Pell City holds annual law enforcement appreciation luncheon
The City of Pell City recently held its annual law enforcement appreciation luncheon sponsored by Metro Bank owner Annette Cox. The annual event was held at the Pell City municipal complex. Cox expressed her pleasure at being able to host this event to honor the members of law enforcement in the community. The annual event honors law enforcement for making Pell City and St. Clair County a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The luncheon featured steak entrees with a wide selection of cakes for desserts. St. Clair County Commission President Stan Bateman (R) said, “This community is so special. Metro Bank and Ms. Annette Cox steps up and does this every year to show all of our appreciation of what you in law enforcement do for our community. If you drive around the county and see all the commercial development that’s going on, if you will look at the sign in front of the project Metro Bank is the one providing the financing for a lot of it. I want to give Metro Bank a round of applause.” Bateman spent his career law in enforcement, having spent decades as a game enforcement officer for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Bateman said that the biggest change he has seen since his early days in law enforcement is the adoption of technology. “I didn’t have any of the technology and tools that you have today,” Bateman said. “In my day, I just had to recognize people by the back of their heads.” Members of the Pell City Police Department and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department were on hand to be honored. Several dignitaries were present including Associate Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sarah Stewart. Stewart, who was being escorted that day on a tour of St. Clair Counties by St. Clair County Presiding Judge Phil Seay, expressed her support for the law enforcement community and all that they do for the people of Alabama. Stewart is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Stewart faces two Republican opponents in the March 5 Republican primary: former State Senator Bryan Taylor and Jerry Michael Blevins. The eventual Republican nominee for Chief Justice will face Democratic nominee Montgomery Circuit Judge Greg Griffin in the November 5 general election. State Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City), State Representative Randy Wood (R-Anniston), Rep. Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden), Rep. Jim Hill (R-Odenville), Probate Judge Andrew Weathington, Commissioner Ricky Parker, Commissioner Bob Mize, Commissioner Tommy Bowers, Sheriff Billy Murray, Circuit Judge Bill Weathington, St. Clair County School Board President Bill Morris, Revenue Commissioner Ken Crowe, Circuit Clerk Kathryn Burke, St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Deputy Freddy Turrentine, St. Clair County Young Republican Chairman Logan Glass, and former St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Joey Stevens. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Bryan Taylor endorsed by Alabama Independent Insurance Agents
Conservative Republican Bryan Taylor has secured the endorsement of a significant business group in his campaign for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The Alabama Independent Insurance Agents, the largest and oldest association for independent insurance agents and agencies in Alabama, announced its endorsement of Taylor on Monday. “Bryan Taylor is the only true conservative Republican in the race for Chief Justice,” said Association President Kelly Aday. “We are proud to support Bryan because we know he is the candidate committed to upholding the rule of law and delivering predictable, consistent, and fair outcomes in our courts.” Taylor was also endorsed recently by veteran Republican District Attorneys David Barber and Brandon Falls of Jefferson County and Randall Houston of Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton Counties. “I am a lifelong conservative Republican,” Taylor said at a campaign event in Shelby County recently. “I am from Hoover. I went to Berry High School. I went to the University of Alabama on a full Army ROTC scholarship. I went to law school at the University of Texas. I graduated in 2001, just before 9/11. I entered the active duty Army. I served four years in the Judge Advocate Corps. I served in Iraq for a year. I did a deployment in Honduras.” As a freshman state senator, Taylor spearheaded the passage of sweeping reforms to strengthen Alabama’s ethics laws, led the charge to repeal the legislature’s pay raise, and fought for fiscal conservatism in state budgeting. As chairman of the Senate Constitution & Elections Committee, Taylor advanced legislation to curb election fraud and improve election integrity, such as the law that requires voters to show a photo ID at the polls. Taylor is a co-founding member of the law firm of Bachus Brom & Taylor, LLC. He concentrates his practice on Constitutional law, appellate law, election law, business law and business litigation, and public policy. Taylor lives in Shelby County with his three children. They attend Double Oak Community Church. Taylor is the former spouse of congressional and U.S. Senate candidate Jessica Taylor. Three Republicans qualified for the seat that Chief Justice Tom Parker is vacating. Associate Justice Sara Stewart and attorney Jerry Michael Blevins also qualified to run for Chief Justice in the March 5 Republican Primary. The eventual Republican nominee will face Judge Greg Griffin in the November 5 general election. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Most Republican appellate court incumbents win without an opponent as Democrats concede state appellate courts to the GOP
