Heads and tales: No representation without vexation

54, forfeit or fight: In case you were worried that 2006 would be the dullest election year in Alabama history, along comes the strange case of District 54, and along with it, the demise of the modern Democratic Party.

It started out with five candidates, with black businesswoman Gaynell Hendricks, shown at far left, and white lesbian activist Patricia Todd slugging it out in what was supposedly a clean runoff fight. (We take that back, by the way. Nasty fliers and hurled insults made for a sickening contest.) Todd won it in a squeaker, becoming the first openly gay member of the Legislature. That is, until Hendricks cried foul, with her mother-in-law challenging the vote.

Hendricks’ camp cried foul over Todd’s late campaign finance form disclosing a contribution from a gay and lesbian group. Todd’s camp cried foul over Joe Reed, chairman of the black caucus, who they blamed for issuing the challenge; he has denied it, though he has openly campaigned for a black representative to remain in power in this majority black House district.

After a delayed hearing, a state Democratic Party made a surprising move today, voting 5-0 to disqualify both candidates based on an obscure rule. That’s right: Everyone loses, which apparently is the new motto for the Democrats. How serious is this infraction? No party candidate has bothered to file a disclosure statement with the chairman in 18 years, including current gubernatorial nominee, Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley.

The party’s executive committee will hand-pick the representative Saturday, overriding two legitimate votes by the public, both favoring Todd.

So the question is: Which is worse in Alabama politics: being gay, black, white, female, corrupt, a sore loser, a Democrat or a complete ass? The answer will be revealed this weekend.
• Democratic Party committee asked to disqualify gay candidate [Associated Press]

Get wrong with God: It’s not the just the liberals who are imploding. The Christian Coalition of Alabama has defected from the Christian Coalition of America, calling the national group too pinko. And believe it or not, it’s likely the powerful state group — the third to defect this year — will continue long after the national one has thumped its last Bible. And Election Day is only 11 weeks away …
• National, Alabama Christian Coalition separate [Associated Press]

Also:

• Wanted: Rep for District 54. Great hours, good kickbacks.
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Posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006, 10:27 pm, in Headlines.
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