Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter named chair-elect of the Council of State Governments Southern Office
Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) was unanimously elected to serve as the 2023-2024 chair-elect of CSG South on July 11, 2023, at the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) in Charleston, South Carolina. As chair-elect, Speaker Ledbetter will assist incoming chair, West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair, in guiding CSG South during the coming year. He also will chair the 79th SLC Annual Meeting, to be held in Alabama in the summer of 2025. “I am proud to welcome legislators, government staff, and their guests from across the Southern region to Alabama and showcase our state’s unparalleled southern charm and hospitality,” said Rep. Ledbetter. “The purpose of this meeting is to provide Southern state lawmakers with the opportunity to work together to create more effective public policy so that we may better serve our home states.” Alabama most recently hosted the SLC meeting in 2013 in Mobile, Alabama. The 2025 meeting is expected to draw more than 1,500 attendees from its member states and will feature successful programs and policy initiatives unique to Alabama. Each year, the Southern Leadership Conference brings together experts to discuss opportunities and solutions to challenges facing policymakers and staff across the region. Ledbetter, age 61, previously served as the Mayor of Rainsville in north Alabama. Ledbetter ran for the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010 but was defeated in the general election. He switched to the Republican Party and was elected in 2014. That turbulent term saw both the Speaker of the House (Mike Hubbard) and House Majority Leader (Mickey Hammons) convicted of corruption charges. In that leadership vacuum, Ledbetter was elevated to Majority Leader as a House freshman. Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) – who succeeded Hubbard – chose not to run for reelection in 2022. Ledbetter was chosen by the House Republican Caucus over veteran lawmaker Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) to be the GOP candidate for Speaker following the November 2022 election – effectively making him the Speaker-elect as the Republicans hold 77 to the 105 seats in the Alabama House of Representatives. Ledbetter was chosen as Speaker by the full House during the organizational session in January without a single dissenting vote. CSG South was established In 1947. The Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports members in all three branches of state government. The mission of CSG South is to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Predominantly, this is achieved through the ongoing work of CSG South’s seven standing committees and support groups. Legislative leadership, members, and staff depend on CSG South to identify and analyze solutions for the most prevalent and unique policy issues facing Southern state governments. We facilitate outreach in state capitols, leadership development, staff exchange programs, domestic and international policy delegations, and other efforts to support state policymakers and legislative staff to build stronger, more successful states. The Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) is the largest regional gathering of legislative members and staff. SLC boasts an array of well-established programs—focusing on existing and emerging state government innovations and solutions—providing policymakers and staff diverse opportunities to interact with experts and share their knowledge with colleagues. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Governor orders flags at half-staff to honor fallen Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby
On Tuesday, two Huntsville Police officers were shot while responding to a domestic violence call where a woman had already been shot. One of those officers, Garrett Crumby, died at the hospital from his wounds. In honor of Crumbly, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on Monday to honor Huntsville Police Department Officer Crumby. “I am directing flags to be flown at half-staff on Monday, April 3, to honor Huntsville Police Department Officer Garrett Crumby, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on March 28, 2023,” Ivey stated in a press release. “On behalf of the state of Alabama, I express my deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and fellow law enforcement professionals,” said Ivey. “I am forever grateful for Officer Crumby’s dedication in keeping our communities safe and serving the people of Alabama.” Officer Albert Morin was also gravely shot and was still at Huntsville Hospital in critical condition recovering from his wounds as of press time. “Additionally, I call on all Alabamians to uplift Officer Albert Morin in prayer as he recovers from injuries sustained during the tragic incident. We stand with the men and women who sacrifice everything to protect our communities.” The flags are to remain at half-staff until sunset on Monday. Crumby and Morin were responding to an emergency domestic violence call at the Governor’s House apartment complex Tuesday evening when they were “ambushed” by 24-year-old Juan Robert Laws, who had already shot a female victim on scene, according to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. The Huntsville Police Department said on Facebook, “The hearts of the Huntsville Police