County View

By Jeff Poor

I don’t know your name, but if I did, I certainly would use it in this spot. I have a bone to pick with whoever the security guard is that seems get some sort of power trip by singling me out every time I attend a county commission meeting in Government Plaza.

I usually carry a laptop bag with me, and every time this security guard sees me with it, he has to go through it, and that’s fine. But, after this last time, the interrogation was a little much.

Security guard: “Why are you carrying this in here?”

Me: “I always carry it with me. It has my recorder, laptop, etc.”

Security guard: “Are you sure you don’t have a weapon in there?”

Me: “Yes sir.” (he asks that same question every single time)

Security guard: “I don’t think you need to bring this with you.”

Me: “I’m not leaving it out here.”

Security guard: “I’m going to go through this again and make sure anyway.”

Me: “Whatever.”

Security guard: “I’m going to have to pat you down young man. Please cooperate.”

Me: (as I’m being felt up by some weirdo security guard) ”...”

It’s a little embarrassing to be treated like jihadist boarding a 747 just to hear Juan Chastang, Mike Dean and Stephen Nodine conduct county business. I’m not sure what type of profiling is in effect whenever I go through these searches, but I’m not sure how I appear to pose a threat.

Nonetheless, the most outrageous part of this whole trivial ordeal is after my extensive security check, Ben George, the chronic county commission antagonist, is allowed to bring a pooper-scooper and a rake into the proceedings.

Hmm, let’s see – let that guy that publicly berates the county commission on a regular basis bring garden tools in, but that guy with the laptop, iPod and a copy of the morning newspaper – well, you better keep your eye on him.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Spurious George’s theatrical performance

Saraland veterinarian Ben George continues to lead the crusade against the county government’s recently acquired home-rule powers. Armed with a rake and a pooper-scooper, George illustrated his grievances with a three-and-a-half page speech.

The garden tool props drew giggles from the LeFlore High School Boys Basketball Team, in attendance to be recognized for their recent 6A state championship, but the members of the commission and their staffs appeared not to be particularly amused.

George filed a lawsuit late last year against the county commission claiming the wording of the referendum that was overwhelmingly approved by rural Mobile County voters last June was misleading and confusing.

George criticized the commission for their economic development endeavors, association with the Press-Register editorial board and whatever else came to his mind. However, he did lead off with praise for District 1 Commissioner Juan Chastang.

George accused the attorneys for the county of stalling his suit, but county attorneys told Lagniappe the delays were all because of George’s attorney Jim Zeigler, with the exception of one delay.

Mobile County Revenue Commissioner a Republican

Mobile County Revenue Commissioner Marilyn Wood made her switch to Republican Party official Monday morning during a press conference in the lobby of Government Plaza. Wood was appointed as the commissioner in 2001 and won an election in 2002.

Wood says it will be business as usual in the revenue commissioner’s office and the policies won’t be affected by her decision to change parties.

The defection is a sign of the times in Mobile County politics. Democrats are becoming extinct in the ranks of Mobile County government. Presently, there are only two Democrats remaining in non-judicial positions in Mobile County government – Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson and Mobile County License Commissioner Carol R. Norris.

It seems county voters are identifying more with Republicans on a national level and it is trickling down into local politics. The local Democrat establishment in Mobile County has been plagued with infighting between left-wing activist and the relics of the old established Democratic Party in Mobile County.

Mobile County Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Brad Warren took over for Mobile lawyer Bob Beckerle last year prior to the midterm elections and has his work cut out for him.

Lathans to host Giuliani at home

Former New York City mayor and Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani is making an appearance in Mobile County Tuesday. Republican powerbroker Jerry Lathan told Lagniappe last Sunday he has decided to get behind the Giuliani effort in the 2008 presidential race and will be hosting a fundraiser for Giuliani at his home. The appearance has a price tag of $1,000 per couple.

The move by local activists to get behind a candidate this early in an election cycle is a sign of the times as the presidential campaigns have geared up extraordinarily early.

Don’t fret if you can’t afford the $1,000 price tag associated with this appearance. Several Republican officials think Giuliani will make other appearances in and around the Mobile area prior to the Feb. 5, 2008 primary.

The Civic Center/Old Courthouse site swap

In a move that more resembles grade school children trading baseball cards more than anything, Mobile Mayor Sam Jones proposed a deal for the site of the old Mobile County Courthouse. Jones propositioned giving up the city’s hold on the Mobile Civic Center for that parcel of land.

This leads me to believe one of two things – either Sam Jones wants this Mardi Gras park very badly or he does not want to see the proposed 21-story condominium in the middle of downtown.

The Juan Chastang-sponsored vision for the property was unveiled late last month in several design drawing created by developer John Stainback. The drawings resemble a Las Vegas resort, but have received a lot of criticism from county officials based on all the variables involved for it to become a reality.

Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.

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