Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Paul de Marco joins us now to talk about a
(00:02):
number of things happening here in our state. Why don't
we start with Governor Ivy and Governor Turberville and the
handing off of the baton. I saw yesterday coaches address
this and said, look, okay, we're considering it, we're praying
about it at home, and we'll have a decision, you know,
soon for twenty twenty six, because she can't run again, right,
(00:23):
so somebody's got to fill the seat. If he does
announce that he is going to do this, do you
anticipate it being a I guess a big election. Will
there be somebody else coming up against him? Who might
that be? How much money's going to be spent? I mean,
what are your thoughts on this?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, for start to spend One of the worst kept
secrets that Senator Turberville was considering running for governor. It's
been talked about by design probably been talked about, and
I think he told some donors, but he said, wait
a second, I'll let you know when I'm ready to
let you know. I would anticipate it will be in
the next month because the election and well the party
(01:01):
primaries will be in May of twenty six, twenty twenty six,
and you can start raising money a year in advance,
so it would be May twenty twenty six, May twenty six,
twenty twenty five. So if you're gonna run, if you're
gonna be a serious candidate for statewide office in twenty six,
you're gonna announce in May. So I would anticipate if
he's going to run, and it looks like he's going to,
(01:22):
he'll announce by the end of May.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Who would fill his spot? Then will there be an election?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
There would be an election for that.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
But let's get back to the question you asked. Lieutenant
Governor Will Ainsworth has made it clear that he has
always planned on running for governor. The question will be
if Senator Tuberville steps in, you know, will he continue.
I think he said, hey, I'm I'm focused on doing that.
That'll be the real question.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So that may be the two candidates.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
And look, there could be a number of them, but
you know, Senator Tuberville, with the work he's done in Washingt,
d C. I would anticipate President Trump would come down
and happ a moment and say, you know, this is
my guy.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Well, Will has been a great lieutenant governor. Oh yeah, yeah,
I think he'd be a formidable governor.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He did a great job.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I think Senator Tubberville with his name recognition, I mean,
look at one point, if you remember Jeff Sessions was
one of the most popular senators the state's history. Senator
Tuberville Wren. He beats Senator Sessions. You remember six years ago,
Anne Bradley Burn and a number of the folks. So
I think if Senator Tubberville announced he's running for governor,
(02:32):
he's he's the odds.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, let's go with that. I would agree. I would
agree with that. Speaking of competition for political positions, the
mayor of Hoover, Frank Percato, has announced that he is
going to run, even though Chief Jerseys has thrown his
hat in the ring. How do you think that will go?
I mean, there's a lot of a lot of turmoil
inside city government. Who right now?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:55):
City Council President John Lena coming under fire. Now there's
been an ethics you know, sued filed against him. So
there's there's a lot of things happening inside city government
there in Hoover. How do you think this is going
to play?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And you're right, we were talking about twenty twenty six,
but August. There are municipal elections in twenty twenty five,
and that's across the board, right, so it'll be Hoover, Homewood,
best day of Mountain, Rook, Trustville, I mean across the area.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Be very competitive race.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
You know, you've got two men well known in Hoover.
There's a lot going on, and you've got city council elections.
So you know, Hoover's what ninety thousand people.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Now, you know, one of.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
The largest cities in the state of Alabama. A lot
of issues, so we'll all be watching to see what
happens there.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Speaking of running, a lot of things are shuffling around
the state and people moving on and people running and
some maybe some formidal folks that were in politics before
may come back in any anywhere from the DeMarco home.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Focused on Pinewood Derby this weekend.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Okay, very good. You know the love Pine and soapbox
Derby in first communion. I love it all, right, Sarah. Alabama.