family are heavy following the loss of Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby, 36, who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting his community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Albert Morin, 34, who is still in critical condition at Huntsville Hospital. The Huntsville Police Department thanks those in Huntsville and beyond for their continued support.” His fellow officers escorted Officer Crumby’s body as it was transported to the Berryhill Funeral Home. Laws had previously shot two people in a January altercation and had been released on bond awaiting trial for two charges of Second Degree Assault at the time of Tuesday’s shooting. Laws and his female victim are in the hospital recovering from their injuries. The Chairman of the Madison County Commission, Mac McCutcheon, himself a Huntsville Police force veteran, said on Facebook, “My prayers are with the HPD Officers tonight! We have lost one Officer, and another is fighting for his life! Heroes and servants of the people. I was so very thankful for the support of the law enforcement family coming together to support each other. It was an emotional time at the ER. Chief Giles is a friend and a true leader of the men and women who wear the uniform and put on the badge of servanthood, law and order! The Sheriff’s Department gave backup and began taking calls in the City to give HPD the freedom to take care of their Officers. We must continue to pray for the grieving family members and the Officer fighting for his life. Let’s also remember the team at the 911 center. As I met with them tonight they too have experienced the emotional trauma of trying to dispatch and give aid to the officers on the call. God be with the men and women who sacrifice everything to keep us safe!! It is a family of the thin blue line that we should be thankful for!!!” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville says Huntsville is best location for Space Command
The military made the decision to relocate Space Command to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville in 2020. Yet, the move has not been completed due to opposition from the Colorado congressional delegation, which has challenged the process at every turn. Now there are reports that they may get their way. In response, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville recently wrote an opinion column in the Washington Post. “Two independent studies from the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office nonetheless affirmed the process that ranked Alabama as the best choice for the Space Command. Colorado didn’t make the top three,” Tuberville wrote. Despite this, there are growing concerns that politics may trump the nonpartisan process which the Pentagon used to determine the best location for Space Command. An anonymous White House source in David Ignatius’s March 24 op-ed, “A move to undo a political play on the Space Command,” suggested that President Joe Biden will upend the Air Force decision to put the Space Command headquarters at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. The op-ed claimed that President Donald Trump chose Huntsville for political reasons. In fact, the Air Force secretary made the decision, which was confirmed by the acting defense secretary and finalized by the president. “The military’s decision to place the Space Command at Redstone Arsenal is what is best for national security and for taxpayers,” Tuberville concluded. “If Mr. Biden overrules the Air Force, it will be Washington at its worst — a president putting politics above plain facts. The Space Command belongs in the Rocket City.” On Monday, the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce was in Washington D.C., where they were addressed by Sen. Tuberville. Chamber President Chip Cherry and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon joined Sen. Tuberville to voice their support for Space Command coming to Redstone Arsenal. “Madison County has the resources available to accept Space Command coming to Huntsville, and we’re excited about that,” Commissioner McCutcheon wrote. “For a couple of years, this has been on the front burner with the Air Force. They have done studies on this program, and all the information has come back has shown that Space Command needs to be in Huntsville, Alabama.” “I just hope that as President Biden moves forward with this, I hope that he will realize that the safety of our country is at stake,” McCutcheon continued. “Let’s take that information in the studies that were done and provide the Space Command with the best location that it should be in.” “Security is the reason,” McCutcheon stated. “Let’s bring Space Command to Huntsville where it should be, and let’s take politics out of it.” Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said on Twitter, “Colorado’s federal delegation continues to hold up the Space Command process with no merit backing their position. Tommy Tuberville is right. It’s facts, not politics.” Colorado’s congressional delegation has claimed that the studies performed by the Air Force were a flawed process. Tuberville has represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate since his election in 2020. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Personnel Update: Mac McCutcheon appointed new Chairman of the Madison County Commission
On Tuesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey appointed former Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon as the new Chairman of the Madison County Commission. “Speaker McCutcheon, who I have worked with for many years, is a proven leader, well-equipped to take the helm at the Madison County Commission, and I am proud to appoint him,” Ivey said in a statement. “I know the people in that area are thrilled to have Mac continue serving Madison County. I am confident this part of our state will keep thriving thanks to the good work by all who serve on the Commission.” The position became vacant after Dale Strong vacated the position after he was sworn in to represent Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. McCutcheon served 16 years representing Madison County in the Alabama legislature. His fellow Republicans elected McCutcheon as Speaker of the House after former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard was convicted of multiple violations of Alabama ethics laws. McCutcheon had a long-distinguished career as a law enforcement officer with the Huntsville Police Department, including as a hostage negotiator. He is a U.S. Army veteran, a former farmer, and former associate pastor. McCutcheon is a father and grandfather and a native of Madison County. McCutcheon chose not to run for a fifth term in the Alabama Legislature. State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, the former House Majority Leader, was elected to succeed McCutcheon as the Speaker of the House. McCutcheon will finish the remainder of Strong’s term as Commission Chairman. On Tuesday, the governor’s office confirmed to Alabama Today that McCutcheon will assume the role of Chairman of the Madison County Commission effective immediately. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Legislature organizes for Quadrennium
The legislature had their every four-year organizational session earlier this month. It is exactly what the title states. They are organizing for the next quadrennium of lawmaking. They officially chose their leadership and adopted the rules for the two chambers. The 105-member House of Representatives and 35-member State Senate are elected for four-year terms, the same as the governor and other constitutional offices. However, unlike the governor, who was sworn in on Monday, January 16, as set out in the state constitution, the legislature takes office the day after they are elected in November. The state House of Representatives will have 77 Republicans and 28 Democrats. That is a veto-proof, bulldozer-shoving, anything-you-want supermajority. The Democrats have very little say with those overwhelming numbers. Two days after they were elected in November, the 77-member Republican majority met in a private caucus meeting in Montgomery and selected their leadership. Therefore, the vote for Speaker of the House two weeks ago was simply a formality. The House has chosen Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter to be the Speaker of the House. Speaker Ledbetter hails from Rainsville in DeKalb County. He is a former Mayor of Rainsville. He has only been in the House of Representatives for eight years, having been first elected in 2014. He was chosen to be the majority leader in the House in his freshman year. He was close to the former Speaker Mac McCutcheon, and he served on both the powerful agenda-setting Rules Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Education Budget Writing Committee. Representative Chris Pringle of Mobile has been chosen to be Speaker Pro Tem of the House, which is the second highest position within the body. He has served previously for 16 years in the House from the Port City. He succeeds fellow Mobilian Victor Gaston in this post. There are two young stalwarts who will be serving in Republican Party positions within the House. Representative Scott Stadthagen of Decatur will be the new House Majority Leader. Representative Wes Kitchens of Arab will serve as the Republican Leadership Caucus Vice Chair. Representative Debbie Wood from the Valley will serve as the Republican Caucus Secretary/Treasurer. The three most powerful posts in the House are the chairmanships of the two money committees and the agenda-setting Rules Committee. Representative Danny Garrett of Trussville in Jefferson County will continue to Chair the Ways and Means Education Budget Committee. Representative Rex Reynolds of Huntsville will be the General Fund Ways and Means Chairman. Reynolds replaces longtime Ways and Means Chairman Steve Clouse of Ozark. Representative Joe Lovvorn of Auburn will be the new Rules Committee Chairman. Representative Jim Hill of St. Clair will chair Judiciary. He is a former circuit Judge and a veteran of the House. All of these House leadership positions are held by Republicans. To the victor goes the spoils. The Democrats have a veteran and sterling team heading their Caucus Leadership in the House. Anthony Daniels of Huntsville will be the Democratic Minority Leader. Barbara Drummond of Mobile will be the Caucus Chair. Mary Moore of Birmingham will be the Vice Chair, and Kelvin Lawrence of Hayneville will be Secretary/Treasurer of the Democratic Caucus. The 35-member Alabama State Senate returns almost intact with their continuity and quality leadership. They will dominate and provide a stable State of Ship to help lead the state. Republicans control this upper chamber to the same degree that the GOP members do in the House. Republicans outnumber Democrats 28 to 7 in the Senate. State Senator Jabo Waggoner of Jefferson County begins his 50th year in the legislature. This is a state record. He is definitely destined for the state history books. Jabo will continue to Chair the powerful Rules Committee. Greg Reed of Walker County will be Pro Tem of the Senate again. The Majority Leader will again be Clay Scofield of Marshall County. The two money committee chairmen will continue to be in charge of how the state revenues are spent. Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur will chair Finance and Taxation/Education. Senator Greg Albritton of Escambia will chair Finance and Taxation/General Fund. These two men will be very powerful. Popular state Senator Will Barfoot of Pike Road will chair Judiciary in the Senate. Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville has become a stalwart leader in the Senate. He will be Majority Whip. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth presides over the Senate. The Regular Session begins in early March. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Nathaniel Ledbetter elected as new Alabama House Speaker
Republican Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter was sworn in Tuesday as the new speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives after being elected to the leadership role without a dissenting vote. Ledbetter, a legislator from Rainsville, secured the leadership position after Republicans, who hold 77 of the 105 House seats, chose him in November as their nominee. House members on Tuesday elected Ledbetter on a 102-0 vote since lawmakers typically follow the majority party’s selection. “I stand before you today, a man that is humbled by the faith you have put in me and the great responsibility you have placed upon my shoulders. I pledge to you, here and now, to work as hard as I am able to justify both,” Ledbetter told House members. He said all representatives share a common goal to make the state a better place, although they may have different ideas on how to accomplish that. Ledbetter said he understood that the speaker’s gavel should be a tool to ensure open debate and not a weapon to stifle it. Ledbetter, 61, replaces former House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, who did not run for reelection. Ledbetter was elected to the Alabama Legislature in 2014. He served as majority leader from 2017 to his election as speaker. At this time, Republicans, firmly in control of the Legislature, pushed through several priority bills, including a 2019 abortion ban. During his tenure, he sponsored legislation to place mental health service coordinators in school systems and a bond issue to improve state parks. Ledbetter is the former mayor of Rainsville. He first ran unsuccessfully for the House as a Democrat. He won four years later after switching to the GOP. Lawmakers began meeting in an organizational session on Tuesday to elect leaders and approve operating rules for the next four years. They return to Montgomery in March for the regular session. On Monday, Sen. Greg Reed of Jasper was reelected as the Senate president pro tempore, the top-ranking position in the Alabama Senate. Reed has been pro tem since 2021, when he took over for longtime Senate leader Del Marsh. Marsh did not run for reelection in 2022. Republican Rep. Chris Pringle of Mobile was elected as speaker pro tempore. Ledbetter said his priorities in the upcoming legislative session will include bills to streamline the adoption process and to stiffen penalties for fentanyl possession. Ledbetter said he also thinks there is legislative support for a possible tax rebate for Alabamians as the state sees a rare budget surplus. “I think we’ve got to be cautious in what we do, but I think at this point in time that the members would support that, and with inflation running away like it is, it certainly gives them an opportunity to help offset that a little bit,” Ledbetter said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama Legislature to hold organizational session Tuesday
The Alabama Legislature will be in session on Tuesday. This two-day session is not to pass legislation but rather to organize for this new quadrennium. Both bodies will pass rules for the Legislature to operate under moving forward and set their leadership. Most attention is focused on the Alabama House of Representatives, where a number of changes are coming. Both Speaker of the House, State Rep. Mac McCutcheon, and Speaker Pro Tem. State Rep. Victor Gaston did not run for re-election in 2022. The House is expected to elect state Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter as the new Speaker and State Rep. Chris Pringle as the new Pro Tem. During the last legislative session, Republicans had a 77 to 28 filibuster-proof supermajority over Democrats. That is unchanged in 2023, so the Republican choices for the top leadership positions in the House are virtually a lock to be elected on Tuesday. Ledbetter is the former Mayor of Rainsville and was the Majority Leader during the previous quadrennium. He is in his third term in the state legislature. State Rep. Scott Stadthagen will be the new Majority Leader. He is serving in his second term in the Legislature. State Rep. Anthony Daniels will return as the House Minority Leader. Ledbetter has already announced his staff hires and committee chairs. This is one of the least experienced groups of House members in many years. Two-thirds of the House members are in their first or second term. This is the biggest change in the body since Republicans took control of