When 55,000 Mobile area citizens rose up, organized and blocked a toll charge on the I-10 Bayway in 2019, one citizen served as the brains of the successful movement.
David Luckie did much of the research and provided the facts that enabled the case against the toll plan. Luckie is an economist and is about as local to Mobile as it gets—a Mobile-born graduate of Murphy High School and the University of South Alabama.
Luckie is at it again.
He uncovered and posted on Facebook the video of a concerning statement by State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile). With Drummond now in the September 23 runoff for the open seat of Mayor of Mobile, Drummond’s statement is becoming an issue.
It is especially concerning to conservatives, Republicans and peaceful Mobilians. It is also divisive, pitting left against right.
Here is Luckie’s video of Drummond’s statement, which sparked an avalanche of social media comments, seen below.
“I cannot overstate the danger that Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans agenda poses for our nation future,” Drummond said.
At the time of this report, Luckie’s post has generated many thousands of views.
In the aftermath of the assassination of Christian conservative Charlie Kirk, Drummond’s statement is particularly concerning.
The Luckie video is not the only example of the Drummond campaign’s vilifying Republicans and Trump supporters.
A PAC supporting Drummond sent out a mailer aimed at Democrats. It blasted her opponent, Spiro Cheriogotis, for being a Republican and for supporting GOP nominee Caroleene Dobson for Congress.
Dobson had lost to Democrat Shomari Figures (D-Mobile), but she carried Mobile County, Figures’ home county.
What is the strategy behind Drummond suppoprters’ recent negative campaign against Spiro and Republicans? In an expected low-turnout runoff, it would appear that Drummond supporters are trying to energize her base and generate a larger turnout of Democrats.
But Republicans can read the mailer and watch the video. What if an effect of Drummond’s anti-Republican rant is to alarm Republicans? The video statement and mailer could have quite the opposite effect intended.
It could spur Mobile Republicans and conservatives to go to the polls in larger numbers than they otherwise would have.
Turnout will be the key in the Sept. 23 Mayoral runoff. If Democrats turn out in larger numbers than they did in the first election, Drummond wins. If Republicans turn out in larger numbers than they did, Spiro wins.
And municipal elections in Alabama are supposed to be non-partisan.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected].
