Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 22:23:32 PM CDT

Democrat Jeremy Sherer has been campaigning for several months, attending meetings of PACT parents around the state and pressing for more investment of state funds in local banks. Until a couple of days ago the only other person officially interested in the position of Treasurer was Republican businessman Terry Dunn.  

It’s been rumored for quite a while that George Wallace, Jr. was flirting with another go as Alabama Treasurer and he made it official Tuesday — running as a Republican this time.   Wallace is one of the originators of the PACT program, and I’m sure someone will point out that if the original program had included either more disclosure of the risk to PACT holders or provisions for controlling tuition increases, PACT might still have lost money under Kay Ivey’s management, but the problem would have been considerably less catastrophic for parents and grandparents.

Adding to the crowd, Charles Grimsley has declared he will seek the Treasurer’s office next year as a Democrat.  Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. appointed Grimsley as Conservation Commissioner in 1993.  Since then he has served as chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Steve Windom (R) and Senate president pro tem Hinton Mitchem (D).  In a statement, Sherer welcomed Grimsley to the race in this way:

“Mr. Grimsley’s service fifteen years ago as Conservation Commissioner is commendable. Moreover, I’m confident that former Lt. Governor Steve Windom appreciated Mr. Grimsley’s service as his Chief of Staff, and former Chief Justice Roy Moore appreciated Mr. Grimsley’s assistance with his campaign for Governor in 2006.”

“However, as a Democrat and as a candidate for the 2010 Democratic nomination for Treasurer, I have doubts whether Mr. Grimsley, whose credentials of working for Republicans that have been openly antagonistic of the Democratic Party platform and Democratic elected officials, shares the spirit and values Democrats expect from their candidates and nominees.”

A Democratic candidate who supported Judge Roy Moore a mere 4 years ago?  This is getting interesting.  Stay tuned, I’m sure we’ll hear more on the Alabama Treasurer’s race soon.