Last September, Robert Palmer wrote an article for the
TimesDaily in which he used the term "Jordans Build a Political Dynasty." Just what is a dynasty? From dictionary.com:
1. asequenceofrulersfromthesamefamily,stock,orgroup:theMingdynasty.
2. theruleofsuchasequence.
3. aseriesofmembersofafamilywhoaredistinguishedfortheirsuccess,wealth,etc.
Does the Jordan family qualify? While both Dick and his son William have been elected, Dick's third wife Libby Stoddard Watts Jordan has never been elected to any public office, nor has she been appointed to fill out any vacant political term. She may have political aspirations, but so far she has not publicly announced any. What about her service as a member of the UNA board of trustees? Yes, it may be a political appointment in reality, but it's certainly not political officially.
A short time after the death of Florence mayor Eddie Frost, a somewhat misguided writer penned a letter to the
TimesDaily in which he stated Jordan seemed much more a man of the people than Frost, who appeared as an elitist. In reality, Eddie Frost attended what became the University of North Alabama on a basketball scholarship and toiled in the highly underpaid field of education before he entered politics. Dick Jordan's father was a local real estate mogul and sent his son to Auburn.
In March, Dick will be 70. He's worked in the business world for many years, and we would assume invested his income well. This may very well be his last term in political office, and we doubt he feels the need to answer to any and all constituents. This doesn't have to be a bad thing, but it could be.
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On one thing, we will congratulate Mr. Jordan--he's never seen the need to campaign on "family values" while having had more wives than some have owned vehicles. It should be an interesting Lauderdale County sheriff's race...
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Tomorrow: Unprofessional?
Shoalanda
