Alabama's "Most Conservative Senator" may run for Governor

From the Dothan Eagle:

State Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb, confirmed Monday that she is considering entering the 2006 Alabama governor’s race...

Smith said that in coming weeks she’ll be meeting with Republican party officials and sponsors around the state to talk about her possible candidacy. She said an official announcement may come later this year...

According to several special interest groups, Smith has maintained a solidly conservative voting record in the state Senate. The Eagle Forum, a conservative activist group, listed Smith as voting with its interests 87 percent of the time in 2004. Smith received a 100 percent rating in 2002...

Longtime conservative activist Elbert Peters ranked Smith as the Alabama Legislature’s most conservative senator. The numerical grade was based on 30 key votes in 2004 that covered bills to increase fees and taxes, bills of interest to social conservatives, and bills on education issues.

Most people will be like me and say "Harri who?", of course, but here's one reason that Mrs. Smith could spice up the race:

In 2003, Smith voted against every single tax that went into Riley's $1.2 billion package, but once the Legislature approved the taxes, she voted to support holding a statewide referendum that gave the voters the final say on whether the taxes took effect.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that Gov. Riley will announce his intentions to seek re-election at a Labor Day picnic at the Governor's Mansion.