Major party qualifying ended on Friday. Four Republican Alabama Supreme Court Justices won election when no opponent – Republican or Democrat came forward. Justices Will Sellers, Tommy Bryan, and Jay Mitchell were all effectively re-elected as they face no Republican primary challenger. Write-in candidates are not allowed in party primaries. No attorney qualified for any of these races as a Democrat, so they are unlikely to face an opponent in the November general election. Chris McCool gave up his seat on the Court of Criminal Appeals to run for the open Place 1 associate supreme court justice seat. He also had no Republican or Democratic opponent qualify. On the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Republican incumbent Judges Richard Minor and Bill Cole were both effectively re-elected when no Republican or Democratic opponent qualified for either race. Two Republicans: Rich Anderson and Thomas Govan, qualified for the open Place 2 seat that Chris McCool is leaving to run for Supreme Court. Both Govan and Anderson work in the Alabama Attorney General’s office. No Democrat qualified for that seat either, so Govan and Anderson’s race in the Republican primary on March 5 is likely to decide this race. On the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals incumbents Christy Edwards and Terry Moore were both effectively re-elected when qualifying ended without either facing any opposition. The only incumbent appellate judge in the state to face a challenger is Republican: Republican Chad Hanson at Place 2 on the Court of Civil Appeals is being challenged in the Republican primary by Stephen Davis-Parker. There are four candidates running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Chief Justice Tom Parker, also a Republican, cannot run again due to the state’s arcane mandatory retirement age for judges provision. Associate Justice Sarah Stewart is giving up her place 1 seat on the court to run for Chief Justice. Former State Senator Bryan Taylor is also running for the office. Taylor is also a former legal counsel for Governors Kay Ivey and Bob Riley. On Friday, Montgomery attorney Jerry Michael Blevins also qualified to run for Chief Justice. Chief Justice is the only state appellate race that the Alabama Democratic Party is even contesting. Judge Greg Griffin will face the eventual Republican nominee for Chief Justice in the November general election. Griffin presently is a Circuit Court Judge in Montgomery’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court. Thirty years ago, Democrats dominated the Alabama appellate courts. That changed in 1994 when retired Judge Perry Hooper Sr. defeated incumbent Sonny Hornsby in a contested race for chief justice. In the years since, Republican fortunes have continued to improve. Only one Democratic candidate, Doug Jones in 2017, has won any statewide race since 2008, and no Democratic judicial candidate has won a statewide race since Sue Bell Cobb was elected Chief Justice in 2006. Democrats are hopeful that Judge Griffin can change their fortunes next year. There is still a slight possibility that an attorney could still qualify as an independent or third-party candidate for one of these offices. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Bryan Taylor receives endorsements from veteran GOP district attorneys
Former State Senator Bryan Taylor (R) announced on Tuesday endorsements from three Republican prosecutors. David Barber and Brandon Falls, both former DAs for Jefferson County, as well as Randall Houston, former DA for Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton Counties, have endorsed Taylor’s campaign for Chief Justice. “I’ve known him for over a decade, and I can say without a doubt that there is no better Republican candidate for Chief Justice than Bryan Taylor,” said Barber. Barber served more than 23 years as Jefferson County’s District Attorney. “Bryan Taylor is a former prosecutor, a conservative stalwart, and a principled believer in the rule of law,” Barber added. “I’m proud to support Bryan Taylor for Chief Justice because I’m witness to his tireless work ethic, his conservative philosophy, and his devotion to upholding the law and the Constitution as written.” Brandon Falls succeeded Barber as Jefferson County DA in 2008 and served over eight years in that role. “Bryan Taylor is fearless, and that’s the kind of Chief Justice we need right now,” Falls said. “I support Bryan because Alabama deserves a Chief Justice who understands the job and the needs of prosecutors, who has been in the trenches, and who has a record of holding criminals accountable under the law.” Randall Houston served 32 years as the DA for