the Legislature in 2010 after 135 straight years of Democratic Party domination. In the Alabama Senate, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth was re-elected in a landslide. Ainsworth serves as President of the Senate as one of his office’s primary responsibilities. The inauguration for his second term will be on Monday. State Sen. Greg Reed will return as Senate President Pro Tempore. State Sen. Clay Scofield was also re-elected and likely will continue as the Senate Majority Leader. Republicans had a filibuster-proof 27 to 8 supermajority in the Alabama Senate during the last legislative session, and that supermajority returns. Both Reed and Scofield are returning for their fourth term in office. State Sen. James T. “Jabo” Waggoner returns as the dean of the Legislature. Waggoner was first elected to the Legislature in 1966. He is expected to continue to chair the powerful Senate Rules Committee. Both the House and the Senate will update their rules for the next four years. This is just an organizational session, and no actual legislation will be introduced or passed during these anticipated two days. The state legislature will return on March 7 for the 2023 regular legislative session. A regular legislative session is constitutionally limited to just 30 days. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Change in 24-hour notification rule concerns some activists
Some conservative activists have expressed concerns about a proposed rule change in the Alabama House of Representatives rules that would change the amount of time that the public and House members receive before a House Committee can consider a bill. Under the rules used during the last four years, a House committee had to give 24 hours public notice before a bill could be considered in committee. The new rule would change that to just four hours. Some conservative groups have expressed alarm that this will limit the public’s input in the legislative process. Alabama Today spoke with a member of the House off the record about the proposed rule change. The member pointed out that the 24-hour rule was regularly worked around by the House to begin with. While the rule was on the books, how the House actually operated is that a committee chairperson would ask to be recognized on the floor of the House at some point during floor proceedings. The chair would then ask the body for a motion “to suspend the rules” so that the committee could meet and consider legislation. Sometimes those meetings would occur later that day, and sometimes those committee meetings would be held while the body was in session. Sometimes, the committee met immediately. This interpretation of how the House (and the State Senate) functions is correct. Committees often meet inside that 24-hour notice window, often inside a four-hour window, and sometimes with just five minutes’ notice. Capitol Press Corps members would have to pick up their laptops and scramble from the House floor press room to the committee meeting somewhere on the eight floors of the State House building. A motion to suspend the rules so that a committee can meet is a regular occurrence and is usually made by voice vote without opposition. Alabama Today was told that the GOP nominee for the Speaker of the Alabama House, Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, and the new House Majority Leader, Rep. Scott Stadthagen, have heard the concerns of members and the public and are reportedly concerned about the overuse of the motion to suspend the rules to avoid the notification requirement and the change from 24-hour notice to four hours notice was proposed with the intent of continuing to provide House committees with the flexibility to operate, but while having some real world actual public notice requirements. Members have been asked by the leadership to refrain from speaking publicly on the proposed rules changes so that leadership can more thoroughly explain this and other proposals. Changing the rules of a legislative body is a normal part of the legislative process. Every four years, the Alabama House and Senate review their rules and attempt to update them during the organizational session of the Alabama Legislature at the start of a new quadrennium. The U.S. House of Representatives is about to consider its own new set of House rules for the 118th Congress that differ somewhat from the rules put in place by the 117th Congress. At the federal level, there has been a change in the Speaker of the House from Nancy Pelosi to Kevin McCarthy. In the Alabama House of Representatives, Ledbetter is the presumed Speaker replacement for Rep. Mac McCutcheon, who retired from the Legislature. Since Republicans have a 77 to 28 majority in the Alabama House of Representatives, the Republican choice for Speaker will likely be the new Speaker. State Rep. Chris Pringle is the GOP choice to be the Speaker Pro Tem., replacing Rep. Victor Gaston, who also retired. The House will vote on new leadership and changes to the rules when it meets on Tuesday for the organizational session. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Nathaniel Ledbetter announces fourth and final round of committee chair appointments
