Johnny Mack Morrow Scandal

The people of Franklin county have known for years this farm was a license to steal. Finaly someone had the ....s to bring it out. You can't use tax payers money to improve your private property. Sen bedford was nearly ruined over a water line to a hunting camp, and Morrow has gotten a free pass all these years. I hear Montgomery is all over this today. This race is on.

Here's a link to the actual expenses.

http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspo...rows-documented.html

However this turns out after investigation (and it seems inevitable that there WILL be an investigation), here is a situation that probably not would have been made public except for the Open Records Act of the Code of Alabama.

All citizens should be vigilant against attempts to reduce the scope of this vital law and to guard against its abuse. In a state like Alabama, where all kinds of wheeling and dealing--both legal and otherwise--by legislators and other state officials is the norm. a strong freedom of information law is an absolute necessity!

This situation in Franklin County could get v-e-e-ery interesting, whichever way it turns out. The Morrow farm has gotten lots of favorable publicity for Mr. Morrow, but did he buy some of that good will with your tax dollars and mine?

And has his opponent or anyone else filed a formal complaint with the Ethics Commission? I found nothing on that in what I have read thus far. That would be a logical next step, under Alabama law, when there is reason to question the expenditure of public funds. Of course, at this late date (election in less than a week) the Commission would not have time to do much of anything.

This is maybe a long shot: If public funds were indeed improperly used, could this be a federal RICO case? RICO has been applied to all kinds of misconduct by public officials, in some cases seemingly without sound justification, but the feds (FBI) seem to like that law and use it often.

Innocent until proven guilty, as usual, but who knows what evil lurks--or doesn't lurk? Time will tell.

The people of Franklin County will just shrug their shoulders and re elect him again without investigating the allegations. As long as they get their piece of the pie they will overlook their elected reps. siphoning off a little. They have done this time after time. You get what you vote for.

Now the Mack is saying he didn't take his %62 pay raise he voted himself. He did and he still receives it, it was a cost of living raise he turned down.($1800.)

Masterson is running against Morrow and I have got some stuff through thd mail that says morrow has diverted $75,000 to be used on the Farm, looks like if it was untrue Morrow could sue.

The land in question is leased at no profit to the Bear Creek Development Authority. The BCDA runs an educational program for school children and the public that demonstrates what farming was like on early Alabama farms. The BCDA uses the land exclusively. Morrow has not received one cent for leasing his land to the BCDA.

Several local mayors and the Bear Creek Development Authority have publicly denounced Masteron's ads as untrue, and have demanded that Masterson discontinue the ads.

Who holds title to the land and the structures on it? Does Rep. Morrow reside on the property? How long is the lease? At the end of the lease will he reimburse BCDA for the improvements to the property?

I stopped Mr. Morrow for speeding and suspicion of drunk driving on night about 1am back in 1997 or 1998. The first thing out of his mouth was he was State representative..... so and so, I am this and that and blah blah blah, yada yada yada, rude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the more memorable rude A$#)(*&)*(& that I remember stopping out of hundreds of traffic stops I have made in my career.

quote:

Originally posted by JJ:
Who holds title to the land and the structures on it? Does Rep. Morrow reside on the property? How long is the lease? At the end of the lease will he reimburse BCDA for the improvements to the property?

Those are good questions, JJ. Morrow does own the land, but he leases it for free. The improvements are all a part of the educational program provided by BCDA. The state money goes to them, not Morrow. And as it is an educational program rather than an actual farming operation, he wouldn't be making any money off of the improvements, anyway. Or, at least that is my understanding. As far as his residence goes, I know that he does not live on the leased property. But he does live on the farm, which is 300 acres. I don't know where on that property the house sits in relation to the leased property.

I hope that was helpful.

Seems like they're both throwing punches:

http://www.timesdaily.com/arti...-negates-real-issues

Interesting pic:

http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspo...-does-truth-lie.html

Wonder if he'll be that happy come election day?

Why did Rep. Morrow directly pay bills for projects on property he leased to BCDA? Seems he should have sent the money directly to BCDA for them to disburse for projects on the property they lease. It just seems to be an awkward way to do business.

For instance, the money paid to the BCDA employee. If he is a BCDA employee working on BCDA projects on BCDA leased land shouldn't he have been paid by BCDA?

I'm not an accoutant by any stretch of the imagination or maybe I don't understand the documents that are online.

