By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—Late Thursday afternoon, Governor Robert Bentley informed the ALGOP that he was abandoning current ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead in favor of Matt Fridy.
It has been said that Bentley was convinced by Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard to back Fridy over Armistead, the candidate Bentley stood behind two years earlier.
Hubbard announced earlier this week his support for Fridy who currently serves as the former Chairman of the Shelby County GOP.
Hubbard has long vowed to regain control over the ALGOP since his chosen successor Mike Love was defeated by Armistead two years ago.
Reports coming from the conference call quote Bentley as saying, “His endorsement of Fridy is not meant as a negative against Armistead.”
Fridy said, as a member of the ALGOP steering committee he became aware of too much infighting, which he said needs to stop.
Fridy is also reported as saying he vows to keep AEA, other liberal special interests from taking foot hold in ALGOP.
This say been a point of contention over the last few days as it was reveiled that Winton Blunt purchased a $5000.00 table at the ALGOP summer committee meeting. What was not reported is that former ALGOP Chairman, received money from the AEA in the past and took over $160, 000 from the AEA in his various political campaigns.
Armistead says that he is going to seek reelection. This may lead to more bloodletting before the post is secure, but the defection of Bentley into the Hubbard camp may be more than Armistead can fend off.
