State and Regional News

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.

Known at the Statehouse for his well groomed appearance and unflappable manner, Hammett, D-Andalusia, was asked by Schmitz's defense attorney, Jake Watson, if he was scared.

"I wouldn't say I'm scared, but I wouldn't say I'm comfortable," Hammett said.

The speaker's testimony came during the fraud trial of Schmitz, accused of using the influence of Hammett, state teacher's union leader Paul Hubbert and former two-year chancellor Roy Johnson to get the job. Prosecutors say she made more than $177,000 over more than three years and rarely showed up for work.

Hammett, 62, has represented Covington and Escambia counties in the Legislature for 30 years and is serving his third term as speaker. He has said that he was considering a possible run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010 and would make a decision sometime this year. Hammett also considered a run for governor in 2006, but decided instead to run for a third term as speaker.

"It certainly doesn't help him," Auburn University Montgomery political scientist Brad Moody said when asked how the court appearance would effect 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. "At this point it's not a dooming effect, but if there are five more legislators who report similar circumstances that would hurt."

Hammett did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Moody said he's not surprised that Hammett was uncomfortable on the witness stand.

"I'm sure he would have rather been in Covington County fishing," Moody said.

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. "I think the speaker is expected on occasion to help his partisans. On this occasion it was embarrassing because it came out in a criminal trial."

Brown said he doesn't see the testimony hurting Hammett with key groups, like black political organizations and state employees, that he would need support from to win the Democratic Primary.

The chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, Joe Turnham, said he doesn't believe Hammett's testimony will hurt his future political plans.

"I think Seth Hammett is admired among his colleagues, even among Republicans, even those who come before the Legislature. He is one of the most honorable and efficient and productive House speakers in generations," Turnham said. "If he decides to run again I think he would be a very strong candidate for governor."

The chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, Mike Hubbard, said he believes Hammett's admission that he asked that money be put in the budget to create a job for Schmitz, hurts the entire institution of the Legislature and not just Hammett.

"I think it damages everybody involved with the entire scenario. It damages the entire Democratic leadership. It proves what people have suspected for years about how things work," Hubbard said.

The trial of Schmitz will continue Monday in federal court in Decatur.