I'll confess I didn't get very far with them, but if he's a professor, or teacher, of economics like SS said, then he should know better than to make pmts in a haphazard way. Unless he wanted the books to be muddled to cover something.

I think what beternu says is right. Someone needs to file an ethics complaint or let it go. Preferably an ethics complaint.

The question has never been with the BCDA, its the improvements to the farm, morrows home, he lives right there. Masterson has even furnished property tax statements to back it up. Have you not noticed Morrow is not refuteing the fact that improvements were done to his home. That would be a legal mistake because he knows the ethics complaint is coming. Remember the mess Sen. Bedford got into over the water line to his hunting club,this is lots worse. The Mack has been exposed.

quote:

Originally posted by Infomercial:
I'll confess I didn't get very far with them, but if he's a professor, or teacher, of economics like SS said, then he should know better than to make pmts in a haphazard way. Unless he wanted the books to be muddled to cover something.

I think what beternu says is right. Someone needs to file an ethics complaint or let it go. Preferably an ethics complaint.

I agree. Why did he pay the Bear Creek employee directly? He would surely know the correct procedure.

Now, the question is "Do the voters care?"

Jeff Masterson...bought and paid for...by gambling interests.


Morrow has given the people something for their money. A lot of things are being misrepresented trying to make Morrow look bad. The facts are, he has created a outdoor learning experience for our school children. The land is his, yes...what part of LEASED do you not understand?

Now, back to Masterson. If you want someone that is OWNED by the Porch Creek Indians...then vote Masterson.


Masterson campaign contributions.

^^^
Oh I understand "leased". What I don't understand is why Morrow is paying directly for improvements to the land he leases to an agency including the wages of an employee that works for the agency that holds the lease?

Why isn't the agency paying that salary and the cost of the improvements?

What politician isn't "owned" by someone or some group. The Poarch Creek Indians are just another group with a lot of money trying to advance their agenda just like ALFA, AEA etc.

WH, Jeff Masterson may be new to the political arena, but he is not bought and paid for by gambling interest. I have no horse in this race because I do not live in the district and cannot vote, but please feel free to show the evidence that you claim to have. Other wise this is just a case of he said she said.

Apolligies to WH, I did not see the campaign contibutions when I first saw the post. If this is legit, it appears he did take contributions from gambling interest. I guess it will depend if the voters in this district are for or opposed to the gambling interest in Alabama.

Politicians shouldn't be so quick to throw stones. I just spent an hour or so on the AL Sec of State website. The following info is taken from that site.
1. Johnny Mack Morrow accepted $1,000 on 3-1-10 from the Union Street PAC at POB 6048 Mont, AL according to his campaign finance records.

2. The Union St PAC is supported by the following: Freedom Trail Ventures Ada, OK, Video Gaming Tech Brentwood, TN, Miami Tribe Grove, OK, Eclipse Gaming Dallas, TX and yes, the Poarch Creek Indians. This info was taken from the PACs financial statements also contained on the Sec of State website.

I'm certainly not infallible but that is the way it looked to me. Feel free to check it out.

Union St Pac

The Miami tribe is not in the gambling business. The Poarch tribe that supports Masterson is.

Please get your facts straight.

The Miami Indians are in a joint venture with the Modoc Indians and run a casino called The Stables. http://www.miamination.com/business.html. Using your own link scroll down to the heading of Today for a description of their gambling interests. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Tribe_of_Oklahoma

The Poarch Creek Indians are a major contributor to the Union Street PAC which gave Mr. Morrow money.
http://arc-sos.state.al.us/PEL...PDF.003/E0109556.PDF

Now, I'm indifferent to gambling. I don't gamble and if people choose to gamble that is their business.
What I do care about is a politician slamming another for taking indian money while they do the same thing. It's about integrity.

So, the bottom line is that both Masterson and Morrow have taken money from Indian gambling intersts.

quote:

So, the bottom line is that both Masterson and Morrow have taken money from Indian gambling intersts.

No. The bottom line is Morrow had a one thousand dollar contribution. Masterson is almost financed entirely by the Poarch creek Indians. It doesn't take a genius to figure this out.


BTW...what has Masterson campaigned on...other than his misstated attacks?

