Remembering the Past
Alabama has a way of finding itself in the national spotlight because of politics. This seems to be a trend in some respects. If someone asked me to point to something in my life that transformed me, I would pinpoint without a doubt to the introduction to politics. I began my passion for politics in high school when I enrolled in advanced AP political science class. My political science teacher was the one that everyone in my school tried to avoid. Her reputation preceded her. She was known to be difficult, so difficult in fact, that most of her students barely passed. I tried to keep an opened mind and cast my own judgment on this teacher, but I found my first day of class dreading it with trepidation. After a few weeks, I learned to love it because it opened the door for me to the world of politics. We were required to work in a political campaign, and the campaign I chose was George McMillan's bid for Governor in 1982. My campaign work at that time consisted of envelope stuffing and general office work. The sort of work that had to be done and which was perfect for a high school student. After my work in that campaign, I fell in love with the art form known as politics. I served as a Page in the Alabama Legislature at some point. I pursued a double major in college, Political Science and Communications. Politics became part of how I identified myself then and for the most part now. I was certain that I would have a life-long career in politics. My certainty turned to doubt years later.
The year 1986 turned out to be a pivotable year in politics in Alabama. On the Democratic side, Charles Graddick and Bill Baxley found themselves in a runoff after the primary. In the runoff Graddick won by a few thousand votes, but the Democratic Party disqualified him because of rule violations when he encouraged Republican voters to cross over party lines to vote Democratic. They all ended up in Court and the court told the Party to hold another election or make Baxley the candidate. The Party decided to make Baxley the candidate. Voters retaliated and voted for Guy Hunt the first Republican Governor elected in the state in 112 years. Up until 1986, Alabama had been a single Party state.
Most Democrats at the time thought Hunt's win was a fluke and when the 1990 Gubernatorial race rolled around they were certain that their party would be back in power come Inauguration Day. I worked as a volunteer for the 1990 Hunt re-election campaign. I cannot remember how or when I got started with the campaign. My job was to help the Press Secretary. I was working at the time and would leave at the end of the day to give a few hours to the campaign. Because the campaign was coming down to the wire and was not going to be a cake-walk, the campaign offered me a full time position a few weeks before the election. I took a chance and decided to quit my job and work with the campaign. I had no real clue that Hunt would win a second term, but there was something about him and the people I worked with in the campaign that made me think that he would win a second term in office. We all worked hard and long hours. Our work paid off. Hunt was re-elected.
The election it turns out was a small battle, what none of us in the campaign knew was that the real war was just beginning. With Hunt's re-election it was proven once and for all that Alabama had become a two-party state. The Democratic Party which had been in power for more than a hundred years, was not at all happy. I was offered a job with the Administration and began what I thought was a four-year journey to change Alabama for the better and to work for a Governor who had changed Alabama politics, maybe forever.
In April of 1993, whatever change I had become a part of for the betterment of the people of Alabama, it all came crashing down with one hit of the judge's gavel when Governor Hunt was convicted for Ethics violations for using 1987 Inaugural funds for personal use. The dollar amount, $200,000 was what was in question. Governor Hunt was now a convicted felon and felons could not hold office in Alabama. The Governor was forced to resign. Clearly this was an error in judgment, and not intentional. Power or loss thereof, is a powerful motivator when it comes to governing. Those of us who worked in the Administration were shocked with disbelief that the Governor was convicted. With the conviction came one of the most dismal times in my life and career. The morning after the conviction, I went to the office as usual, but shortly after I arrived, I was told to get my personal items and leave the office. My job no longer existed.
What happened afterwards is like a dream to me. When you are faced with a life-changing event of this nature, you go through a number of emotions all at once, from anger, to doubt, to unworthiness, to fear. I felt all of these emotions and much more. I knew in my heart of hearts, that the Governor was innocent. Because of how the whole event came to pass and the nature of things that happened to my friends in the Administration, I chose not to work in politics again. However, once I had time to think, I changed my mind. I would not work in politics as an employee again until 2001, when I worked in Government Affairs at the national level for a nonprofit agency.
Governor Hunt for years fought to clear his name. Finally in 1998, Governor Hunt received a full pardon. Governor Hunt tried unsuccessfully another run for Governor in 1998. The conviction had definitely taken a toll on him as well as on his family. I guess it had taken a toll with the voters as well.
Last Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, Governor Hunt died. He had been battling lung cancer. Wednesday of this week, I along, with others from his Administration and campaign, attended his funeral. Seeing everyone brought back many memories of those campaign days. Those were happy days. We all had a goal to accomplish and we did. I also remembered the great work that we had begun during the Governor's second term. The day also was bittersweet. Many in the room and those who spoke at his Memorial Service all praised Governor Hunt for his service and for what he did to change Alabama politics. Comments all well-deserved.
As I sat in my chair listening to person after person speak about the Governor's legacy, I could not help but say to the Governor silently, thank you. Thank you Governor Hunt and I want you to know that I am forever grateful to you for giving me the opportunity, if only for a short period of time, to work to improve the lives of the people of Alabama in an Administration I was proud to be a part of.
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