Experts divided on impact of Hammett's testimony
MONTGOMERY — The normally cool and collected Alabama House Speaker Seth Hammett was noticeably nervous as he took the witness stand last week in federal court in Decatur and testified that he ordered the chairman of a budget committee to put money in the state education budget for a job for a state legislator.
Two political experts were divided on whether the court appearance might hurt Hammett's political chances, particularly a possible run for governor in 2010 or later.
Hammett's voice was strained as he explained how he made sure there was funding in the budget so that state Rep. Sue Schmitz, D-Toney, could obtain a job with the two-year college system's Community Intensive Training for Youth program.
"It certainly doesn't help him," Auburn University Montgomery political scientist Brad Moody said when asked how the court appearance would affect Hammett if he decided to run for governor.
"It depends on whether she's convicted and if there are any more of these kinds of trials," Moody said of the ongoing federal investigation of Alabama's two-year college system.
Another political scientist, Jess Brown, said he doesn't see Hammett's testimony sinking Hammett's political ambitions.
"As far as the speaker using his influence to help a House member get a job, I don't think that's a silver bullet or a kiss of death. I think it's just kind of expected," said Brown, who teaches at Athens State University, a part of the two-year college system.