So now the issue is how much each of them are "owned" by Indian money? that is kinda like being a little bit pregnant. I don't particularly care one way or the other about where their money comes from. What I do care about is one candidate slamming his opponent for doing something he himself has done. It's about integrity. I'm done.

I invited you to tell what Masterson campaign issues are. Seems he has nothing.

The Indian money is a huge issue. Masterson is OWNED by the Indians. He will have to do their bidding, not the peoples.

You bring up Morrow getting $1,00.00 from the Miami band of Indians trying to draw attention away from Masterson being nearly financed in total by the Poarch tribe.

Ok, show me where is his service Morrow has ever voted to give favorable treatment to them.

The only vote concerning this, Morrow wanted to allow the people to decide for thjemselves by voting on it. You wont see that from Masterson. He will have to do it the way the Poarch tell him to.

quote:

Originally posted by JJ:
So now the issue is how much each of them are "owned" by Indian money?

Nope...but you are trying to make it the issue.

Well it looks like all the lies and slander didn't work. Sorry JJ and company.

Don't pat yourself on the back too hard. I didn't have a horse in that race since I don't live in the district. I was just angered about the pot calling the kettle black. I don't believe I posted any lies or slandered anyone. The fact remains Morrow and Masterson both took various amounts of Indian money channeled through PACs.

If you believe I lied or slandered either candidate please be specific and point them out. Disagree with me all you want but I resent your implication that I'm a liar.

quote:

The people of Franklin County will just shrug their shoulders and re elect him again without investigating the allegations. As long as they get their piece of the pie they will overlook their elected reps. siphoning off a little. They have done this time after time. You get what you vote for.

well I had Morrows wife as a teacher at Shoals and she is a great Lady, I also have been to the Bear Creek Camp and it is a great venue for the schools and kids so atleast we all get a piece of the pie And if i was voting i would go with the lesser of the 2 evils(if the Mudslinging had an ounce of credibility, which is rare)

quote:

Originally posted by WH:

quote:

The people of Franklin County will just shrug their shoulders and re elect him again without investigating the allegations. As long as they get their piece of the pie they will overlook their elected reps. siphoning off a little. They have done this time after time. You get what you vote for.

That's it?? That's all you've got? Records clearly show that he used money from his discreationary fund to pay for improvements and salary for work done on property he leases to BCDA at no cost. The terms of the lease have not been public. Why weren't the funds given directly to BCDA for the improvements and salary of a BCDA worker on BCDA leased land? The work could then have gone through a public competitive bid process. Was the salary paid to the BCDA worker their BCDA salary or was it for work done for Mr. Morrow? Were the proper taxes witheld since the payments appear to have been made directly to the individual? This all creates an appearance of impropriety.

The relative merits of the community benefit is not the issue. And even if it was, that is not an excuse for even the appearance of impropriety when taxpayer money is involved. Mr. Morrow has been in the legislature long enough to know better.

The "appearance of impropriety". Thats all you've got?

Because you are ignorant of the situation does not give you the right to start hollering thief. You are a fool!

quote:

Originally posted by WH:
You are a fool!

I guess your true character has shown through. I may not agree with what somewhat says but I never resort to calling them names. You have a good day Sir/Madame.

oh I don't have any problem at all calling a spade a spade...

I'm his neice. I'm Kira Morrow. I would know about all of this and its a lie. His "added on land" is actually called Cypress Cove Farm and its a park. Considering there is a gate between his house and it. He did not use any tax payer money on anything like that. You all are just listening to what Jeff Masterson said. My uncle is pretty wealthy. God Bless the people that would say he used tax payer money on this. Do you all have any proof he did this, Where you all there?? yeah.... People these days are so ignorant, but they know everything about this so called "Scandal"

quote:

Originally posted by WH:
Jeff Masterson...bought and paid for...by gambling interests.


Morrow has given the people something for their money. A lot of things are being misrepresented trying to make Morrow look bad. The facts are, he has created a outdoor learning experience for our school children. The land is his, yes...what part of LEASED do you not understand?

Now, back to Masterson. If you want someone that is OWNED by the Porch Creek Indians...then vote Masterson.


Masterson campaign contributions.

Yes. i totally agree with you Im Johnny Mack's Neice. Jeff Masterson is a sell out. I go to school with his daughters.
his youngest is in my grade she went around saying That if her daddy won she was getting ny uncle's house.....Guess she thought it was like the White House.....lol Our teachers had a time with that.