the 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton Counties. Taylor represented Houston’s community when Taylor served in the Alabama State Senate from 2010 to 2014. “I know Bryan Taylor is a stalwart supporter of law enforcement and an unrelenting advocate for crime victims,” Houston said. “Whenever we came to him with a need—for more resources or for strengthening the law—district attorneys could always count on Bryan Taylor to get it right,” Houston added. “He has a profound respect for the Separation of Powers and will faithfully apply the law as written and not legislate from the bench.” Houston recalled that as a state senator, after a series of three tragic deaths caused by drunk boaters on Alabama lakes, Taylor strengthened the law, allowing DAs to seek the same felony penalties for homicides caused by drunk boating that apply to vehicular DUI homicides. He said Taylor also advanced legislation increasing compensation for victims of violent crime. As Governor Kay Ivey’s chief legal advisor from 2017 to 2019, Taylor spearheaded the governor’s investigation and overhaul of the state’s Pardons and Paroles Board after Jimmy O’Neal Spencer committed a triple homicide in Guntersville while on parole under the Board’s supervision. Taylor is an Iraq War veteran and former military prosecutor. As a state senator, he spearheaded passage of the state’s first Uniform Code of Military Justice. Taylor also introduced legislation to crack down on the state’s illegal casinos after casino owners were federally prosecuted for bribery. That made him a lot of enemies in Montgomery. Illegal gambling bosses continue to operate at least 30 illegal gambling operations in open defiance of the Alabama Constitution and state law by making large campaign contributions to politicians from both political parties, including judges, sheriffs, and legislators. Taylor also played a major role in writing and enacting sweeping reforms to strengthen the state’s ethics laws, including a bill to make it a crime for public officials to accept lavish gifts, meals, or junkets from lobbyists. There is an ongoing effort underway to weaken those 2010 ethics laws. Taylor is a founding member of the law firm of Bachus Brom & Taylor, with a concentration in appellate and constitutional law, election law, business law, and civil litigation. Taylor lives in Shelby County with his three children, where they attend Double Oak Community Church. Current Chief Justice Tom Parker (R) is prevented from running for another term because of Alabama’s archaic age limits on judges. Associate Justice Sara Stewart (R) has also qualified to run for Chief Justice. Greg Griffin has qualified to run as a Democrat for Chief Justice. The major party primaries are on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Bryan Taylor qualifies for Chief Justice
Former State Senator Bryan Taylor (R-Prattville) formally qualified with the Alabama Republican Party for the office of Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court on Monday. In a statement, Bryan contrasted his record with his opponent, Associate Justice Sarah Stewart. Incumbent Chief Justice Tom Parker (R) is barred from running for another term due to a provision in Alabama law that limits judges from running after their 70th birthday. The Legislature has not imposed similar restrictions on other constitutional officers like the Governor or themselves. Taylor is a former Alabama Republican Party legal counsel and a former legal counsel to Governors Bob Riley and Kay Ivey. “The Republican voters of this state deserve the chance to make an informed decision on who will lead our judicial system,” Taylor said. “Justice Stewart and I have different experiences, different judicial philosophies, and different visions for the future of our court system.” Taylor challenged Stewart to a debate. “Today, I call on Sarah Stewart to join me for an honest discussion of those topics so the voters of Alabama can decide who is most qualified to be our next chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court,” Taylor said. “Sarah Stewart is the establishment candidate. I’m the conservative alternative with a proven record of defending the Constitution.” “I am a lifelong conservative Republican,” Taylor said at a campaign event in Shelby County last week. “Sarah Stewart can’t hide behind her robe anymore, pretending to be a conservative Republican,” said Taylor. “As a circuit judge, she had a liberal record on the bench. Sarah Stewart’s campaigns for the Supreme Court have been bankrolled by hundreds of thousands of dollars from plaintiffs’ trial lawyers and liberal Democrats. She has arguably been the most liberal justice on the Supreme Court,” stated Taylor. “We need a reliably conservative chief justice who will always stand on the truth and stand up to the weaponization of our justice system. I’m not going to let liberal special interests hijack our Republican primary.” “I am from Hoover. I went to Berry High School,” Taylor said. “I went to the University of Alabama on a full Army ROTC scholarship. I went to law school at the University of Texas. I graduated in 2001, just before 9/11. I entered the active duty Army. I served four years in the Judge