AL.com reports: Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson, a former candidate for the Jefferson County Commission, said today that a redrawn district map appears to be an effort to keep him from running against one of the sitting commissioners.

Under a proposed voting map being considered by the commission, Midfield moves from Sandra Little Brown's District 2 into George Bowman's District 1.

Brown defeated Richardson in a runoff election in 2010. The next county commission election is 22 months away. ...

Richardson said it was disingenuous to remove his city from District 2 when Brown was trying to "gain" population. -- Read the whole story --> Midfield mayor wonders whether Jefferson County commissioner views him as a threat | al.com

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AL.com reports: The Jefferson County Commission today set a Feb. 14 public hearing to consider a resolution that could determine who gets a seat on the commission when elections are held in 22 months.

The proposed plan to alter the boundaries of commission districts has already split two members of the board.

Commissioner Sandra Little Brown and Commissioner George Bowman are divided over which of the two will have the Legion Field box in their district. The Legion Field precinct in Smithfield is the largest in Birmingham and coveted because it's the polling place of influential clergy and elected officials. It has been moved from Bowman's district to Brown's under the proposed map.

The new map also moves the City of Midfield from Brown's district into Bowman's. -- Read the whole story --> Proposed election map splits two on Jefferson County Commission | al.com

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AL.com reports: Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who led the 2010 effort that won Republicans control of the Alabama Legislature, has formed a new political action committee designed to keep the GOP in power.

Hubbard, an Auburn Republican, filed paperwork creating Storm PAC on Oct. 12, according to records in the Alabama Secretary of State's office.

The PAC, based in Auburn, lists Hubbard as chairman and Charles Hines as treasurer. Its stated purpose is "to support conservative, pro-business candidates for public office."

The PAC currently lists no contributions or expenses, but that may change in a hurry: It will get a high-profile kickoff later this month at the Auburn home of Tim Hudson, a star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. -- Read the whole story --> House Speaker Mike Hubbard set to launch new fundraising PAC | al.com

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AL.com reports: A Mobile city council member is requesting the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the city's proposed redistricting plan that outlines the council's political districts for the next 10 years.

Councilman Fred Richardson, in letters to Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, said he opposes the reapportionment plan that he and the rest of the City Council voted in favor for on Nov. 6.

The first letter, dated Nov. 14 and sent to Perez, requests the federal government investigate the plan to make sure "equal representation" is provided to "all citizens" in Mobile. ...

He cited U.S. Census figures showing that of Mobile's 195,111 residents, 45 percent are white while 50.6 percent are black. He also noted that of the council's seven elected districts, three are a majority black while four are white. -- Read the whole story --> Mobile city councilman opposing redistricting map, saying plan is unjust to blacks | al.com

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