The legislators are still meeting in montgomer right, Paul, So
they're not done yet. How many more.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
There are four legislative days.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
It looks like possibly two days next week and maybe two.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Right after that.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I gotta think the Birmingham Waterworks Board situation is front
and center in this session.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Let me tell you look long time coming. I know,
back in two thousand and five represented Jim Corns and
I went to the Public Service Commissions.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
They regulate them because that had been an agreement.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
They voted, didn't they regulate the power company? They regulate
Alan Gasco? Why do they not regulate the Birmingham Waterworks?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well they shouldn't.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
That was part of an agreement when the City of
Birmingham sold the water board. But we ran into a
brick wall. We came back in twenty thirteen twenty fourteen
to make some reforms, reduce the pay, make them coming
to the Ethics Act, added board members, but it's still
been a.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Prop Would you say the main reason that never happened
is because of lobbyists.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, the Birmingham Waterworks Board had was paying a lot.
I think it was like ten thousand dollars a month
for lobbyists to help kill So the answer to that
question is yes, yes. But it looks like now there
will be a major bill that will reform the water
board at experience, at better more members. And I'm excited
about it because this has been a long time coming.
So kudos to Senators Dan Roberts and Chay shell Nutt,
(05:25):
Senator Wagner, and Representative Carns. This has been twenty years
in the making and I'm glad it's finally going to happen.
And look, it's past the Senate. It looks a's like
one to the House next week and if it's done,
this will be a major win for ratepayers.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
For the Birmingham Waterworks.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Board, well, it's just like everything else. You know, we
have representation in Washington, We as taxpayers have representation in
our districts in Montgomery, and the board at the Waterworks
Board should have representation from all the people they serve,
now the inner city, you know, the mayor and everybody
(06:00):
that's been running the board for so long. We'll say, well,
the majority of it's here. You know, this is our board.
But as you said, they sold this.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Well in Birmingham rate payers about a two hundred thousand,
but eight hundred thousand rate payers total. This from this region.
That's why it's a regional board and what needs to
be original board and it looks like hopefully maybe within
the next two weeks, if this bill passes the House
and the governor signs into law, we will finally make
the reforms that needed to be made to the Birmingham
water Works Board decades in the making.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
It'll change everything I think, you know, and how many
times has the waterboard been dragged through corruption.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Well in the rate increases, we've talked about double digit
rate increases if you look over the past twenty years,
the water bills not being correct. So this is a
long time coming and this will be good for rate payers,
but it's also good economic development because we need to
have a water board that operates efficiently. Well.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
There was a class action lawsuit brought against them years
ago by Scott Marrow, you know, Scott Attorney, and I
just kicked it out, said now we're not going to
do this. We're not going to hear it. I mean,
they have always been kind of teflon at the Birmingham
Waterworks Board. But there has been some people arrested.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Oh, we've had some arrests and through the years of
some unethical behavior. Look, this is important. If you don't
think it's important, as the folks in Jackson Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Who've had huge problems with their water board.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, Pritchard, Alabama, it's been a lot of issues. So,
like I said, this has been a long time coming.
That this will be one of the most important bills
that passes if it does out of the House of
this legislative session, for those of us that live in
this region.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Okay, I hope it goes through. I hope the other
our signs it. And it's long overdue, that is for sure.
