Women's group supports Siegelman

Women's group supports Siegelman

MONTGOMERY -- Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley figures to get strong support from other women as she tries next year to become Alabama's first female governor since Lurleen Wallace succeeded her husband, George, almost four decades ago.

But one newly formed group of Democratic women has already cast its lot with someone who hasn't even said for sure that he's running: former Gov. Don Siegelman.

For her part, Baxley said she's not worried about "Women for Siegelman" -- the fledgling online discussion group started by Democratic activist Pam Miles of Huntsville. Citing the fact that a Siegelman e-mail account has circulated a recruitment letter from Miles, Baxley cast the effort as little more than a calculated extension of the former governor's active-yet-unannounced bid for another term.

Miles told the Mobile Register that she started the group of her own volition "to begin a dialogue and build support for the governor." Miles is a member of the Madison County Democratic Committee and the state Democratic Executive Committee. She ran unsuccessfully in 2002 for a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.

A longtime Siegelman sup porter, Miles said she would back Siegelman again because of his record on women's issues -- and, she added flatly, because she hasn't heard Baxley "take a position on much of anything."

"If Lucy is our nominee, of course I will support her, and I will vote for her," Miles said. "But at the end of the day, Don Siegelman is a proven leader."

Referring to Baxley's terms as state treasurer and lieutenant governor, Miles continued, "Her being only in ministerial positions, she hasn't proven leadership. Not coming out on issues is very disturbing to me -- and to many other people."

Retorted Baxley, "I don't think that it's any secret to anybody that (Miles' recruitment e-mail) is coming from his office. ... I certainly assume that she is very devoted to him. ... And I certainly don't think she speaks for all Democratic women."

Baxley also took issue with the recruitment letter that Miles is distributing, in part with the help of Siegelman's e-mail chain.

Miles wrote, "With all due respect, (Governor) Bob Riley has not shown good leadership. ... Roy Moore's leadership, no matter how much he might try, will be divisive. My friend Lucy Baxley-Smith just hasn't taken a stand ... though she did say numerous times that she voted for Bob Riley's tax increases."

Said Baxley, "It's interesting that she would use the terms 'my friend' when she is being used to criticize me. But she's got a right to express herself. ... That just goes with the turf."

Miles conceded that she and the lieutenant governor "are not buddies."

Siegelman said Miles contacted him about her idea before sending out her first recruitment letter. "I was flattered," he said. "She reminded me of some things we'd done for women that I had forgotten."

Among other accomplishments, the letter notes the former governor's successes in recruiting automobile manufacturers, reducing the number of portable classrooms in the state and expanding insurance coverage for mammograms.

Siegelman has already filed the necessary campaign paperwork with the secretary of state to run for governor. He said he will make his intentions known after finishing his ongoing statewide tour of town hall-style meetings. By the end of last week, he said he had made stops in 55 of Alabama's 67 counties.

University of Alabama Professor William Stewart, a noted observer of state politics, said Miles' letter offers early evidence that a Siegelman-Baxley primary fight is unlikely to be friendly.

Stewart cast the tone of the letter as a "cheap shot," particularly the reference to "Lucy Baxley-Smith." Lucy Baxley was married to former Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley and kept his name when the couple divorced. She married lobbyist Jim Smith after she was elected state treasurer, but opted to keep the Baxley surname, she has explained, because that is the way voters know her.

"I think they are trying to take the initiative early to counter the obvious tendencies among Democratic women to support Lucy," Stewart said of Siegelman supporters.

But, he added, that strategy may be fruitless. "Many of these women would like to see a woman in the governor's office, and Lucy Baxley is their best chance of that in a long time. Most of the Democratic women I talk to are enthusiastic about supporting Lucy. ... I can't put a number on it, but I haven't talked to one yet who is supporting Siegelman."

Siegelman, a Mobile native who now lives in the Birmingham area, argued that a female candidate who expects support from other women simply because of their common gender "does so at their own peril."

For her part, Baxley said she agrees: "I expect significant support from all women and significant support from all men."

Tweet this!