Alabama: Racial Discrimination Becomes Issue In Artur Davis/Ron Sparks Contest
An already bitter campaign between U.S. Rep. Artur Davis (pictured left) and Ron Sparks (pictured right) entered new territory on Thursday, mere days before the election, as staff for the moderate Democratic man seeking to become Alabama's first black governor aired accusations of racial discrimination against his Democratic primary opponent. In a radio ad and accompanying news release, a Davis spokesman said that three discrimination lawsuits against the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, which Mr. Sparks leads as commissioner, raise questions about whether the liberal Mr. Sparks is fit to lead the state.
Information provided by the Davis campaign details lawsuits filed by three employees of the state department led by Mr. Sparks, accusing Mr. Sparks of "failing to remedy systemic employment discrimination." Mr. Sparks also waited more than two years to act on a ruling involving a suspension of one of the employees, an "unjustifiable delay," U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson wrote in a court filing. "What kind of leader runs an office that keeps getting sued for conduct that should have ended years ago in Alabama?" Davis spokesman Alex Goepfert asked in an e-mail. Taylor Bright said Mr. Sparks was not personally involved in any of the three cases, adding that two were dismissed and the other was resolved with a "nominal settlement."
South Carolina: Tim Scott Surges In New Poll
South Carolina State. Rep. Tim Scott has surged ahead of the competition in a crowded race for the state's First Congressional District seat, according to a new poll released this week. The poll – conducted by National Research on behalf of the S.C. Club for Growth – shows the conservative Republican receiving 30 percent of the vote compared to 10 percent for Columbia lobbyist Carroll A. “Tumpy” Campbell III and 9 percent apiece for Charleston attorney Paul Thurmond (son of former U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond) and accountant Clark Parker. Five other contenders were also measuring support in the single digits.
The new poll shows him easily outdistancing his top two opponents in a runoff election – which would take place on June 22 if no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote in the primary election on June 8. The poll shows that Mr. Scott enjoys a commanding 53-28 percent lead over Mr. Campbell and a 55-19 percent lead over Mr. Thurmond in competing runoff scenarios.
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News: Bookeristas Running For Political Office
