Who Will Replace Bobby Denton?

Bobby Denton, the current Alabama State Senator who serves all of Lauderdale and part of Colbert Counties, has announced his retirement. Called the "Dean of the Senate," Denton has accumulated both friends and influence in his ten terms and will be hard to replace.

Despite the size of the shoes they seek to fill, candidates seem to be coming out of the woodwork. Not only do we face a plethora of candidates, we may also face a fruit basket turnover of sorts, depending on who does replace Denton.

Both State Rep. Tammy Irons and Rep. Mike Curtis have indicated an interest in this seat; however, Curtis has also announced he will not run if Irons does seek the post. This fact is interesting at various levels and bespeaks the cronyism that is rampant among our state lawmakers.

Should Irons seek the position and win, her law partner Bob Hill has announced his interest in replacing her in the House of Representatives--nothing like keeping it in the same law firm. Hill has served in the House before and is currently considered a top behind-the-scenes mover and shaker. Logically, we assume Hill's interest is not in winning the seat himself, but in preventing someone else from winning.

Former Lauderdale Circuit Judge Mike Suttle, who only four months ago announced his retirement in order to enjoy a private law practice, has also announced his interest in the seat. Should it come to a Democratic showdown between Irons and Suttle, we predict Tammy Irons will prevail. Not only is her personality more bouncy, so is her hair.

On the Republican front, former State Representative and Public Service Commissioner Lynn Greer of Rogersville has announced his intention to run. Greer is known as a man of probity and strong moral fiber, something sorely lacking in many of our current state pols. We predict he will make a tough opponent for Irons.

While the above thoughts are just speculations and predictions, we can aver one thing. Sen. Bobby Denton was always a man of his word and a credit to those he represented. We will do well if his successor is only half the person he is.


What's up with this: New speculation on the demise of the Sheffield resort project has been making the rounds. Mayor Sanford, if it's at all possible, you need to quell these rumors now and make public the project's current status.