Kay Ivey: 10 things you might not have known about Alabama’s new governor

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Kay Ivey

While she only took office Monday evening, newly sworn-in Governor Kay Ivey is wasting no time in working to restore Alabama’s public image and stabilizing “the ship of state” former Gov. Robert Bentley.

Although she’s had a long career in Alabama politics having served as lieutenant governor and state treasurer among other positions, many are still wondering who the overnight governor is.

Here are 10 things you might not have known about Ivey:

  1. Ivey was born on Oct. 15, 1944, in Camden, Ala., located a little over an hour southwest of Montgomery, to the late B.N. and Barbara Nettles Ivey. Her mother, Barbara served as Vice President and Cashier at the Camden National Bank, while her father finished his career as Assistant State Director, Farmers Home Administration at the USDA.
  2. Ivey is the first Republican female governor of Alabama, and the state’s second female governor. The first was Lurleen Wallace dating back to 1967.
  3. This isn’t Ivey’s first “first.” Her career in politics began in college when she was elected as the first woman Student Body Vice-President (campus-wide) and President of the SGA Senate (women-only) at Auburn University.
  4. She graduated with a BA from Auburn University in 1967.
  5. She’s a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and was president of her pledge class.
  6. She’s had a successful career that includes being a high school teacher, a banker, a public official, a candidate for state wide office, a timber farmer, as well as a community volunteer.
  7. In 1979, Kay was the first woman to be appointed by Governor Fob James to his cabinet where she coordinated the departments that render corporate and human services.
  8. She’s has been a member of the Republican National Committee since 1989.
  9. She was elected State Treasurer in 2003; she was the first Republican elected to the position since Reconstruction. During her tenure in the position, she saved the state an estimated $5 million.
  10. She’s a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is in the Anne Phillips Chapter in Montgomery. She was appointed state chairman of National Defense Committee and Motion Picture, Radio and TV committee.

1 COMMENT

  1. This is interesting, but what is she going to do about jobs, education, the lottery, and so forth. The article tells us about her, which is interesting, but not about how she is likely to “stabilize the ship of state”.

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