Backlash over appointment renews debate about race, reputation, and redemption in Alabama politics
By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS STAFF
Published November 4, 2025
Donald Watkins Jr. has withdrawn from his role as Montgomery’s director of small and minority business development, ending a week of controversy marked by political backlash and public scrutiny.
The decision followed criticism from conservative commentators and state lawmakers who questioned his appointment, citing the past conviction of his father, Donald V. Watkins Sr. Supporters of Watkins Jr. called the uproar politically motivated and an unfair case of “sins of the father” politics.
In a statement Monday, Mayor Steven Reed said the controversy had become an unnecessary distraction from the city’s mission to promote inclusive economic growth.
“(I)t has become clear in recent days that (Watkins’) appointment has sparked unnecessary distraction and political fearmongering – diverting attention away from the critical work ahead,” Reed said. “My responsibility as Mayor is to ensure that our shared goals for small business growth, job creation, and inclusive economic development remain our top priority.”
Reed defended Watkins as “extremely qualified,” noting that his professional background justified a proposed $120,960 salary, higher than the usual $82,000 starting pay for the position. Despite that endorsement, Watkins stepped aside on Sunday, saying he wanted to avoid further division.
The backlash surrounding Watkins Jr. stemmed largely from his family name. His father, Donald Watkins Sr., was once one of Alabama’s most prominent Black attorneys and businessmen — celebrated for his efforts to purchase professional sports franchises and his advocacy for minority business ownership. But his career later collapsed when he was convicted in 2019 of wire fraud and bank fraud, accused of misusing investor funds through his company, Masada Resource Group. He served five years in federal prison and was released in 2022.
Watkins Jr., who was acquitted of all charges in the same case, has since built a career in business and development. Still, critics used his father’s past to question his appointment — a move many community leaders see as emblematic of the racial and political double standards that continue to shape public service in Alabama.