Hubbard Indictment Becomes Campaign Issue

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Ethics charges against House Speaker Mike Hubbard are becoming a campaign issue in the partisan battle for seats in the Alabama Legislature.

The Southern Progress Action Fund, an Arkansas group with deep Democratic Party ties, has begun airing ads featuring Hubbard’s mug shot and urging voters to unseat incumbent Republicans.

Hubbard called the ads an attempt by an outside liberal group to influence Alabama elections.

The Alabama Legislature is almost certainly to remain majority Republican, but Democrats are seeking to regain some seats in swing districts.

The election year strategy is similar to the one Republicans used in 2010 when they accused Democrats of corruption.

Hubbard was arrested on Oct. 20 on 23 felony ethics charges.