Advocate Corps. I served in Iraq for a year. I did a deployment in Honduras.” As a freshman state senator, Taylor spearheaded the passage of sweeping reforms to strengthen Alabama’s ethics laws, led the charge to repeal the legislature’s pay raise, and fought for fiscal conservatism in state budgeting. As chairman of the Senate Constitution & Elections Committee, Taylor advanced legislation to curb election fraud and improve election integrity, such as the law that requires voters to show a photo ID at the polls. Taylor is a co-founding member of the law firm of Bachus Brom & Taylor, LLC. He concentrates his practice on Constitutional law, appellate law, election law, business law and business litigation, and public policy. Taylor lives in Shelby County with his three children. They attend Double Oak Community Church. Taylor is the former spouse of congressional and U.S. Senate candidate Jessica Taylor. The major party primary is on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Stephanie Smith addresses Young Republicans
On Wednesday, Stephanie Smith addressed a joint meeting of the Shelby, Jefferson, and St. Clair County Young Republican Clubs. The three groups of YRs were gathered at Hoover Tactical Firearms to watch Wednesday night’s Republican Party Presidential Debate. Smith is the third president of the Alabama Policy Institute (API). Smith said API was founded in 1989 by Gary Palmer and Tom Parker. Palmer served as President until he ran for Congress in Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District – a position he still holds. Caleb Crosby led the group for about eight years until being replaced by Smith in January. “The Alabama Policy Institute has gone through some transition over the last nine years,” said Smith. “We try to strike a balance between the social conservative side and fiscal conservative side,” Smith said. “We try to set a conservative agenda for the state,” Smith explained. “To hold elected officials accountable for their vote.” “We opine on national issues with our congressional delegation, but we are more focused on state issues,” Smith continued. She went on to explain to the YRs how to watch the debate. “Try to focus on the issues rather than the personality,” Smith said. “With Trump not being here, they are going to try to jockey for that second spot.” She handed out sheets and asked the group to rank the candidates on the issues and how close they came to their views without the bias of how they felt about the candidates before the debate. “It has been interesting to me since I took over API in January,” Smith said. “I have had national officials come up to me and ask, why are you here? Alabama is great. You have a supermajority. You can pass whatever you want.” “Many of the men and women in leadership are more moderate,” Smith explained of state government. “They are not as conservative on the Alabama side.” “There are plenty of things we can do to be more conservative as a state,” Smith said. “We are nonpartisan, but we are conservative-led.” She said that one thing that API does is “push out as much information as we can.” State Representative Susan Dubose (R-Greystone) said, “I cannot tell you how beneficial Stephanie and her group have been to me.” Dubose said that the information that she gets from API is trustworthy. “It is actual fact. It is not something that they made up,” Dubose said. The YRs then watched the over two-hour debate. Former President Donald Trump elected not to participate in the debate. Also at Wednesday night’s event was former State Senator Bryan Taylor, who is running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, and Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judge Matt Fridy. Before Smith’s presentation, the Shelby County Young Republicans elected their officers. Shane Plyler was elected the group’s chairman. River Morris was elected Vice Chair. St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Logan Glass announced that the club is raffling off a customized AR-15 built by one of the club’s members. Tickets are $5 each. The Alabama presidential primary is on Tuesday, March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Young Republicans gather in Moody
On Saturday, Young Republicans (YRs) from across the state gathered at Moody Park for an afternoon of barbecue, bluegrass music, and camaraderie as the St. Clair County Young Republicans (YRs) held their summer gathering. St. Clair County Young Republicans Chairman Logan Glass presented plaques to Federation of Alabama State Young Republican President Stephanie Petelos and State Representative Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden) – who represents parts of St. Clair and Etowah counties. Glass praised Petelos for her example and her leadership and credited her with restoring the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans (GBYRs) to its role as the largest Young Republican group in the state. That club has grown to the point that a new club has branched off from the GBYRs – the Shelby County Young Republicans. Glass thanked Lipscomb for his work in Montgomery on behalf of the county and for his support of the YRs. The St. Clair Young Republicans presented former