All right, Off the legislators over to the courts. There
was the guy that was recently released on bond who
was in jail for an I guess in eastern murder
situation twenty one and sure enough they let him out
and next thing you know, he shoots a child. The
(07:54):
child lived, But what the heck? Why does this continue
to happen?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It's Djavou all over again. It's a continuing revolving door
at our courthouse, and uh, we need to pay attention
and look, there are a couple of bills that could
pass the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
We've talked about it. One of them that would allow
ten years for murder you.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Were talking about.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I can't remember if that's the number or not.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
The judge allowing the lead.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Having ten years for murder, and where are we on
that jab was going to kill it.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
In the well, it still could be passed the next
couple of weeks. In the next couple of weeks, once
they passed the budget, it does not take a three
fifth vote, so it's actually easier to pass bills. It
doesn't take as many votes. So when you pay attention
what's going on the next couple of weeks, or some
bills that will reilly weaken our criminal justice system that
could pass the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Well, it lots to keep an eye on. Absolutely doubt
about it, all right,
Paul de Marco joins us now to talk about a
(00:02):
number of things happening here in our state. Why don't
we start with Governor Ivy and Governor Turberville and the
handing off of the baton. I saw yesterday coaches address
this and said, look, okay, we're considering it, we're praying
about it at home, and we'll have a decision, you know,
soon for twenty twenty six, because she can't run again, right,
(00:23):
so somebody's got to fill the seat. If he does
announce that he is going to do this, do you
anticipate it being a I guess a big election. Will
there be somebody else coming up against him? Who might
that be? How much money's going to be spent? I mean,
what are your thoughts on this?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, for start to spend One of the worst kept
secrets that Senator Turberville was considering running for governor. It's
been talked about by design probably been talked about, and
I think he told some donors, but he said, wait
a second, I'll let you know when I'm ready to
let you know. I would anticipate it will be in
the next month because the election and well the party
(01:01):
primaries will be in May of twenty six, twenty twenty six,
and you can start raising money a year in advance,
so it would be May twenty twenty six, May twenty six,
twenty twenty five. So if you're gonna run, if you're
gonna be a serious candidate for statewide office in twenty six,
you're gonna announce in May. So I would anticipate if
he's going to run, and it looks like he's going to,
(01:22):
he'll announce by the end of May.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Who would fill his spot? Then will there be an election?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
There would be an election for that.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
But let's get back to the question you asked. Lieutenant
Governor Will Ainsworth has made it clear that he has
always planned on running for governor. The question will be
if Senator Tuberville steps in, you know, will he continue.
I think he said, hey, I'm I'm focused on doing that.
That'll be the real question.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So that may be the two candidates.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
And look, there could be a number of them, but
you know, Senator Tuberville, with the work he's done in Washingt,
d C. I would anticipate President Trump would come down
and happ a moment and say, you know, this is
my guy.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Well, Will has been a great lieutenant governor. Oh yeah, yeah,
I think he'd be a formidable governor.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He did a great job.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I think Senator Tubberville with his name recognition, I mean,
look at one point, if you remember Jeff Sessions was
one of the most popular senators the state's history. Senator
Tuberville Wren. He beats Senator Sessions. You remember six years ago,
Anne Bradley Burn and a number of the folks. So
I think if Senator Tubberville announced he's running for governor,
(02:32):
he's he's the odds.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, let's go with that. I would agree. I would
agree with that. Speaking of competition for political positions, the
mayor of Hoover, Frank Percato, has announced that he is
going to run, even though Chief Jerseys has thrown his
hat in the ring. How do you think that will go?
I mean, there's a lot of a lot of turmoil
inside city government. Who right now?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:55):
City Council President John Lena coming under fire. Now there's
been an ethics you know, sued filed against him. So
there's there's a lot of things happening inside city government
there in Hoover. How do you think this is going
to play?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And you're right, we were talking about twenty twenty six,
but August. There are municipal elections in twenty twenty five,
and that's across the board, right, so it'll be Hoover, Homewood,
best day of Mountain, Rook, Trustville, I mean across the area.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Be very competitive race.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
You know, you've got two men well known in Hoover.
There's a lot going on, and you've got city council elections.
So you know, Hoover's what ninety thousand people.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Now, you know, one of.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
The largest cities in the state of Alabama. A lot
of issues, so we'll all be watching to see what
happens there.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Speaking of running, a lot of things are shuffling around
the state and people moving on and people running and
some maybe some formidal folks that were in politics before
may come back in any anywhere from the DeMarco home.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Focused on Pinewood Derby this weekend.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Okay, very good. You know the love Pine and soapbox
Derby in first communion. I love it all, right, Sarah. Alabama.
