Group urges DNA test

Commentary: Juries convicted him three times and he was sentenced to die three times.

The Innocence Project has renewed its call for DNA testing for condemned inmate Tommy Douglas Arthur now that his scheduled execution has been temporarily halted. Eric Ferrero, director of communications, said the Sept. 27 temporary stay of Arthur's execution opens the window for quick DNA testing. Arthur said he didn't kill Muscle Shoals businessman Troy Wicker in 1982. But juries convicted him three times and he was sentenced to die three times, coming within seven hours of being executed Sept. 27. Gov. Bob Riley stayed his appointed date with lethal injection for 45 days while the state changes its lethal injection protocol. Ferrero said the 45-day hiatus is plenty of time to conduct DNA testing of crime scene material. Ferrero said Wicker's wife, Judy, originally said someone else killed her husband after attacking them in their home. She later said she hired Arthur to kill her husband and was convicted, also. "Her motive to lie is obvious," Ferrero said. "The testing could show that her testimony against Arthur was false, and the DNA testing could identify the true perpetrator." On the Web at innocenceproject.org.

n n n

If you can get in, you might be able to see former first Lady and potential president Hillary Clinton this month in Hoover. Clinton, a U.S. senator from New York state, is the scheduled speaker at the Alabama Democratic Conference luncheon at the Wynfrey Hotel on Oct. 13, the state Democratic Party said. She was first lady from 1993-2001. Tickets are available through the Democratic Party. Qualifying for presidential and delegate selection to the national convention will begin the same day. Qualifying closes Dec. 7. On the Web at www.aladems.org.

n n n

Former Alabama Medicaid Commissioner Mike Lewis has died. Lewis died in September after a long illness. He was Medicaid commissioner from Sept. 1, 2000, to Nov. 21, 2003, and was the agency's finance expert and helped manage funds for programs. "There are no words that can truly describe Mike's impact on each of us, his impact on the people we serve and his ability to go through life's trials and tribulations with dignity and grace," Commissioner Carol Steckel said. "His quiet demeanor, his compassion and his commitment to do what was right were driving forces for Mike." Lewis also served as chief financial officer between 1997 and 2005 when he retired after 25 years. He also was chief of staff, director of agency audit and deputy director of the finance division.

n n n

Alabama Power Co. has named Leslie D. Sanders the company's new vice president of governmental relations. She succeeds Donnie Reese, who retired after 38 years at Alabama Power, the company said. "Leslie has considerable experience in a variety of areas in the company and she has proven herself a highly effective leader with unquestioned integrity," said Charles McCrary, Alabama Power president and CEO. Sanders joined Alabama Power in 1986 as a marketing representative. The University of Alabama graduate joined governmental relations in 1991, the company said.

n n n

Tom Parker, Alabama Supreme Court justice and Dartmouth College graduate, is supporting the alumni group's challenge to a proposed change to Dartmouth College's trustee selection process. Parker and others who signed full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal and other newspapers said Dartmouth President James Wright is trying to dilute alumni strength by expanding the size of the board with hand-picked trustees. For the past 116 years, half of the 16 trustees are selected by trustees and the other half by alumni members. "The board will consolidate more power in itself," Parker said. Parker graduated from the Ivy League school in New Hampshire in 1973.

n n n

The ethics commission ruled on junket perks just in time for an industry hunting trip to Japan to be headed by Gov. Bob Riley. The commission said Alabama companies that lend air transportation to public officials to use for economic development trips do not have to report the flights. But if anyone wines and dines a public official to the tune of more than $250 a day, those perks have to be reported. The commission said hospitality spending on public officials includes meals, lodging, entertainment and golf. House Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, asked the commission for the clarification. Riley said he'll head a contingent of at least 40 state and local business leaders for the annual Southeast U.S.-Japan Association conference in Tokyo. Riley will be in China from Oct. 10-13 and in Japan from Oct. 13-17, his office said. (That probably means there won't be a special legislative session later this month.)

n n n

The A Plus Education Foundation said there's not a rosy picture for the new state education budget. "The economic slowdown is already pinching the state's education budget, which is supported primarily by sales and income taxes," A Plus said. The fund grew in 2005 and 2006 but for the just-ended fiscal year, tax receipts for education are expected to be more than $100 million short of projections because of a reduced carry forward, A Plus said.

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb123@aol.com.