Bradley Byrne

Bradley Byrne Congress

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Bradley Byrne Candidate for Governor

Biographical information on Bradley Byrne, a candidate for governor: Political party: Republican

Date of birth: Feb. 16, 1955 (54)
Hometown: Born in Mobile, now lives in Fairhope.
Education: Bachelor's degree from Duke University, law degree from University of Alabama.
Professional experience: Practiced law in Mobile for 25 years, primarily in business and employment litigation.
Political experience: Elected to the State Board of Education in 1996 originally as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1997; reelected in 2000; elected to state Senate in 2002; re-elected in 2006; resigned from Senate in May 2007 to become chancellor of Alabama's two-year college system; leaving chancellor's position to run for governor.

BRADLEY BYRNE Information
BRADLEY BYRNE

SUMMARY:
PACT Board Member As chancellor of the ACCS, Byrne automatically received a seat on the board of trustees of the Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Plan (PACT). Byrne dutifully attended his first quarterly meeting after becoming chancellor and skipped the next 5 in a row over the next two years as the program collapsed.[xxxv] While Byrne did not have day to day management responsibility of PACT, his apparent failure to dutifully serve his role as a trustee could give voters pause when considering him for governor. The governor must maintain interest and oversight on literally dozens of different boards and commissions serving the public interest.

Byrne Pro-Tax Positions Call for a Constitutional Convention SB99 Introduced by Senators Byrne R, Little (T) D, Smitherman D, French R , Coleman D, and Figures D Committee Referred to: Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections First Read: 06, March 07 This measure would call for an election to submit the question of whether to call for a constitutional convention, which, if passed by legislature and approved by the voters of Alabama, would have opened the door to giving the Alabama Legislature a carte blanche in raising taxes.

Raise School Taxes throughout Alabama SB354 Introduced by Senators Byrne R, Enfinger, D, Butler D, Roberts, D, Means, D, Marsh R, Little (T) D, Dial D, Denton D, Tanner D, McClain D, Ross D, Escott D, Penn D, Barron D, Smitherman D, Figures D, French R, Biddle D, Steele D, Lindsey D, and Sanders D Committee Referred to: Finance and Taxation Education First Read: 01 April 03 This measure would propose a constitutional amendment setting for each county a 30 mil minimum to ad valorem or other taxes for the public education system. If passed, over half of the Alabama 127 school systems would see an increase in ad valorem taxes. Example: Montgomery County would have to more than triple its county school tax from 8 mills to 30 mills. Other county school millage rates: Madison 21 to 16, Etowah 16, Mobile 21.5 to 29.5, Baldwin 12, and Autauga 10.

Pro-Amendment One. In 2003, Byrne also voted supported Amendment 1 ($1.2 billion in tax increases largest tax hike in state history), voting yes on all 10 tax bills.

Pro-Amendment One II. In 2008, Byrne, as chancellor of the two-year college system, announced his support for Amendment One of 2008, which removed money from the state trust account funded from the royalties and lease proceeds of oil and gas exploration in Mobile Bay.) The funds were used to cover operation cost of government.

Board of Education
Bradley Byrne was elected in Nov 1994, as a Democrat, to the District 1 seat on the Board of Education representing the following Counties: Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia. He defeated Sen. Bill Menton in the primary and Republican Phillip Brady in the general election. Apparently, he did not carry Mobile and Baldwin counties, but won in Escambia in a close race. He was elected on the basis of his support for wiser spending of school dollars, bringing about change, new leadership and new enthusiasm. He supported Gov Folsom s Alabama First Plan. He wanted to give greater voice to parents, Principals and teachers, supported performance-based education and the A+ Coalition for Better Education.

The Switch
Two years later July 96, Bradley made the jump to the Republican Party before the Nov elections, and later stated he intended to run again in 98 for the Board of Education. There was some discussion by other Board members and staffers regarding his allegiance to the Republican philosophy. Stephanie Bell said,he seems to be in lin; David Byers viewed with skepticis; Dick Brewbaker referred to Byrnes oversight of the two year system as, in line with GOP thinking; some expressed optimism, but were not ready to comment; Mobile County Treasurer Beckerle stated he is basically a conservative, but a moderate one; Beckerle wondered if he would be true; Jerry Lathan said, he will be welcomed, but he also will be seriously looked into in terms of does he really believe in the Republican platform. Democrat Party Chairman Turnham said, he is a Democrat until he says otherwise.

Voting Of interest to Conservatives, in 1996, Bradley voted to refuse $5.68M in Federal funds associated with Goals 2000. This was in line with groups such as Eagle Forum of Alabama. However, Byrne later reversed his vote after he spearheaded the reopening of the issue to the dismay of Byers and Bell.

Constitutional Reform As a State Senator in 2007, Byrne expressed the need to reform the Alabama Constitution with the League of Women Voters. He continued to discuss the details of the change process and the grassroots plan for this change in follow on discussions.

