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State Sen. Scott Beason had a pretty lousy week on the stand at the bingo trial in Montgomery last week. After he was discovered using a racially insensitive comment on one of the FBI tapes while he was wired and talking with fellow Republicans, the defense pretty much undercut his reputation. Beason had his defenders in the Republican Party — but there were more than a few cringes, too. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party chairman and one of Beason’s colleagues in the Senate, Harri Anne Smith, a former Republican who is also on trial, called for Beason to resign. Of course, nobody expects Beason to call it quits. But there’s little question that Beason’s credibility is toast. Besides, how can Beason even face his colleagues now that they know he was recording their supposedly private conversations so often?

Here we are in late June, and so far Birmingham Mayor William Bell is the only candidate running for mayor. The election is Aug. 23. One reason possible candidates may not run is that the term is only for two years. In 2013, the mayor and City Council members will run on the same cycle. Still, this election will be the last where a City Council member can run against the mayor and not have to give up his council seat. That may be too tempting to keep for some but, even so, Bell is expected to do well.

Discuss these and other topics with News’ Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer Joey Kennedy at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

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