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MOBILE, Alabama — Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary, said his return to his native Auburn last week was a moment that fulfilled a childhood dream. Gibbs, President Barack Obama’s chief spokesman until February, was the commencement speaker at Auburn University on May 9.

While Gibbs did not attend Auburn, he graduated from Auburn High School. His parents worked in the university library, and the stadium where he addressed students was a constant presence in his life when he was growing up.

“I always dreamed of being on this field and hearing applause when my name was called,” he said after being introduced. “Back then, I imagined it being after scoring a game-winning touchdown.”

Gibbs urged the audience to remember the victims of the tornadoes that swept the state, including those at Auburn’s arch-rival university, where University of Alabama graduation was postponed after the storms devastated Tuscaloosa.

“While we are rivals on a field or on a court, our hearts and our prayers go out to all that were hurt and killed or had their lives changed in an instant of violent weather,” Gibbs said.

The 2011 graduation ceremony was the first time that Auburn’s commencement had been held in Jordan-Hare Stadium in 43 years.

Siegelman legal fight rolls on

“They got it wrong.”

Thus began an email from former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, following a ruling Tuesday by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in which a three-judge panel declined to reverse his conviction on bribery charges.

Siegelman, seeking contributions to help pay his legal bills, wrote to supporters that he’s spent more than $2 million on his case so far and that his family “is on the verge of bankruptcy.”

“This was a partisan witch-hunt, pure and simple, cooked up by Karl Rove and the Republican Party to try to put me away for good because they disagree with my politics,” wrote Siegelman, a Democrat who served as governor from 1999-2003. “They couldn’t beat me fair and square, so they targeted me with this politically-motivated, unfounded prosecution.”

Siegelman said he needed money to continue his fight against the charges.

“We’re not giving up because we know that the law is on our side — and, in time, justice will be done,” he said.

Keahey gives pay raise to public schools

State Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, said that over the coming year he will donate his automatic legislative pay increase to local school systems in southwest Alabama.

“I don’t want that money to be used to give tax breaks to billion-dollar, out-of-state corporations,” Keahey said in a news release. “I want to make sure this money is used to buy supplies for classrooms.”

Keahey said he decided not to return the pay increase to the general fund after Senate Republicans chose to cut funding for schools rather than closing tax loopholes that allow out-of-state corporations to avoid paying taxes in Alabama.

Said Keahey, “Schools and educators need this money. Giving it to them directly is the only way I can be sure that they will get it.”

Realtors PAC raises cash

Mobile Realtors raised $26,850 at its annual Alabama Realtors Political Action Committee auction — just $200 shy of the most the group has ever raised, according to Jeff Newman, executive director of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors.

The funds are used to support candidates.

The Baldwin County Association of Realtors will host its ARPAC event in late August.

Political announcements

• The Mobile Young Republicans will meet at 6 p.m. today at Buck’s Pizza in downtown Mobile. Probate Judge Don Davis will be the guest speaker. The club will also be taking up donations for those recovering from the tornadoes. Members are asked to bring nonperishable food items, toiletries or diapers. For more information, contact Robby Shipman at 251-776-4047 or robbyshipman@gmail.com.
• The League of Women Voters of Mobile will hold its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel near Bel Air Mall. Beth Marietta Lyons, a lawyer, league member and former state Representative, will give an update on the current legislative session, including information on the reapportionment process, the new ethics laws, proration and issues including constitutional reform, Forever Wild, and homeowners’ insurance. The buffet lunch is $15. The event is open to the public. The hotel is at 3101 Airport Blvd. RSVP to mmcginnis2008@yahoo.com or 661-5274.
• The Common Sense Campaign will hold a Tea Party rally from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Semmes Community Center. Speakers will include Common Sense State Coordinator Pete Riehm, President Mike Matthews, and Lou Campomenosi, adjunct professor of political science at Tulane University. The event is free and open to the public. The center is located at 10141 Moffett Road in Semmes. For more information, call 251-626-7808.

In place of their regular monthly meeting, the Azalea City Republican Women will hold a Spring Fling at the home of Marianne Reeves at 6 p.m. May 31. For more information, call 251-689-3303.

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, will hold a series of town hall meetings across Southwest Alabama this week. Bonner’s schedule includes:

Today

9-10 a.m., Bayou La Batre — First United Methodist Church

1-2 p.m., Dauphin Island — Town Hall

3-4 p.m., Saraland — Civic Center

Tuesday

9-10 a.m., Citronelle — City Hall

11 a.m.-noon, Chatom —Scott House

2-3 p.m., Jackson — City Hall

4-5 p.m., Grove Hill — Senior Citizens Center

Wednesday

9-10 a.m., Atmore — Municipal Auditorium

11 a.m.-noon, Brewton — City Hall

2-3 p.m., Monroeville — Old Monroe County Courthouse

Thursday

9-10 a.m., Bay Minette — City Hall

11 a.m.-noon, Daphne — City Hall

2-3 p.m., Gulf Shores — City Hall

3:30-4:30 p.m., Orange Beach — City Hall

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Today’s column includes contributions from Guy Busby, Kathy Jumper and George Talbot.

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