Jefferson County, Alabama, Commissioner Shelia Smoot received both a county car and a $5,600 vehicle expense allowance for most of 2006, according to a new Alabama state audit of county finances, released today. Smoot, a two-term commissioner who has announced plans to seek the U.S. House of Representatives seat being vacated by Artur Davis, is mentioned in three findings included in the state audit covering the 2007 and 2008 budget years.
The audit also said the county did not withhold extra taxes for Smoot's use of a county car during a 28-month period ending March 31, 2008. Auditors also said they could not find proper authorization for Smoot to receive payroll deductions for credit card payments.
Basically the commission became an ATM machine for people who worked for it as well as several non-profits. As for Smoot, she sounds like a perfect replacement for Langford and be a typical member of the Democratic party. Those of you who followed the chronicles of Mayor Larry Langford will be happy to know that he got a cut:
Topping the list was $150,000 paid to Computer Help For Kids, Inc., a non-profit formed in 2000 by ousted HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, Birmingham mayor and former county commissioner Larry Langford, and former county commissioner John Katopodis. A suit that ended in a confidential settlement in 2008 alleged that Katopodis used the non-profit as a personal piggy bank.
In other news Alice Martin will be leaving her job and is replaced by Joyce Vance:
WASHINGTON - Joyce Vance had solid bipartisan support to become the top federal prosecutor in the northern district of Alabama as her nomination sailed through a Senate committee Thursday. The action sets the stage for her to become one of the first new U.S. attorneys to take office under President Barack Obama.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Vance and two nominees from Vermont and New York without debate. The full U.S. Senate could make it final next week.
Vance, 48, will ascend to the top job after 18 years in the office working under political appointees of both parties. The post is high-profile, as she will oversee a wide range of federal investigations - criminal and civil - in Birmingham and surrounding areas, including several public corruption probes. Among them are cases involving the state's two-year-college system and Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford.
I hope she keeps pushing and Langford's trial is in a month. Miss. Martin was under constant assault by the left and we can hope she does well.
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