St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Circuit Judge Phil Seay with the inaugural Phil Seay Award. Seay is the President of the Alabama Judges Association. Glass thanked Seay for his years of unwavering support for the YRs. Former State Representative Mike Ball and his bluegrass band performed at the event. Ball served twenty years in the Alabama Legislature representing Madison. He is the author of an autobiographical book about his experiences: Picking, Politicking and Pontificating: How an Ex-Cop Legalized Cannabis While Fighting Corruption. Several state appellate court seats are on the ballot in 2024, so several judicial candidates were present at Saturday’s event. Former State Senator Bryan Taylor (R-Prattville) was present. Taylor is running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Current Chief Justice Tom Parker is near the age 70s age limit, so he is prevented from running again. Taylor is a practicing attorney who has held many state government positions, including counsel for Governor Kay Ivey. Taylor is a retired Judge Advocate, a former military prosecutor, and an Iraq War veteran. Taylor faces a Republican primary battle with Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sara Stewart. Current Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Chris McCool is running for the position on the Alabama Supreme Court that Stewart is vacating in her run for Chief Justice. McCool is a former district attorney in West Alabama. McCool is also a farmer, a preacher, and a gospel singer. He performed a couple of songs with Ball and his band at Saturday’s event. James Govan is running for the position on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals that Judge McCool is vacating. Govan is a career prosecutor and a U.S. Air Force Reserve officer currently working for the Alabama Attorney General’s office. Rich Anderson is also an Assistant Alabama Attorney General and a prosecutor running for the Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals. Anderson has represented the state of Alabama before the Criminal Court of Appeals, federal district courts, the Alabama Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Emory Cox was the platinum sponsor of Saturday’s event. Cox is U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s aide on finance and economics. While Cox’s duties in Washington D.C. prevented him from attending, Cox’s mother, Annette Cox, the owner of St. Clair County-based Metro Bank, was present. Glass thanked the Cox family for their friendship and history of support for the YRs and Emory for his service in Washington. Bamacarry of St. Clair County was an exhibitor and a sponsor of Saturday’s event. Glass also thanked Shaw’s Barbecue for the food as well as all of the many bronze sponsors of the event. Other notables in attendance were State Supreme Court Justice Greg Cook, State Rep. Jim Hill (R-Odenville), State Senator Lance Bell (R-Pell City), Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Bill Cole (R), Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judge Matt Fridy, St. Clair County District Attorney Lyle Harmon, St. Clair County Commissioner Tommy Bowers, commission candidate James McGowan, former St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Joey Stephens, St. Clair County School Board Member Bill Morris, and Colbert County Assistant DA Brent Woodall. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Bryan Taylor, governor’s ex-chief legal adviser, to run for Alabama Supreme Court chief justice
Republican Bryan Taylor, a former state senator and former chief legal adviser to Gov. Kay Ivey, announced Wednesday that he is running for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The election for chief justice will be held next year. Chief Justice Tom Parker cannot run again because Alabama law prohibits judges from being elected or appointed after age 70. “I am uniquely qualified to lead our state’s court system,” Taylor said in a statement. “My experience as an attorney, Army Judge Advocate, and military prosecutor, along with my service in the executive and legislative branches of state government, has given me a unique perspective that will benefit Alabama’s courts and the Alabamians they serve.” The Alabama chief justice serves on the state’s highest court and also serves as the administrative head of the state court system. Taylor was elected to the Alabama Senate in 2010 and is best known for authoring the revamp of the state’s ethics law that was later used to prosecute former House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Taylor did not seek a second term in 2014. Before joining the Senate, Taylor was a legal adviser and policy director for Gov. Bob Riley. He later served as Ivey’s chief legal adviser. Taylor is an Iraq War veteran and served as a military prosecutor and lawyer with the Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He continues to serve in the Alabama National Guard. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. Taylor recently served as deputy legal counsel for legislative affairs for the Alabama Republican Party. He is stepping down from the position as he runs for office. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
