Endorsement, sort of

I voted for Ed May in 2002 and 2006 and the only thing I got was this silly red nose. Now I'm upset. DO NOT vote for May in 2010.

—Donated political advert 

May has distinct advantage

Bessemer Mayor Ed May has a distinct advantage over his rivals in this August's citywide elections as he attempts to gain his third term.

The advantage is money. In 2006, May raised and spent about $250,000, or significantly more per vote than President Obama did in 2008.

Of course, most of May's money came from outside the area. About $55,000 came from Edison, N.J., and Alpharetta, Ga. And some money was funneled through the Political Action Committee (PAC) operated by former Democratic strategist Al LaPierre, now a convicted felon.

As we reported last month, Aaron Killings and Denise Blue Poe — assistant city attorneys — have established three PACs that will undoubtedly be used to help their boss be re-elected.

The problem with PACs is that it is nearly impossible to trace donations, which means the mayor's trail of contributions will for the most part be unknown.

—Tribune staff report 

Blog war on Al.com

UPDATE

Confederates of Jimmy Stephens had Al.com remove all references to his relationship with convicted federal felon Mona Moore.

MORE UPDATE: It appears that half the boggers don't understand what has happened and are just shooting off their mouths.

The Birmingham Snooze finally found out about the lawsuit filed against the Bessemer Bingo Committee of the City Council, charging that it violated the state's Open Meetings law.

But it's the comments that are most interesting.

In three comments posted it is charged that Councilman Jimmy Stephens is beind the suit and that his long-tme girlfriend, Mona Moore, is a convicted federal felon.

We carried a story earlier in the week that Stephens put Moore up to calling Councilwoman Dorothy Davidson and talking long enough to her so that she could be served.

The suit wrongly names Councilman Jesse Matthews. He is not a member of the committee.

—Tribune staff report

St. Patrick's celebration

Bessemer mayoral candidate Kenneth Gulley, left, makes a point to chamber Chairman David Darby and Joni Holt last night during annual St. Patrick's celebration at the Holiday Inn Express attended by about 100 people.

—Tribune staff report

Smoot trades in fancy wheels

Interesting sight at the Bessemer Civic Center the other night: Shelia Smoot being driven around town in a car that was purchased used at one of those buy-here, pay-here operations.

Smoot-dog normally is driven around in a Jefferson County car and they are normally parked illegally.

Thinks this change has something to do with her ludicrous campaign for Congress?

—Tribune staff report

Eastern Valley fire displaces family

A fire this morning in Eastern Valley displaced a family, officials said.

The family was not home when firefighters answered a call to 126 Elrie Blvd., says Melvin Alexander, a firefighter with the East Valley Fire Department.

The call went out at 3:43 a.m.

Cause of the fire is still under investigation.

—Tribune staff report

School tax trial to coincide with election

Bessemer Mayor Ed May could suffer a real setback on the polls this August when it is expected the city school's lawsuit to recover money withheld from it goes to court.

The city stopped paying its share of the retail tax collection to the school because it couldn't pay its bills.

After patiently waiting for more than a year, the schools filed suit to recover $6.1 million.

Of course, the schools are about to fall into the same economic crater as the city. Six months ago it had $14 million in reserves. The number is down to $8 million and it will evaporate soon after being hit with yet another proration cut by the state.

If this isn't enough for May, the city is expected to fall further into its hole because money it receives about this time of the year from Jefferson County in the form of property taxes has been moved back until summer.

The city, which has been flush with cash in the past two months will probably have to consider laying off employees just to keep the doors open.

This plays into the hands of the four major candidates who hope to unseat May as each one has mentioned the need to get the city's finances under control.

—Tribune staff report

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