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Sanders announces he will not seek re-election
Published Friday, June 5, 2009
MONTGOMERY — Sen. Hank Sanders surprised many in the state and the district he represents by saying Thursday he will not seek re-election to the state Senate in 2010.
Sanders, 66, is one of the most powerful members of the legislature. He is chairman of the Finance and Taxation-Education Committee, which prepares the budget for public schools and colleges. He also was founder of the Alabama New South Coalition, a predominantly black political organization.
In his statement, which was released Thursday afternoon on selmatimesjournal.com, Sanders said, “This political phase of my life is complete, and it is time for me to move on to new challenges, new responsibilities and new commitments.”
Sanders said he wants to complete writing a series of books he started several years ago, but didn’t have time to complete.
“But one thing will never change,” Sanders said in the statement, “I will continue to work to make a difference in the life of this area and in the life of this state; however that contribution, will now come through my new roles, whatever they may be.”
To the Black Belt region, which he represents, Sanders has operated on behalf of his constituency consistently. Dallas County Provost Judge Kim Ballard said he will miss his seniority in the Senate.
“Personally, I enjoyed his relationship with us,” Ballard said.
Probate Judge Cindy Neilson of Marengo County said she was surprised when her husband Claud came home Thursday and told her he had heard of Sanders’ decision. Sanders has worked closely with Marengo County, one that he serves in Senate District 23.
“He’s always been a very good senator and I hate to hear he will not be running,” she said.
Recently, Neilson had the opportunity to share a success with Sanders in her hometown of Thomaston. In April, the Alabama Black Belt Action Commission, co-chaired by Sanders, celebrated its fourth anniversary. The event marked the commission’s creation and efforts to improving living conditions in Black Belt counties. It was held with the rural Heritage Day, conducted by the Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation.
Selma Mayor George Evans had not heard of Sanders’ decision until a reporter told him after Thursday’s late-afternoon work session at City Hall.
“We’re losing a good man — influential, powerful man as a result of him not running,” Evans said.
Evans said Sanders’ decision made him sad, “but I’m sure he made it in the best interest of himself and his family . . . We’ve lost a real big rock in the Senate. It’s going to hurt.”
Former Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr., who is running for the 7th District seat in Congress, released a statement through his campaign spokesman George L. Jones. The statement said, “I was surprised, but I’m sure he made the decision that was best for himself and his family.”
In his statement, Sanders said he hoped he made a difference in the state.
“Representing the people of Alabama in the state Senate has been an honor and one of the great privileges of my life. I will look back only with fondness at the many long hours, the battles, the victories and defeats. Most of all I will miss the many colleagues and friends I’ve met on this wonderful journey.”
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Comments
Posted by bamaham (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 5:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dallas Co. has the worst school buildings in the nation. Maybe we can see some improvement with a new rep. Does it make you proud to see a fancy, very expensive school board building sitting in front of Selma high? Maybe silly, but it seems to me, Mom & Dad is living in a mansion and their kids live out back in a shack. But I have heard he can whistle very good.
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Best news I've heard in years. Hope his family will also follow his lead.
Posted by loveselma (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great news. . . he has held us back for years. . . now we can move forward
Posted by me (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is good news and I don't mind saying so. And I doubt he would run for Mayor of Selma. He has done enough damage across the state.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now is the time to start watching for other snakes slithering onto the scene to replace him. You better bet Sanders isn't completely "hands off" with this position. You just don't turn loose of a powerful position like this unless something else looks bright and glittery.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/06/a_ne...
Oh yeah, for ALL these Selma folks overly confused to this new "Craft Beer"....here you go. Maybe OUR new rep can find a way for Selma to get some DRAFT BEER now.
Posted by kalwayne911 (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have nothing against the Sanders just wish his wife would select her renter more careful. The house on Pettus St. is in horrible shape and the police is always coming there.
Posted by bama (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like all politicians, I agree with some of his actions and disagree with others. I wish him luck in retirement and thank him for his years of service.
Posted by gobraves (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Selma and Dallas Co. needs something good to happen and this is a good!!! start.
Posted by itsaselmathang (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bout time for Professor Clump to move on.
Posted by jestful (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish Senator Sanders well in his retirement. He has been a leader with a common touch and has accomplished a lot.
Posted by lightacandle (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to Senator Sanders for all your hard work for Alabama schools. You deserve time to pursue those things that bring you enjoyment. Godspeed.
Posted by getitreal2008 (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That is great news!!! He probably has other political agendas like mentioned above though and that is scary!!!
Posted by grandmaduck (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
whattcha wanna bet they finally got enough evidence on ol hank to lock him up? Anyway it is THIS readers hope that someone who gives a dam is LUCKY enough to get elected.
Posted by chewbacca (anonymous) on June 5, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever you say, Hank is still the 4 most powerfull man in state. Don't think he's going to the house yet.
Posted by nowhining (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 2:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hank I am glad you are leaving public office, but wish you well. I've always disagreed with you politics, but whenever I see you out and about you have been nothing but nice and polite to me. I feel you are and have been for a long time, part of the problem with state gov., and not part of the solution. I further hope that you don't try to annoint your successor, and stay out of the selection process for your replacement. WE DO NOT NEED A HANK SANDERS PUPPET IN YOUR SEAT. Please just ride off into the sunset, like a gentleman.
