Sparks Condemns Riley's Hypocrisy on Gambling
November 5th, 2009by Glynn Wilson
The press in Alabama is finally reporting a story critical of Gov. Bob Riley — when he is about to leave office after a new governor is elected next year — thanks to a press conference today in Dothan by one of the governor’s key advisers for the past few years.
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| Glynn Wilson |
| Former ADECA director Bill Johnson during Bob Riley’s 2006 race for governor in the campaign office in Montgomery. |
A former member of Riley’s cabinet, Bill Johnson, said Riley received campaign contributions from Native Americans who operate casinos in Mississippi, and he said that money is still influencing Riley’s fight against electronic bingo across the state.
Johnson said a senior staffer in Riley’s 2002 campaign for governor told him that an Indian tribe that operates two casinos in Mississippi promised $3 million to the campaign, although the campaign didn’t receive the entire amount, according to a report from the Alabama bureau of the Associated Press.
Johnson served as grass-roots and logistics coordinator for Riley’s campaigns for governor in 2002 and 2006, meaning he was in charge of the campaign sign operations in counties around the state, and Riley appointed him director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. But he resigned to run for governor as a Republican this year because of a falling out with the governor, sources in Montgomery say today.
In a letter to the Legislature last week, Riley denied the charge in anticipation of the press conference, saying any suggestion that his efforts to prohibit electronic bingo could leave Indian casinos with a statewide monopoly on the machines is a “baldfaced lie.”
“When we have proven our determination to combat illegal gambling in our state, the federal government will have to address this issue at Indian casinos,” Riley wrote.
In reaction to the news today, Ron Sparks, the Fort Payne Democrat who is the only candidate in the governor’s race running on a pro-gambling platform, commended Johnson for revealing Bob Riley’s hypocrisy on gambling.
“Johnson’s admission that Riley took millions of dollars from Mississippi casinos to protect their market share, confirms testimony already on record from Senator John McCain’s Senate Committee,” the Sparks campaign said in a press release.
“It is time to stop playing politics with the casino issue,” Sparks said. “As governor, I will fight for statewide regulation, taxation of gaming for the benefit of schools and Medicaid, and the development of casinos to bring badly needed jobs to Alabama.”
The protection of the Mississippi casino market has cost Alabama hundreds of millions of dollars, he said. “Its time for that to end. As governor, I will stand up for the people of Alabama and not the casino owners in Mississippi.”
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Tags: Alabama, Bill Johnson, Bob Riley, Gambling, Indian Casinos, Ron Sparks
November 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Also today, 28 sheriffs from across Alabama gathered to endorse Ron Sparks for Governor, according to a press release. The sheriffs cited Ron Sparks’ long-standing commitment to law enforcement, many years of statewide service, and understanding of the challenges faced by Alabama’s sheriffs as their reasons for supporting Sparks.
Sheriff Mike Blakely from Limestone County said that the law enforcement community knows, trusts, and needs the leadership and experience of Ron Sparks in the Governor’s office.
“The next Governor of Alabama must be a strong leader with a proven track record of working with county law enforcement,” said Sheriff Mike Blakely. “We know Ron and have worked with him for years. He understands the vital role sheriffs play across this state and he is a true friend of law enforcement.”
The endorsement of these law enforcement leaders builds on Sparks’ already impressive list of supporters, including Barack Obama’s Alabama Political Director, Jerome Gray, and former Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington. Additional endorsements from local leaders who share Sparks’ values and beliefs are expected in the near future.
“I am extremely honored that these local law enforcement leaders have chosen to endorse me,” Sparks said. “There is nobody in Alabama who appreciates our sheriffs more than I do. I know these folks and I fully understand the importance of what they do. I promise that I will continue to work with them to help keep our families and neighborhoods safe.”
The Alabama sheriffs who endorsed Sparks Thursday were:
Leroy Upshaw, Barbour County
Kenny Harden, Butler County
Kevin Davis, Chilton County
Ronnie May, Colbert County
Dennis Meeks, Covington County
Tyler Roden, Cullman County
Jimmy Harris, Dekalb County
Larry Plott, Franklin County
Dennis Miller, Jackson County
Ronnie Willis, Lauderdale County
Kevin Williams, Marion County
David Abston, Pickens County
Jimmy Abbett, Tallapoosa County
Richard Stringer, Washington County
Keith Hannah, Bibb County
Sid Lockhart, Chambers County
James Lovette, Choctaw County
Edwin Booker, Conecuh County
Charles West, Crenshaw County
Harris Huffman, Dallas County
Rodney Ingle, Fayette County
Gred Ward, Geneva County
Terry Perkins, Lamar County
Mike Blakely, Limestone County
Scott Walls, Marshall County
Russell Thomas, Pike County
John Mark Tirey, Walker County
Ed Townsend, Winston County
November 5th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Video…
November 5th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Just in from Pam’s list:
I had the honor of not only listening to Mr. Johnson’s speech in Dothan I also got to listen to Mr. Johnson again in Montgomery later in the day. Mr. Johnson was pressured by the media that was present as to where Mr. Johnson got his information. Mr. Johnson was reluctant at first to give any names however HE DID and a Mr. Dan Gans. Mr. Gans apparently, was Bob Riley’s political finance director.
Again, this information needs to be verified. I pray that NOW someone in the federal government will take a microscope and stick Riley where the sun don’t shine.
Alabama and Gov. Don Siegelman need to KNOW and THE TRUTH isn’t beyond reach any longer … It’s just around the corner…
Scott