Patricia Todd
Encyclopedia
Patricia Todd is an American politician
from Alabama
. A Democrat
, she is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
representing District 54 in downtown Birmingham
. She was elected in November 2006.
She is the associate director of AIDS Alabama and is the first ever openly gay elected official in the state of Alabama.
, growing up there and earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky
. She would later attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB), earning a master's degree in public administration in 1994.
On moving to Alabama in 1986, Todd became was the first executive director of Birmingham AIDS Outreach. She went on to work for other nonprofit organizations including the Alabama Humanities Foundation and the National Organization for Women
. In 1998, she was appointed Director of Alumni Affairs at UAB.
A primary election took place on 2006-06-06 in which Todd placed first, with 33 percent of the vote. When no candidate wins more than half of the primary vote, Alabama law provides for a run-off election
between the top two finishers. Todd would face Gaynell Hendricks, who had received 29 percent of the primary vote, in the run-off.
Todd narrowly won the Democratic primary run-off on July 18, 2006 by a margin of 59 votes – 1,173 to 1,114. Her run-off victory was challenged by her opponent's mother-in-law, who claimed that Todd had received "illegal votes" and had filed a campaign finance report late. That report contained information – a $25,000 contribution from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
and payments to two of her primary opponents – that opponents charged could have affected the outcome.
It was widely reported that the contest centered around the question of race. Todd is white, and the outgoing legislator, like the majority of the district, is black
. Many of the state's African-American political leaders were apparently eager to keep the seat in black hands.
A sub-committee of the Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) met to decide the contest and voted 5–0 to disqualify both Todd and her opponent, on the basis of what the ADP Chairman Joe Turnham called an "archaic party by-law". The by-law had not only been superseded by the 1988 Fair Campaign Practices Act but had not been followed by any candidate running for any office since 1988, including candidates for governor. It also emerged that the by-law was in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act
and may well actually have been repealed.
Following sustained pressure and newspaper editorials criticising the judgement, the State Democratic Executive Committee voted on 26 August to overturn the sub-committee's ruling by a vote of 95–87. According to press reports, the voting was "mostly along racial lines".
The challenge (like Todd's original victory) attracted national attention, making The New York Times
and The Washington Post
, among other publications. It is also reported that the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
, Gov. Howard Dean
, took a close interest, making no fewer than eight telephone calls to the Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party during the morning of the appeal.
With Todd re-instated as the Democratic nominee, hers was the only name on the November general election ballot. A write-in
campaign was waged against her but she received almost 93% of the vote, with over 6,400 votes and 523 voters choosing to write in another name.
legislation.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
representing District 54 in downtown Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. She was elected in November 2006.
She is the associate director of AIDS Alabama and is the first ever openly gay elected official in the state of Alabama.
Early life and career
Todd was born in Richmond, KentuckyRichmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
, growing up there and earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. She would later attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
(UAB), earning a master's degree in public administration in 1994.
On moving to Alabama in 1986, Todd became was the first executive director of Birmingham AIDS Outreach. She went on to work for other nonprofit organizations including the Alabama Humanities Foundation and the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
. In 1998, she was appointed Director of Alumni Affairs at UAB.
2006 election
When George Perdue announced that he would not seek re-election after more than two decades in the Alabama House, Todd decided to run for the District 54 seat. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic, and five Democrats filed for the open seat, including Todd. No Republicans ran.A primary election took place on 2006-06-06 in which Todd placed first, with 33 percent of the vote. When no candidate wins more than half of the primary vote, Alabama law provides for a run-off election
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
between the top two finishers. Todd would face Gaynell Hendricks, who had received 29 percent of the primary vote, in the run-off.
Todd narrowly won the Democratic primary run-off on July 18, 2006 by a margin of 59 votes – 1,173 to 1,114. Her run-off victory was challenged by her opponent's mother-in-law, who claimed that Todd had received "illegal votes" and had filed a campaign finance report late. That report contained information – a $25,000 contribution from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
and payments to two of her primary opponents – that opponents charged could have affected the outcome.
It was widely reported that the contest centered around the question of race. Todd is white, and the outgoing legislator, like the majority of the district, is black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
. Many of the state's African-American political leaders were apparently eager to keep the seat in black hands.
A sub-committee of the Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) met to decide the contest and voted 5–0 to disqualify both Todd and her opponent, on the basis of what the ADP Chairman Joe Turnham called an "archaic party by-law". The by-law had not only been superseded by the 1988 Fair Campaign Practices Act but had not been followed by any candidate running for any office since 1988, including candidates for governor. It also emerged that the by-law was in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
and may well actually have been repealed.
Following sustained pressure and newspaper editorials criticising the judgement, the State Democratic Executive Committee voted on 26 August to overturn the sub-committee's ruling by a vote of 95–87. According to press reports, the voting was "mostly along racial lines".
The challenge (like Todd's original victory) attracted national attention, making The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, among other publications. It is also reported that the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
, Gov. Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, took a close interest, making no fewer than eight telephone calls to the Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party during the morning of the appeal.
With Todd re-instated as the Democratic nominee, hers was the only name on the November general election ballot. A write-in
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
campaign was waged against her but she received almost 93% of the vote, with over 6,400 votes and 523 voters choosing to write in another name.
In the legislature
In the legislature, Todd has focused on issues surrounding poverty. She currently serves on three committees: the committee on constitution and elections, the committee on boards and commissions and the committee on Jefferson CountyJefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
legislation.