Posted by sharon (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sure that someone with a 3rd grade education will find this hard to believe but Hank Sanders did not continually get elected because he was black, he graduated at top of his class from Douglasville High School; was an honor student Talladega College, received a scholarship to Boston University and graduated from Harvard Law School. He has an outstanding voting record and is respected by his peers, both white and black, in the senate. But I guess someone whose peers are 3rd grades cannot grasp that as a concept. His wife however, is another story, she let her anger at racism (things like what some of you are saying) control her. I think she forgot that "he who angers you controls you. " Hank Sanders although not perfect, served well and is qualified for his position. I read the qualifications needed to run for his position and being black was not listed as a criteria. As an aside I will also point out that both black and white voters elected him time and again. Surely, you dare not imply that white voters would vote for someone because they were black!
Posted by mrbrown (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you sharon. I agree with every point you made, especially the comment about his wife. I, myself, didn't agree with some of Mr. Sanders' political decisions. I think there were areas where he could have done more for the community and less for his "organization"; which is supposely helping the community. However, like sharon, I believe that he would have never maintained the seats and positions solely based on his race.
However, we have to remember that everything in Dallas county seems to revolve around race.
Posted by SouthsideHigh2010 (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I completely agree with you Sharon and mrbrown. His wife does need help with her anger and not only did blacks vote for him, but whites voted for him. I am glad that hank Sanders is not seeking re-election because he really need to take care of himself and do something with his family for a change.
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hank did about the best he could in a state that has pretty much written off the blackbelt as a contributor to the state's prosperity. Maybe he'll be able to spend more time with the "little wife" now. popdukes12.
Posted by sharon (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If we start being more pro-active in the government they will pay closer attention to what we want and need. Every phone number for every elected official is available. Every official has a website available for posting your concerns. Those people who go to Washington and Montgomery and hold office represent us, hence the name representative. Calling down to Selma's mayor office or talking ugly about a councilman will not get you half as much as an email to your congressman will. The former can only do so much with limited funding but those in Montgomery and DC can help because they distribute the funds to the mayor. The problem is that those elected know that we vote blindly repubican or democrat. We figure if they have the familiar moniker after their name they will act in our best interest. That is not always the case. I imagine Hank Sanders, democrat voted along the lines of those who had his ear most of the time and the people who had his ear, people who had voted for him and followed that vote up with a call or stopped by his office, were listened to because he wanted to be re-elected.
Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of the comments here appear extremely hateful. Selma has benefited greatly from Hank's power and influence over the years. Hank Sanders was elected over and over and over again just like George Wallace and Joe Smitherman. His name should be on some building in this town too.
It is ironic that racism in this area has sort of created "his wife" and that she would be a continuous thorn in the side of people who prescribe to racist attitudes. It's called the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Two sides caught in a vicious cycle of promoting and fueling racism by foolishly choosing to fight fire with fire. Let's try water!
No Racism, No Rose!
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sharon: Telephone calls work best. One telephone call=100 e-mails. popdukes12
Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many figure because a candidate is black they will act in blacks best interests as well,Sharon.I'm not sure--exactly-- what the racial demography of the Black Belt counties are,but I think it's safe to say that it's mainly black and Democratic and it's those votes that have kept him in the Alabama Senate all these years.I agree with you--however-- that voters need to be more proactive and more aware of the issues facing us--not only in our neck of the woods here in the Black Belt-- on state and national level as well.We have to get past such silliness as race,and blind party affiliation and vote for candidates that are critical thinkers,hard workers,and have ideas and policies that are sensible and that benefits EVERYONE.
Posted by ChangeSelma (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wisdom , I agree completely!!!!!
Posted by bamafan (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, there is a building downtown Selma, that was once the Teppers building, that could be called the Hanky Rose Building!!! :>)
Posted by sharon (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Our demographics as a people have changed. Instead of color/race being the common denominator, our commonalitiy is now our class/income status. The poor whites and poor blacks are now in the same catagory and middle-class white and blacks now have more things in common. The fact of the matter is that people like Jeff Sessions and even Artur Davis listen to the people who have money and vote accordingly, because those people are the ones who hold their feet to the fire when they vote, the poor and middle class are too busy just living to follow every vote. There was a time in our history when whites could sit back, comfortable, that whomever they sent to the senate, Alabama or in Washington, had their best interest at heart, that is no longer the case. It is sad to say this but I think it is in the best interests of our reps. that communities like Selma stay divided, it is helpful to them. Until we all come together and say we all want a better way of life, we all want access to better healthcare, better jobs and we all want to 'live free', it won't ever be the 'land of plenty' for any of us. . They count on us being so worried that one group might get more than we get that we forget to watch their every move. I also don't believe that the black candidate always acts in the best interests of blacks. I, myself, would not vote for a canidate who would so, simply because I want my whole community to improve, not just the black part. Everytime my life got better it was because I attended a class, worked a second job or just decided that I wanted my life to improve. It had nothing to do with who I had voted for.
Posted by reason31 (anonymous) on June 6, 2009 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These racists on this site will never learn. The man got to where he is because he is educated and intelligent. No one ever likes everything any politician does. We all need to come together and quit the bickering.
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