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Bill Baxley endorses Joseph Siegelman

Tuesday, Joseph Siegelman held a press conference in Birmingham to announce that he has been endorsed by former Lieutenant Governor Bill Baxley (D).

“Right now, we have a unique opportunity in Alabama — an opportunity to change this state from the heart,” Baxley stated. “As a former Alabama Attorney General, I am well aware of what it takes to be effective in that position. Joseph Siegelman has those qualities and also has an excellent path to victory in the November election.”

“I have known Joseph since childhood,” Lt. Gov. Baxley said. “I know him to be a man of faith, courage, and integrity. He is intelligent and a capable lawyer and administrator. One conversation with Joseph and you will know he is sincere. If you want a sincere, capable Attorney General who will get politics out of that office, please consider donating to Joe’s campaign today.”

“Joseph believes, “Justice should be administered fairly to everyone, regardless of where you are born or to whom,” Baxley continued. “It doesn’t matter whether you have a ‘D’ or ‘R’ by your name — the office of the Attorney General must be independent of politics. “People Not Politics — Now is the Time.” I can think of no better way to say it. And, if anyone has any concerns about Joseph’s youth, let me remind you: Joseph is older than I was when I was elected Attorney General. He is mature and his youth and energy are, in my judgment, a terrific asset.

As Siegelman pointed out, Baxley was actually the youngest Attorney General in Alabama history, younger even than Siegelman is now. Siegelman also praised Baxley for his prosecution of one of the bombers of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

William “Bill” Joseph Baxley II is age 77.

Baxley was the district attorney of Houston County from 1969 to 1971. Baxley was then elected Alabama Attorney General from 1971 to 1979. He ran for Governor in 1978 but was defeated in the Democratic Primary by conservative Democrat Fob James who went on to be elected governor. In 1982 he was elected Lieutenant Governor. Baxley ran for Governor again in 1986. This his time he lost in the Democratic primary runoff to conservative Democrat Charles “Charlie” Graddick. Baxley challenged the election results on grounds that Republican primary voters had illegally crossed over and voted for Graddick in the Democratic Party primary runoff. A court agreed and stripped Graddick of the nomination. Baxley went on to lose in the general election to Cullman County Probate Judge Guy Hunt (R). Baxley was the first Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee to lose a general election to a Republican in over 100 years. Baxley has had a successful career as an attorney in private practice. In recent years he is best known for his trial defense of Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) although he lost that case.
The Alabama Political Reporter asked Siegelman: Troy King has accused Steve Marshall of violating the ban on PAC to PAC transfers with $700,000 in out of state contributions from the Republican Attorney General’s Association (RAGA). Marshall disagrees and says that his campaign followed Alabama law. What is your opinion on the law.

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Siegelman said that he has his faith in the ruling of the Alabama Ethics Commission and that he hoped that everybody would play by the same rules. Siegelman added that his campaign has not accepted any contributions like this.

Joseph Siegelman is the son of former Governor Don Siegelman.

Siegelman will face AG Steve Marshall (R) in the November 6 general election.

Brandon Moseley is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.

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