Where does Tommy Tuberville live? Is he a resident of Alabama or Florida? That seems to be the unanswered question. Let’s get real, people, and use some common sense. If you owned a $5 million beachfront mansion in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, that you bought almost fifteen years ago, why would you live in a three-bedroom house in Auburn, Alabama? Another burning question…IF you live in Alabama, why would you vote in Florida? Last, who is John Wahl, and why did he qualify Tuberville to run?
First, Tuberville does not own the house in Auburn, Alabama. His wife and son own the house. Tuberville left Auburn in 2009 and went to Texas, where he coached for Texas Tech. He left Texas and went to Cincinnati, where he stayed until 2016. Tuberville and his wife bought the $5 million mansion in Santa Rosa Beach in 2012. Tuberville says that since he lived in Auburn from 1998 until 2009, that he qualifies to run for governor based on the law that he has to live in the State of Alabama for seven years. This is not what the Alabama Constitution says in Article V, Section 117, wherein it requires that the governor and lieutenant governor must be “resident citizens of this state at least seven years before the date of their election.” That means seven years prior to becoming a candidate. It doesn’t mean that he can live in Alabama seventeen years ago and be a citizen of Alabama.
Also, there is a homestead claim on the Auburn property. Records show the home was purchased in the name of Tuberville’s wife, Suzanne Tuberville, and their son, Tucker Thomas Tuberville, not Tommy Tuberville. Records show that before Tuberville put his name on the ballot in Alabama, his son’s name was removed, and Tommy Tuberville’s name was recently added. This is what we call “covering our ass” when we want to be deceitful.
Second, if Tuberville lived in Auburn, Alabama, why did he vote in the State of Florida in the last election? This would constitute a felony committed by the former Senator. As everyone knows, we must show a valid ID to vote with proof of residence.
Last, it does not appear that Tommy Tuberville should qualify to run for Governor of Alabama in this election. So, how did he get on the ballot? First, he has to fill out a Declaration of Candidacy and pay a fee to the Alabama Republican Party. John Wahl, the Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, must sign the form stating that this candidate is qualified.
Did Chairman Wahl not question the residency of Tommy Tuberville? Then again, who is John Wahl? His real name is Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl. In 2022, questions swirled around Mr. Wahl’s voter registration and identity documents after it was reported that he voted in Alabama using a homemade photo ID produced with help from then-State Auditor Jim Zeigler. While a county probate judge initially accepted the ID, the Secretary of State’s Office later confirmed it was not a valid form of identification under state law. The case was referred to Attorney General Steve Marshall, also a Republican, who failed to act on the referral.
Wahl held a valid Tennessee driver’s license under his legal name, Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl, at the same time he was voting in Alabama under the name John Wahl. He is currently registered to vote in Tennessee under the name Nehemiah Wahl, according to records from the Tennessee Secretary of State. Simultaneously, Alabama Secretary of State records indicate he is registered in Alabama as John Wahl. That revelation raises a fundamental and fair question: How does that align with Alabama’s voter registration laws, which require individuals to affirm their identity and residency under penalty of perjury? Under Alabama Code § 17-17-36, it is a felony to register or attempt to vote under a false name or otherwise misrepresent one’s identity.
What we have here is a man from Tennessee qualified a man from Florida to run for Governor of Alabama. But….can the Democratic Party throw stones at a glass house?
Lynda Kirkpatrick