By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
2016 gave us President-elect Donald Trump, Governor Robert Bentley’s sex scandal, a failed state lottery plan, and Speaker Mike Hubbard being convicted of felony ethics violations. What will 2017 bring?
On Sunday, January 1, 2017, State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) released predictions for what the new year might bring to Alabama.
“The investigation of Gov. Robert Bentley and Rebekah Mason will result in federal indictments, which will go to trial some time in 2018, their last year,” Zeigler stated. “Bentley will not resign. Bentley and Mason will continue governing with an even-worse cloud over their heads. The Bentley/Mason trial will take as long as the Mike Hubbard trial. Justice delayed is justice denied. Bentley will limp on as a lame duck, wounded duck governor.”
Zeigler further predicted that, “The House impeachment committee will continue to do nothing, since Attorney General Luther Strange asked them to halt the impeachment, which they so halted.”
On the fate of Bentley’s Great State 2020 prison plan, Zeigler forecasted, “The legislature will again defeat the Bentley proposal to borrow $800 million for a no-bid contract to build four super-prisons at sites selected by Bentley and Rebekah Mason.”
Zeigler further predicted, “Alabama will win another National Championship,” in college football, and Quarterback Jalen Hurts will win the 2017 Heisman Trophy.
Other predictions included the Dow Jones surpassing 20,000 and the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R – Alabama) as the United States Attorney General.
Zeigler would not attempt to predict who Bentley might appoint to Session’s seat, however, “since Bentley is totally unpredictable.” Zeigler went on to say Bentley could appoint himself, Rebekah Mason or even Jon Mason.
Zeigler plans to publish a novel about the upcoming 2018 gubernatorial election in Alabama, which he calls, “a story of a fresh start after the disastrous years of Robert Bentley.”