On Wednesday, State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, the House Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the Alabama House, announced the final seven representatives he plans to appoint as committee chairs if elected as the next Speaker. “These committee chairs will handle some of the most important issues that affect the daily lives of Alabamians – health, public education, election integrity, veterans affairs, accountability to taxpayers, and local measures,” Ledbetter said in a statement. “And because the ability to easily transport goods plays such a vital role in Alabama’s economic development efforts, the new House committee on ports and waterways will be especially important in keeping our state growing.” Ledbetter created the new House Ports, Waterways, and Intermodal Transit Committee. State Rep. Chip Brown will be the inaugural chair of this new committee. Brown was elected to the Alabama House in 2018. He previously held a seat on the agenda-setting Rules Committee and served on the body’s Economic Development and Tourism, Urban and Rural Development, Insurance, and Mobile County Legislation committees. Brown is a commercial realtor and entrepreneur and served in the Alabama Army National Guard. He was deployed with the U.S. Army at the Central Command Forward Operations Headquarters in Southwest Asia during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was also twice deployed as a military advisor in Afghanistan. Ledbetter said he created the new House committee because Alabama possesses more than ten percent of our nation’s freshwater. When combined with the expansion of the State Docks in Mobile, the Tennessee/Tombigbee Waterway, the ports of Huntsville and Birmingham, and the port being constructed in Montgomery, that transportation hub can be leveraged into one of the state’s strongest economic assets. State Rep. Phillip Pettus will remain as the House Fiscal Responsibility Committee Chair. Pettus also held seats on the Judiciary Committee, the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in the previous quadrennium. Pettus is a retired Alabama State Trooper Captain. Following 25 years of service, he retired from the Alabama Department of Public Safety in 2013. State Rep. Bob Fincher will return as the House Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections Committee chair. Fincher was elected to the Alabama House in 2014. He previously held seats on the House Education Policy, Agriculture and Policy, and Local Legislation Committees. Fincher is a retired educator who taught at Woodland High School and New Hope Christian School and twice served as one of Alabama’s presidential electors. State Rep. Ed Oliver will chair the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. Oliver joined the Alabama House in 2018 and previously held seats on the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, the Fiscal Responsibility Committee, and the Health Committee. The former Chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee –Rep. Dickie Drake was defeated in the May Republican primary. Oliver is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He served as a military helicopter pilot and inspector general and devoted 31 total years to active duty, reserve, and National Guard service. He was employed for 15 years as a civilian helicopter air ambulance pilot. State Rep. Alan Baker will return as the chair of the House Local Legislation Committee. During the prior quadrennium, Baker also served as vice chair of the House Education Policy and the agenda-setting House Rules Committee. Before his election to the Alabama House in 2006, Baker worked for 27 years as an educator and football coach in Alabama public schools. While coaching at T.R. Miller High School, he won five state championships in football and five in track. State Rep. Terri Collins will return as chair of the House Education Policy Committee. Collins sponsored and passed the landmark Alabama Literacy Act in 2019. Throughout the prior quadrennium, she held a seat on the House Ways and Means Education Committee and chaired the Alabama School Safety and Student Security Task Force. Elected to the House in 2010, Collins is a retired marketing executive and businesswoman who enjoyed a 16-year career in the banking industry in Decatur. Retaining Collins is by far the most controversial committee chair choice by presumed Speaker Ledbetter, as Collins has often incurred the anger of social conservatives for her defense of the controversial Alabama College and Career Ready Standards – which many on the ultra-right feel are too tightly aligned with the Barack Obama era Common Core educational standards. State Rep. Paul Lee will return as the chair of the House Health Committee. He has served as a member of the committee since first winning election to the Alabama House in 2010. Lee is a former Dothan city commissioner. He retired from Sony’s Magnetic Tape Division as a senior production specialist following 31 years of service. He is currently the executive director of Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan. It is highly likely that Ledbetter will be elected as the Speaker of the House during the organizational session in January, as he is the choice of the House Republican Caucus, which holds a 77 to 28 supermajority in the Alabama House of Representatives. Ledbetter defeated State Rep. Steve Clouse for the open Speaker position in a vote by the Caucus during a November meeting. Ledbetter is the former mayor of Rainsville. He follows Rep. Mac McCutcheon as Speaker. McCutcheon chose not to run for the legislature again. If elected, Ledbetter will be the third Republican Speaker of the House since the GOP’s takeover of the state Legislature in the historic red wave election of 2010 following 135 years of uninterrupted Alabama Democratic Party legislature control. Ledbetter is part of a new generation of Republican lawmakers who have never experienced being in the minority. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Nathaniel Ledbetter makes more staff appointments