Gambling Byrne has long been considered soft on social/moral issues by conservatives. In 2004, he was one of only three GOP state senators to fail to vote no on the Bingo for Books gambling expansion bill pushed by gambling boss Milton McGregor[xxix] the most significant gambling expansion legislation introduced during Byrne s four years in the legislature. While Byrne did not vote on Bingo for Books (his vote was recorded as pass which means he did not vote), he CANNOT claim to have been absent on that day as he DID vote in the only other final recorded roll call vote of the day.[xxx] Today, Bradley Byrne has taken anti casino stand, even saying he’s opposed to a vote by the people on whether to legalize gambling or tax gambling revenues.

Democrat Roots Throughout he 1980s Byrne was an active Mobile-area Democrat, working in numerous area party campaigns.[vii] According to the Mobile Bay Times, Byrne played leading roles in the Democratic campaigns of Frank McRight for Congress and later Herman Thomas for a state judgeship.[viii] Thomas became notorious in recent years for his seven-count felony indictment for gross sexual misconduct and harassment while a judge.[ix]

As recently as 1993, Byrne was a nominee for a Democratic appointment by Bill Clinton as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.[x] Byrne had supported Clinton with a $500 campaign contribution on April 30, 1992 in his successful effort to unseat Republican President George Bush.[xi]

Democrat Campaign Contributions
Byrne has given to the following Democrat candidates for federal office:
Bill Clinton for President (against President Bush) in 1992 $500
Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee in 1991 $576
Democrat Howell Heflin for US Senate in 1989 $1,000
Democrat Frank McRight for Congress in 1984 $1,000
Democrat National Committee in 1988 $500
Democrat Richard Shelby for US Senate in 1987, 1991 $1,000 each

REFERENCES: 22 May 1994, Birmingham News, Veteran, Newcomer square off for Board of Education Seat 8 June 1994, Mobile Register, Democrats nominate Byrne for state Board of Education 12 July 1996, Mobile Register, Byrne jumping to Republican Party? 9 Jan 1997, Birmingham News, Education Board Member Byrne will Join GOP today. 10 Jan 1997, Mobile Register, Byrne Switches to the GOP 18 Mar 2007, Press-Register Mobile, Byrne Discusses Constitutional Reform [xxxv] PACT board minutes, Alabama State Treasurers Office, 2007 2009.
[xxix] Alabama Legislative Information System Online (ALISON), Regular Session, 2004.
[xxx] Ibid.
[vii] ibid.
[viii] ibid.
[ix] www.blog.al.com/pr/2009/03/thomasredacted.pdf
[x] The Mobile Bay Times, May 28, 2009.
[xi] www.newsmeat.com, Bradley Byrne campaign contributions.

BRADLEY BYRNE: LONGTIME DEMOCRAT
BRADLEY BYRNE WAS A SUPPORTER AND FINANCIAL BACKER ($500 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION ON 30 APRIL 1992) OF BILL CLINTON. BYRNE SUPPORTED CLINTON IN UNSEATING CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH.

BYRNE IS A FORMER DEMOCRAT ELECTED OFFICIAL (STATE SCHOOL BOARD).
BYRNE IS A FORMER FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL SUPPORTER OF HANK SANDERS' NEW SOUTH COALITION (WHICH ENDORSED BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT)
BYRNE WON ELECTION AS A DEMOCRAT TO THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD BY OUTSPENDING HIS GOP OPPONENT $120,000 TO $4600 (25-1!)
EVEN AFTER OUTSPENDING HIS OPPONENT 25-1, BYRNE WON LESS THAN 50% OF THE VOTE (49%,45% OVER GOP OPPONENT).

BRADLEY BYRNE: TAX HIKER
BRADLEY BYRNE CO-SPONSORED A MANDATORY PROPERTY TAX HIKE TO 30 MILLS OF LOCAL SUPPORT FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ALABAMA (SB 354, 2003 REGULAR SESSION).
BRADLEY BYRNE VOTED FOR ALL 10 BILLS IN THE 2003 AMENDMENT ONE TAX HIKE, THE BIGGEST TAX HIKE IN US HISTORY BY PERCENTAGE.
BRADLEY BYRNE SPONSORED BILLS TO INCREASE COURT COSTS AND LEGAL FEES IN HIS HOME COUNTY.
BRADLEY BYRNE WAS THE SOLE REPUBLICAN VOTE TO PASS SB 99, A BILL CALLING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (AND PATHWAY FOR NEW TAXES) OUT OF COMMITTEE IN APRIL 2007. BRADLEY BYRNE: SOCIAL LIBERAL
BRADLEY BYRNE WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO SENATE REPUBLICANS TO REFUSE TO VOTE NO ON THE SO-CALLED BINGO FOR BOOKS GAMBLING EXPANSION BILL (SB 381) BACKED BY MILTON MCGREGOR.
BRADLEY BYRNE REFUSED TO VOTE YES (VOTING PRESENT) ON A BILL ALLOWING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO BE DISPLAYED ON STATE PROPERTY IN ALABAMA THE VOTE WAS 28-0 IN FAVOR.


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