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dabrahms@gns.gannett.com
WASHINGTON -- State Rep. David Grimes
will run for the seat of Rep. Terry Everett, who is retiring
this year.
The Republican from Montgomery said he
decided to run because he wants to ensure that the
Congressional seat remains held by Republicans.
"We cannot take a chance of losing
that seat," he said on Friday.
Several Republicans have already
announced their candidacy, but Grimes said he doesn't
"think the other candidates in the race are the right
people" to win the district.
Grimes said he expected other
people to enter the race as Republicans but they haven't.
Democrats see an opportunity to pick up a
Republican seat being vacated by Everett, R-Rehobeth, who has
held that position since 1993. Republicans want to keep the
district in GOP hands, and both parties are expected to spend
a lot of money on the election.
"I figure $750,000 to $1 million
would be my guess," said state Rep. Jay Love,
R-Montgomery, who's also campaigning for the seat.
"That's the kind of race we're going to run."
Love loaned his campaign $300,000 and
raised another $70,000 in campaign contributions through Dec.
31, according to a Federal Elections Commission report filed
this week. He said he's raised an additional $30,000 this
year.
"This is a very conservative
district and a very Republican one," Love said.
State Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb,
said she is moving forward with her campaign.
Grimes, serving his second
four-year term, has talked about a potential Congressional bid
for years, despite having been diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis, a disease that attacks the nervous system.
He said when he first ran for the Alabama
legislature, there were many who thought he was fooling
himself in believing he could have MS and handle the sometimes
grueling work of the legislature -- or the even more grueling
job of campaigning for it.
Grimes was open about his
condition, and showed voters it wouldn't stop him.
"I walked every street in the
district and was able to get out and see people and knock on
doors," he said in a July 2007 Advertiser article.
Even in July 2007, he was talking about
one day looking forward to succeeding Everett, a man he
described as a role model.
"I'd love to follow a man like
that," he said.
Ann Romney, wife of Mitt Romney learned
she had the disease in 1999, but has been extremely active in
her husband's campaign.
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