State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, the House Republican Caucus’s choice to be the next Speaker of the Alabama House, announced on Tuesday several appointments for the Speaker’s office staff. “Running the day-to-day operations of the speaker’s office effectively is key to ensuring that the House remains on track and the members remain informed,” Ledbetter said. “Each of these men and women have proven themselves to be able administrators in the past, and I know that they will work hard to serve the members of the House on both sides of the aisle as well as the taxpayers across Alabama.” Ledbetter has already announced that Mark Tuggle will remain as the Speaker’s Chief of Staff. Tuggle previously served as a Republican State Representative from Alexander City. Jade Wagner, a DeKalb County native who currently resides in Montgomery, will serve as Ledbetter’s deputy chief of staff. Since 2017, she was previously employed by Ledbetter in the office of the House majority leader, where she served as policy director. Ledbetter will retain Andrew Westcott of Pike Road as general counsel and policy director in the Speaker’s office, a post he has held since 2015. Before joining the Speaker’s staff, Westcott was employed by the Alabama Law Institute. Rob Green is a Jasper native. He will hold the title of director of communications and external affairs. Green previously served as policy analyst under Speaker Mac McCutcheon. Geen recently returned from a leave of absence after working with the campaign team that successfully maintained the Republican supermajority in the Alabama House. Daisy Goza of Millbrook will follow Ledbetter to the Speaker’s office. She will serve as Ledbetter’s executive assistant and scheduler, the same role she filled during his service as House majority leader. Holley Knowles of Montgomery will remain on staff as the Speaker’s constituent services specialist. These appointments are not official until Ledbetter is elected by the full body as Speaker of the House; however, since Republicans hold a 77 to 28 supermajority in the Alabama House of Representatives, it is extremely likely that the House Republican Caucus choice for Speaker of the House will be elected as such during the organizational session of the Alabama Legislature in January. During the recent election, the Republican Supermajority successfully defended all but one of its 77 seats from the last quadrennium. State Rep. Charlotte Meadows was unseated by her Democratic challenger. However, Democratic incumbent Rep. Dexter Grimsley of Abbeville was also unseated by his Republican challenger; thus, there is no net change in the political composition of the legislature even though there was unusually high turnover in the members overall. Ledbetter is the former Mayor of Rainsville. Ledbetter was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 204. Speaker McCutcheon elected to not run again for the state legislature. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Nathaniel Ledbetter announces a second round of House committee chairs
State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter announced his second round of committee chairs on Monday. Ledbetter is the Alabama House Republican Caucus choice to be the next Speaker of the House in the Alabama House of Representatives, and under the rules of the Legislature, the Speaker appoints most of the committee chairs. Ledbetter announced the appointment of Rep. Jim Carns to serve as Chair of the House Commerce and Small Business Committee, a role he previously held under outgoing Speaker Mac McCutcheon. Carns served in the state legislature from 1990 to 2006. From 2006 to 2010, he served on the Jefferson County Commission. He returned to the House in 2011. Carns is a businessman with experience in manufacturing. Ledbetter announced the appointment of State Rep. Margie Wilcox to chair the Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Committee. Wilcox returns for her third consecutive term in the Legislature. During the last quadrennium, Wilcox chaired the Alabama Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee and the Joint License Plate Oversight Committee. Wilcox owns and operates a taxicab company in Mobile. She has previously served as vice chair of the House County and Municipal Government Committee. Rep. Danny Crawford returns as the Agriculture and Forestry Committee chair. Crawford was elected to the Alabama House in a 2016 special election. He served on the Athens City Council from 1993-2005 and was employed with the Farm Service Agency for 33 years. He was appointed state director by President George W. Bush in 2001. State Rep. Reed Ingram will return as the chair of the County and Municipal Government Committee. Ingram served in the House since 2014 and was the chair of the County and Municipal Government Committee since 2018. Ingram is a well-known businessman and restauranter from Montgomery. He previously served on the Montgomery County Commission from 2004 to 2014. Ledbetter is appointing State Rep. Randall Shedd to chair the Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure Committee. Shedd has served in the House since 2013. He