By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—Over the last several weeks Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford has leveled ethics complaints at Alabama State Attorney General Luther Strange.
In a press release early Thursday morning Ford said that he has receive a letter from the Alabama Ethics Commission that the information he has provided them is enough for them to launch an investigation.
In Ford first complaint he charges that the Attorney General and his relationship with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, (PCI), should be investigated under Alabama Ethics Code 625-1.
In his statements the Mayor accused Strange of excepting campaign donations from the PCI. “Luther Strange received $100,000 from PCI for the purpose of using his office to close down gaming in Macon County,” Ford said. “By doing so he violates the voting rights act of the people of Macon County.”
Ford had previous made the same complaint only to have it rejected by the commission. for lack of evidence. Ford said that he and his attorney went back and compiled a more complete file of evidence for the commission to consider and that they have decide that the new evidence meet the threshold for an investigation.
The second complaint had to do with a contract that Strange received from Alabama State University and did not file a 2010 economic interest form.
“Luther Strange, the attorney general for the state of Alabama, the highest law official for the state, did not file a 2010 economic interest form. We are all required. As a mayor, any local or state official is required to submit the economic interest statement. That is a state law. In fact, it is the attorney general that enforces that law if the complaint comes from the ethics commission.”
Ford said that he has also been informed that the commission will look into the allegation with respect to ASU and the absent economic interest form.
“This is an important matter regarding unethical behavior on the part of Alabama’s highest law enforcement officer,” said Ford. He expects the ethics commission to take these allegations seriously and not sweep them away.
