Byrne goes hard negative, Young softens approach in AL01 ads

MOBILE — The two remaining Republican candidates in Alabama’s First Congressional District released dueling television ads on Monday, and the contrast between the two ads could not be more stark.

Bradley Byrne’s campaign released a scathing critique of rival Dean Young’s involvement with a political action committee, which the Byrne campaign alleges Young used to enrich himself.

“Meet Dean Young, political moneyman with a self-dealing past,” an announcer on the ad says. “Young set up a PAC that was supposed to promote Christian values. Good Christian people donated to the PAC. But months later, Dean Young closed the PAC after paying his company ninety five percent of the money — over $160,000. What kind of person fools Christians for his own profit? Dean Young, the last guy we need in Washington.”

Byrne’s campaign manager Alex Schriver explained the ad in a prepared statement.

“This ad calls into question Dean Young’s self-dealing political past,” Schriver said. “The facts are straightforward – Young raised over $176,000 for the Christian Family Association PAC and paid his own consulting company 95% of the funds. This was not an isolated incident. Young has established numerous political action committees, raised money for them, spent the vast majority of those funds on his own consulting firm.”

Yellowhammer asked for a response from Young and his campaign to those accusations, but our request went unanswered.

Later on Monday, the Young campaign released an ad with a much softer tone than what they have become known for. The ad features Jan Young, wife of Dean Young, touting her husband’s business experience and conservative credentials.

“Dean Young was raised in poverty, dropping out of high school to help his family,” Jan Young says. “He worked his way through college and became a successful business man. Dean knows what it is to need a job and he knows how to create jobs. Dean is a good father, husband and friend. The national media says Dean will be one of the most conservative congressmen. Vote Dean Young for Congress. My husband will fight for your families with all his heart.”

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