The legislators are still meeting in montgomer right, Paul, So
they're not done yet. How many more.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
There are four legislative days.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
It looks like possibly two days next week and maybe two.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Right after that.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I gotta think the Birmingham Waterworks Board situation is front
and center in this session.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Let me tell you look long time coming. I know,
back in two thousand and five represented Jim Corns and
I went to the Public Service Commissions.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
They regulate them because that had been an agreement.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
They voted, didn't they regulate the power company? They regulate
Alan Gasco? Why do they not regulate the Birmingham Waterworks?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well they shouldn't.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
That was part of an agreement when the City of
Birmingham sold the water board. But we ran into a
brick wall. We came back in twenty thirteen twenty fourteen
to make some reforms, reduce the pay, make them coming
to the Ethics Act, added board members, but it's still
been a.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Prop Would you say the main reason that never happened
is because of lobbyists.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, the Birmingham Waterworks Board had was paying a lot.
I think it was like ten thousand dollars a month
for lobbyists to help kill So the answer to that
question is yes, yes. But it looks like now there
will be a major bill that will reform the water
board at experience, at better more members. And I'm excited
about it because this has been a long time coming.
So kudos to Senators Dan Roberts and Chay shell Nutt,
(05:25):
Senator Wagner, and Representative Carns. This has been twenty years
in the making and I'm glad it's finally going to happen.
And look, it's past the Senate. It looks a's like
one to the House next week and if it's done,
this will be a major win for ratepayers.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
For the Birmingham Waterworks.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Board, well, it's just like everything else. You know, we
have representation in Washington, We as taxpayers have representation in
our districts in Montgomery, and the board at the Waterworks
Board should have representation from all the people they serve,
now the inner city, you know, the mayor and everybody
(06:00):
that's been running the board for so long. We'll say, well,
the majority of it's here. You know, this is our board.
But as you said, they sold this.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Well in Birmingham rate payers about a two hundred thousand,
but eight hundred thousand rate payers total. This from this region.
That's why it's a regional board and what needs to
be original board and it looks like hopefully maybe within
the next two weeks, if this bill passes the House
and the governor signs into law, we will finally make
the reforms that needed to be made to the Birmingham
water Works Board decades in the making.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
It'll change everything I think, you know, and how many
times has the waterboard been dragged through corruption.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Well in the rate increases, we've talked about double digit
rate increases if you look over the past twenty years,
the water bills not being correct. So this is a
long time coming and this will be good for rate payers,
but it's also good economic development because we need to
have a water board that operates efficiently. Well.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
There was a class action lawsuit brought against them years
ago by Scott Marrow, you know, Scott Attorney, and I
just kicked it out, said now we're not going to
do this. We're not going to hear it. I mean,
they have always been kind of teflon at the Birmingham
Waterworks Board. But there has been some people arrested.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Oh, we've had some arrests and through the years of
some unethical behavior. Look, this is important. If you don't
think it's important, as the folks in Jackson Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Who've had huge problems with their water board.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, Pritchard, Alabama, it's been a lot of issues. So,
like I said, this has been a long time coming.
That this will be one of the most important bills
that passes if it does out of the House of
this legislative session, for those of us that live in
this region.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Okay, I hope it goes through. I hope the other
our signs it. And it's long overdue, that is for sure.
All right, Off the legislators over to the courts. There
was the guy that was recently released on bond who
was in jail for an I guess in eastern murder
situation twenty one and sure enough they let him out
and next thing you know, he shoots a child. The
(07:54):
child lived, But what the heck? Why does this continue
to happen?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It's Djavou all over again. It's a continuing revolving door
at our courthouse, and uh, we need to pay attention
and look, there are a couple of bills that could
pass the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
We've talked about it. One of them that would allow
ten years for murder you.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Were talking about.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I can't remember if that's the number or not.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
The judge allowing the lead.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Having ten years for murder, and where are we on
that jab was going to kill it.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
In the well, it still could be passed the next
couple of weeks. In the next couple of weeks, once
they passed the budget, it does not take a three
fifth vote, so it's actually easier to pass bills. It
doesn't take as many votes. So when you pay attention
what's going on the next couple of weeks, or some
bills that will reilly weaken our criminal justice system that
could pass the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Well, it lots to keep an eye on. Absolutely doubt
about it, all right,
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