previously served as the chairman of the Cullman County Commission and as the mayor of Fairview. He worked as the director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging. Shedd previously chaired the House Urban and Rural Development Committee and was vice chair of the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee. “From rural to urban areas, from employers to employees, and from tradesmen to consumers, the collective decisions made by these committees affect every Alabamian in some manner,” Ledbetter said. “All of these individuals have my full faith and confidence, and I am certain they will always work on behalf of the citizens each of us seek to serve.” Ledbetter has previously announced his first round of appointments. All of these appointments are conditional on Ledbetter being selected as Speaker in the organizational session of the House of Representatives in January. Since Republicans hold a 77-member supermajority in the 105-member Alabama House, it is highly likely that Ledbetter will be selected as Speaker, so will then be able to make these appointments officially. Ledbetter has served in the House since 2014. He previously was the Mayor of Rainsville and has served on the town council. He has worked for the Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative as accounts manager. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Some legislative leaders retire and pass away
Allow me to share the stories of three of my favorite legislative colleagues. Two of these gentlemen are retiring from the Alabama House of Representatives this year, and one passed away in April. Representative Victor Gaston of Mobile and Representative Howard Sanderford of Huntsville are going home. A third legend and true gentleman, Steve McMillan of Baldwin County, passed away during the last session in April. Representative Victor Gaston is Speaker Pro Tem of the House. Victor is retiring after 40 years in the legislature. He decided that at age 79 and having spent half his entire life in the legislature, that the timing was right to end his career and not run for reelection. Gaston, who was an educator by profession and also has family timber interests, lost the love of his life, Jean, only two years ago. They were married for 46 years and were very close. You can tell he misses her immensely. His two sons, Hank and George, have been helpful to him. Victor was first elected to the House in 1982. That year, he was only one of eight Republicans in the 105-member House. His district is an affluent silk-stocking area of Mobile and one of the few areas that voted Republican in local races in that era. He serves as a deacon of the Springhill Baptist Church. Additionally, he is active in Mobile with the Penelope House, Home of Grace for Women, and the Mobile Mental Health Center. Besides serving as Pro Tem in the legislature, he has been active with the American Legislative Exchange Council and is on the State Building Commission. Victor and I came to the House as freshmen together in 1982 and became and remain good friends. I like to give my friends nicknames; I dubbed him, “To the Victor goes the spoils.” He is a formal person and seemed to enjoy the frivolity of the term. Also in our class were Spencer Bachus, Beth Marietta Lyons, and Mo Brooks, to name a few. My friend Howard Sanderford came to the Alabama House of Representatives in January 1989. We became fast friends. He succeeded my friend, Steve Hettinger, who became mayor of Huntsville. Howard has represented the 20th District which is comprised of southeast Huntsville. He was elected to this very Republican district seven times and has served a total of 33 years. He was a true blue business Republican who was perfect for that district. He represented his people well with class and distinction. Howard was an accountant by profession and had a successful career with IBM, retired early, and was able to serve in the legislature with ample time and without the need for remuneration. He is a devoted family man. Howard and his wife, Dot, are very close. She accompanied him to Montgomery most of the time during his 33 years in the legislature. They are active members of the First Baptist Church of Huntsville. At 87, Howard felt like it was time to retire from his second career. Our friend, Representative Steve McMillan of Baldwin County, passed away at 80 in April after a tough bout with cancer. Steve was a great man and a great legislator. He was a quiet yet very friendly gentleman. Steve served with distinction for 43 years in the House of Representatives. He was a very diligent and well-prepared legislator. He was extremely conservative in a dignified way. He was not flamboyant and would seldom go to the well and speak. Yet, when he did, people listened. He was well-respected and knew what he was talking about. He exuded class and epitomized the term gentleman. Steve is survived by his wife, Gayle, two sons, and six grandchildren. The House is losing a lot of experience and leadership with the loss of Steve McMillan, Victor Gaston, and Howard Sanderford. Coupled with the decision by Speaker of the House, Mac McCutcheon, to not seek reelection, this will leave a void in the Speaker and Pro Tem posts in the House. In addition, the House is losing veterans Mike Ball (R-Huntsville), Allen Farley (R-Jefferson), L.L. Brown (R-Jacksonville), and Harry Shiver (R-Baldwin). The state and many of us will miss these folks. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
