Press Releases
Alabama Democrats Say Republican Registrar Appointments Show ALGOP Totally Insincere About Diversity in its Party
Only 2 of 132 Republican Registrar Appointments Were Given to Minorities
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Spearman 334-262-2221
Montgomery, AL - Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham today revealed that the republican appointments to registrar positions in 66 counties by Governor Bob Riley and Alabama State Auditor Samantha Shaw show that the Alabama Republican Party is not at all sincere in its rhetoric to be an inclusive party.
Both Gov. Riley and Auditor Shaw each have the authority to appoint one registrar in each of 66 Alabama counties. Records indicate that Riley chose one black registrar in Dallas County and Shaw one black registrar in Jackson County. The other 130 republican appointments are white. By contrast, Democratic Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Ron Sparks, also has one appointment for each of these counties and appointed 27 black registrars out of 66 for a 40% level of racial diversity. Alabama is approximately 26% African-American.
"Governor Riley will bring Sen. John McCain to Alabama's Black Belt next week and talk about racial inclusion and that African-American voters in Alabama should give them a look this November. The statistics of these appointments show clearly that the Alabama GOP is not serious about inclusion and that their language is but empty rhetoric," Turnham stated. As a constitutional officer for Alabama and spouse of the 2008 Republican Supreme Court Nominee, Auditor Shaw should equally be embarrassed by this glaring lack of diversity.
Turnham says that the Alabama Republican Council, who on the algop.org website claims to be the oldest black State Republican organization, should publically call on the ALGOP party officers, Gov. Riley and Auditor Shaw to rectify this situation or cease any debate about racial inclusion in Alabama elections.
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