Republican Sanford Said Schmitz Conviction Underscores Special Interest Influence
02/25/2009

Paul Sanford, Republican candidate for the Alabama Senate in next Tuesday’s special election, said State Representative Sue Schmitz’s conviction for fraud Tuesday is another example of special interest influence in Montgomery.

According to "Breaking News" in the Huntsville Times Tuesday, "Schmitz was charged with four counts of mail fraud and four counts of fraud for taking a salary from a federally funded youth-mentoring program and not working for it."

"Ms. Schmitz’s conviction goes to the heart of what’s wrong in Montgomery. This is a case of another elected official using her legislative position to persuade power brokers to find her an employment opportunity she totally shirked," said Mr. Sanford. "This kind of behavior is an insult to the taxpayers and cannot be tolerated," he added.

Mr. Sanford has repeatedly said during his campaign for the Alabama Senate that special interests and powerful lobbyists exert too much influence over lawmakers in the Alabama Legislature. He has vowed to take his orders from the people who elect him, not the backroom dealmakers in Montgomery.

Paul Sanford and his wife Danielle own and operate "little Paul’s Barbecue" in Huntsville. They have two children, Chase and Ryan.