Senate race takes nasty turn

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
When Sen. Tommy Ed Roberts decided not to seek reelection to his District Three Senate Seat, most knew the battle to replace him would be fierce. But few could have predicted just how nasty that battle would become.
Voters will decide Nov. 7 between Republican Arthur Orr and Democrat Bobby Day. The race between the two has taken a vicious turn in recent days, with Day, Morgan County’s Probate Judge, alleging Orr received money from Petroleum Sales Inc., a company owned by members of Orr’s family. Petroleum Sales Inc. is the owner of a Decatur gas station accused of price gauging after hurricane Katrina.
That matter was later settled when the stations made donations to charity but did not admit any liability in the case.
Orr is listed as an officer with the company, but said he’s receives no money from it. He’s demanding Day retract charges that Orr receives a pay from PSI.
Orr asked for a written apology by noon on Monday. On Monday, Day issued a statement in regards to the demand.
At presstime, Orr said he had not received any additional statement from Day.
Day has made the allegations in several television and print ads. Orr also demanded any mailers from Day be pulled from distribution.
In his defense, Orr provides affidavits from his father, Bud Orr, and Jim Tucker, the certified public accountant for PSI, attesting that he receives no “paycheck…dividend, salary, profits or benefits of any kind from Petroleum Sales.”
Orr also aid his Statement of Economic Interests on file with the Alabama Ethics Commission shows he receives no income from PSI.