In the On Deck Circle

The Montgomery Advertiser reports that the judge in Nancy Worley's corruption trial, Truman Hobbs , has canceled a pre-trial hearing for the case that was to be held on Thursday, July 5. The trial will go forward Monday, July 9, with any pre-trial issues expected to be handled that morning.

In case you were too busy following Don Siegelman's trevails, Worley was indicted early this year. An employee of the Secretary of State's office, who also ran against Worley for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State last year, filed a complaint with the Attorney General when Worley allegedly sent a campaign letter and contribution envelope to her employees. Soliciting subordinate state employees for political contributions violates state law.

I use the word "allegedly" above because Worley is presumed innocent until a court finds her guilty, but the evidence I've seen in the case looks like a solicitation for contributions to me. Even if what Worley did is not illegal, the evidence indicates that she once again used bad judgment during her term as Alabama's 50th Secretary of State.

It's a shame for the state that politicians like Siegelman, Guy Hunt, Worley and others do not fully realize the good they can do if they would provide positive, constructive leadership rather than merely stroking their own egos.