and ex-Selma Mayor James Perkins Sr. The full list, which is expected to expand, can be viewed below:
• US Representative Terri Sewell
• State Senator Linda Coleman
• State Senate Vivian Davis Figures
• State Senator Pricilla Dunn
• State Senator Rodger Smitherman
• State Senator Bobby Singleton
• House Democratic Caucus Chair Darrio Melton
• State Representative Louise Alexander
• State Representative George Bandy
• State Representative Barbara Boyd
• State Representative Napolean Bracy
• State Representative James Buskey
• State Representative Merika Coleman
• State Representative David Colsten
• State Representative Chris England
• State Representative Laura Hall
• State Representative Alvin Holmes
• State Representative Kelvin Lawrence
• State Representative Richard Lindsey
• State Representative Artis J. "A.J" McCampbell
• State Representative Thad McClammy
• State Representative Mary Moore
• State Representative Oliver Robinson
• State Representative John Rogers
• State Representative Patricia Todd
• Birmingham Mayor William Bell
• Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford
• Sheriff Derrick Cunningham
• District Attorney Michael Jackson
• State School Board Member Dr. Yvette Robinson
• State School Board Member Ella Bell
• Probate Judge Steven Reed
• Former U.S Congressman Earl Hilliard Sr.
• Former Governor Jim Folsom Jr.
• Former First Lady Marsha Folsom
• Former Lieutenant Governor Jere Beasley
• Former State Senator Rodger Bedford
• Former Mayor of Selma James Perkins Jr.
• Retired Federal Judge U.W. Clemon
• Retired Circuit Court Judge Charles Price
• DNC Member Rev. Randy Kelley
• DNC Member Unzell Kelley
• DNC Member Janet May
• DNC Member Charles "Redding" Pitt
• Civil Rights Advocate Fred Gray
• Community Leader Leanne Townsend
• Community Leader Jim Spearman
• Community Leader Greg Allen
• Community Leader Pat Edington
• Community Leader Giles Perkins
• Community Leader Patrick Grayson
• Community Leader Faye Rose Sanders
• Community Leader Jordon Cozby
• Community Leader Courtney French
• Community Leader Darby Luxenburg
• Community Leader Dr. Joe M Reed
• Community Leader Freddie Rubio
• Community Leader Natalie Kelly
• Community Leader William "Billy" Young
• Faith Leader Bishop Effell Williams
• Grassroots Volunteer Leader Vivian Beckerle
• Grassroots Volunteer Leader Timothy Bolden
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/11/hillary_clinton_announces_alab.html
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