GOP state lawmaker arrested in Alabama on felony voter fraud charges. (Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill)

Ugly, stark and raw: some of these Republican lawmakers have no ethical compass.  

UPDATE:  Dr. David Cole, M.D., M.P.H. is resigning and pleading guilty to felony voter fraud charges. More here: https://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2023/09/dr-david-cole-resigns-seat-in-alabama.html

Dr. David Cole, M.D., MPH. is Medical Director of Huntsville Hospital.  Dr. Cole serve in the Army for 22 years, in Iraq, Afghanistan and Egypt. Dr. Cole ran for Alabama House of Representatives as a Republican in 2022. But he torched his career with voter fraud, agreeing to plead guilty in 2023.  

Dr. Cole was not a bona fide resident of the 10th District that elected him to the Alabama State House of Representatives, committing voter fraud.  

He's resigning and pleading guilty to a felony. 

Physician, heal thyself. 

Republicans will apparently do and say anything in the wake of DONALD JOHN TRUMP.   

Sound familiar? 

In St. Johns County, ethically-impaired Republican politicians too often don't let election laws get in the way of their overbearing desire to get elected and re-elected, so they can support regressive GQP policies.

• We had a State Senator from St. Johns County who did not live here, but instead used a beach condo as his voting address.  JOHN THRASHER later became President of FSU.  
• We had a dodgy St. Augustine Mayor candidate, former County Commissioner WILLIAM ANTHONY McCLURE, who did not live in the City -- a political tourist renting a room at 105 Marine Street.  McCLURE spent $31 a vote and lost to Mayor Nancy Shaver, who handily defeated him. (Our City later amended its charter to require a one year durational residency requirement). 
• We have a current St. Johns County Commission 3rd District Commissioner,  appointed by Governor RONALD DION DeSANTIS, whose apparently lives in District 5.  Commissioner ROY ALAIMO, JR. never answered my questions about his residence.  ALAIMO's County webpage says that he, his wife Jennifer and their two children "live in St. Augustine."  

From 

GOP state lawmaker arrested in Alabama on felony voter fraud charges

BY SARAH FORTINSKY - 08/30/23 1:00 PM ET

Alabama state Rep. David Cole (R) on Tuesday was arrested and charged with voter fraud on accusations he voted in “multiple or unauthorized locations,” according to jail records provided by Madison County Sheriff’s Office. 

According to the sheriff’s records, Cole was booked Tuesday afternoon and released on bail amounting to $2,500. The charge is a Class C felony, meaning conviction could result in up to 10 years in prison.

Al.com, a local news outlet, said Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office confirmed he was prosecuting the case.

Additional details of the charges were not immediately available in court records. However, the arrest comes after increased scrutiny over Cole’s primary residence. 

Cole was elected to represent District 10 in the Alabama legislature, but local reports claimed Cole actually lived in District 4, which would violate state law. Libertarian candidate Elijah Boyd challenged the election results in court.

In a deposition in May, according to reports, Cole sat for more than two hours answering questions that centered on whether Cole truly lived at the District 10 home listed as his residence. 

During the deposition, he said he could not remember whether he had moved any personal property into the home. He also said he could not recall whether he had ever slept at the home overnight and said he could not recall ever eating a meal at the home or bathing there. 

Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R) issued a statement Tuesday, according to multiple reports, and said the investigation was ongoing and he was waiting for more details to emerge. He stressed the importance of election integrity. 

“In recent years, the Alabama House has prioritized legislation that promotes election integrity, and we believe that any allegation of fraud must be addressed regardless of the party, public official, or candidate involved,” the statement read.

“Alabamians may remain confident that their elections are conducted honestly, their votes are cast and counted fairly, and their ballot boxes are secure. Now, it is up to a court of law to determine the validity of the allegations Cole is facing, and I anticipate Alabama’s election laws will withstand their true intent,” Ledbetter continued.