ADECA chief takes leave to join Riley campaign

DATELINE: MONTGOMERY Ala.

Bill Johnson has left his Cabinet post as head of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to become the grass-roots coordinator for Gov. Bob Riley's re-election campaign.


Riley administration spokesman Jeff Emerson said Doni Ingram, who has been assistant director of ADECA, is now acting director of the agency. Emerson said Johnson is officially on unpaid leave until Nov. 16.



Johnson takes over a campaign post that Don Fisher held during the Republican primary campaign. Riley campaign spokesman Josh Blades said Fisher is Johnson's deputy and will also coordinate ballot security efforts and luring veterans.


"Don did a fantastic job coordinating the state (grass-roots) team through the primary," Blades told the Press-Register of Mobile in a story Wednesday.


Johnson also ran Riley's grass-roots efforts in 2002. He became ADECA director in May 2005, succeeding John Harrison, who became the state banking superintendent.


Information from: Press-Register, http://www.al.com/mobileregister