Lucy's ass-kickin' husband

One of Lucy Baxley's lesser-known opponents for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination had a little run-in this past weekend with Mrs. Baxley's husband, Jim Smith.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nathan Mathis has found that criticizing Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley can cause trouble — with her husband.

Speaking Saturday at the Alabama Press Association convention, Mathis said, "Last night I received my first threat since I've been running."

Mathis said he was attending a state Democratic Party reception Friday night in Montgomery and saw Baxley's husband, Jim Smith, come through the door.

"I stuck my hand out to shake hands, and he said, 'I ought to kick your ass for what you said on the radio about Lucy.' I said, "What did you say?' And he told me again."

Mathis, a former state representative from Newton, said he had been on a radio talk show in Birmingham, where he compared Baxley's job as presiding officer of the Senate to being a PTA president and criticized her for not taking positions on important issues.

Contacted while campaigning with Baxley on Saturday, Smith said he did express his displeasure to Mathis, but didn't recall threatening to kick him.

Well, at least Lucy's hubby can take a stand. Maybe he's the one who should be running for Governor...That name-recognition thing might be a problem for him, though.