Dothan mayor: Bright worth crossing party lines

By Lance Griffin

Published: August 18, 2008

Backed by a crowd of enthusiastic Bobby Bright supporters Monday, Dothan Mayor Pat Thomas said the congressional candidate is the first Democrat he has has ever supported for a national office.

Thomas, who said he has been a longtime Republican, stood by the Democratic candidate in downtown Dothan, shook his hand and told Bright he believes he is the best candidate to represent the interests of Dothan and the Wiregrass.

“This is not a Democrat or Republican thing,” Thomas said. “This is about the person. This is about Bobby Bright. You look at the skyline of Montgomery and you can tell he is a proven leader.”

Friday, several Republican party chairpersons from around the Wiregrass joined other party officials in Dothan, challenging Bright to return campaign donations from political action committees that don’t represent his self-described conservative interests.

Thomas said he is not concerned about the donations.

“They have given him money, but they have also told him to represent his district,” Thomas said. “I believe that’s what he will do.”

Bright said Thomas’ endorsement is not only about Bright as a candidate, but his bipartisan approach.

“I have Democrats just as concerned about my actions as the Republicans are, and I want to keep them concerned,” Bright said. “It’s about time we stopped making things about the party and started making things about the district and the people we represent.”

Bright has positioned himself as a maverick Democrat, labeling himself a “Blue Dog” with a pledge to join the existing Blue Dog Democrats, a conglomeration of primarily-Southern, socially conservative Democrats.

Republican candidate Jay Love has said Bright will not be able to separate himself from the party, and will be forced to toe the party line on key votes, even if his personal beliefs would lead him to vote differently.