Montgomery, AL, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Gubernatorial candidate Bill Johnson today responded to remarks made by Rep. Mike Hubbard and the Governor’s communications director. 

 

“I encourage the media to organize an independent polygraph test for me, the Governor and Dan Gans regarding my statements about Mississippi Indian casino funds promised to Riley’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign,” said Johnson. “I stand behind my statements. I was directly told by Gans that he was responsible for coordinating the Mississippi Indian gambling money supporting Riley’s ’02 campaign.

 

“I am appalled, but not surprised, that Rep. Hubbard and the Governor’s communications director would attempt to hide behind snide remarks. As one of the longest serving political appointees, as assistant director and director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), I managed the distribution of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars per year in the state’s federal and state grant-managing agency. It is frankly an insult to Riley’s cabinet members to say he appoints people to his cabinet who came straight from distributing yard signs, bumper stickers and brochures to head a state agency with some 230 employees. 

 

“It is not beneath me to assist with yard signs and bumper stickers and I have certainly handed out plenty, but my role in the campaigns was far greater. It was, however, not my work organizing the grassroots efforts and over 14,000 volunteers statewide for Riley’s gubernatorial campaigns that led to serving on his cabinet. It was my unique background that positioned me to serve on his cabinet and positions me as the best candidate to serve the citizens of Alabama as their next Governor," stated Johnson.

 

In addition to managing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state grants, Johnson worked with communities across the state in economic development, community development, workforce development, the Black Belt Action Commission and the Rural Action Commission. He worked closely with local leaders and citizens in all 67 counties to identify solutions to complex issues and partnered with faith and community-based organizations to tackle some of our state’s most difficult challenges, including disaster recovery, prisoner re-entry programs and mentoring our children.  Johnson worked closely with the Alabama legislature on complex issues for Alabama communities and was recognized as Habitat for Humanity's Public Official of the Year in 2008. He was also recognized in 2009 as a HIPPY Hero (Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters) for his work advancing pre-school education and parental involvement in underserved families. He served a 4-year tenure on the Birmingham City Council representing the most diverse district in the city, carries education gained from Alabama high schools and Spring Hill College, as well as real world experience gained from his travels to nearly 50 countries and completion of the senior executive program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

 

"It is telling that Rep. Hubbard is dragging up news from fifteen years ago in an attempt to distract attention from this serious issue. I want to put their claims of legalizing drugs and prostitution to rest once and for all. The truth of the matter is that fifteen years ago, I ran as a third-party candidate for US Senate. Although the national party advocated for legalizing drugs and prostitution, I campaigned on a platform of campaign finance reform, balanced budgets, welfare reform, crime control, pro Second Amendment and opposing the US being policeman to the world. The brochure (from 1994) can be viewed at http://billjohnson.org/Billsoldbrochure.jpg

 

"Realizing that my views and values did not align with what the national party advocated for, I left that party just one year later. Since 1995, I have been a Republican and worked tirelessly to get conservative leaders elected. As chairman of the Public Safety Committee for the Birmingham City Council, I dealt with crime, crack houses and the collateral damage of the drug epidemic, including prostitution. As ADECA director from May 2005 to June 2009, one of my many responsibilities included distributing over $25 million to drug task forces and police and sheriff departments across the State to fight the war on drugs.

 

“I believe that substance abuse is one of our society’s largest and most pressing problems. For this reason, I launched the Community Partnership for Recovery and Renewal, a partnership between the state and faith and community-based organizations, to help break the cycle of drug dependency and reduce recidivism, and I worked with faith and community-based organizations across the State to reduce substance abuse and increase opportunities for recovery. It is disingenuous to say that I promote these issues when I spent the last decade dealing with the collateral damage and working to identify real-world solutions to these challenging social problems. 

 

“Hubbard’s and Emerson's comments yesterday are an attempt to skirt the issue at hand.  The bottom line of my remarks is that it is not the role of the executive branch of government to make threatening phone calls to equipment manufacturers to cancel legal shipments to Alabama’s businesses. The Governor’s Office can call my concern a ‘desperate attempt to get publicity,’ but I view it as being willing to fight for thousands of moms and dads that will lose their jobs if the Governor allows Mississippi Indian casino owners to shut down Alabama business developments and have Alabama public policy on gaming being driven by out-of-state casino owners. The decision for or against gaming in our State should not be made by the Governor, the Mississippi Indian casino owners or the courts. That decision should made by the people of Alabama,” concluded Johnson.