St. Clair County GOP elects new leadership
The St. Clair County Republican Party met Thursday night at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City for officer elections. The members of the party voted to elect new party leadership. St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Ren Wheeler was challenged by former Chairman Freddie Turrentine. The dues-paying members of the St. Clair County GOP voted for Turrentine to be the new Chairman. Freddie Turrentine is the Administrator of Operation Center at the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Turrentine said that the GOP is fighting for America against the radical left. Members thanked Wheeler for his service over the past four years as Chairman. “I have had a lot of fun,” Wheeler said. In the race for Vice Chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Party, Vice Chair Glass was challenged by both State School Board Member Marie Manning and retired Deputy and cattleman Jonathan VanPelt. VanPelt and Manning both advanced to the runoff, where VanPelt was then elected. Van Pelt is married to St. Clair County School Board member Nickie Stevens VanPelt. He retired from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department after 33 years of service. Glass still chairs the St. Clair County Young Republicans, which has its own membership and officers. The St. Clair County Republican Party is a member affiliate of the Alabama Republican Party and elects its own delegates to serve on the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee. The elections were held following a presentation by Lawrence County native Earl “Buster” Smith, who, during his U.S. Air Force service as an Airman First Class, diffused two hydrogen bombs inadvertently dropped on South Carolina in a B52 crash during the Cold War – saving millions of American lives. Smith held a book signing following the meeting. The next meeting of the St. Clair County Republican Party is on the third Thursday in March. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
St. Clair County honors Paul Manning on his retirement from county commission
On Thursday, over three hundred attended a retirement party at the St. Clair Arena in Odenville for long-time St. Clair County Commission Chairman Paul Manning. Manning lost re-election to long-time rival Stan Bateman in the May Republican primary. Manning was first elected to the county commission in 1978 and has served on the commission in 36 of the last 44 years. Manning, who has a disability, also ran two businesses: a barbecue restaurant and a gas station while he served on the commission. Prominent Real estate broker Lyman Lovejoy said, “He has been an asset, he and Marie, for so many years. They have been a force.” Sonny Brasfield is the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA). “It is great to be with you in support of the career of Paul Manning,” Brasfield said. “A measure of whether you have touched people’s lives is how many people are willing to sit out in the cold in honor of you. In all my thirty years with the Association, I have never seen anything like this before. It is a measure of what this man and this family have done for this country.” Brasfield said that the ACCA honored Manning at their summer convention. “It is one thing to come when people want something from you, but the real friends are here where you are leaving office and can’t do anything for them anymore,” Brasfield said. “The Association of County Commissions of Alabama represents the county employees and commissioners of the state. It has been my pleasure to be working with the Association and these commissioners for the last 34 years. The Association of County Commissions of Alabama was created in 1929.” Wayne Johnson with the St. Clair County Veterans Association presented Manning with a framed U.S. flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol at the request of Congressman Mike Rogers. Former St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Annette Manning presented Paul Manning with a letter from U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville honoring Manning on his retirement. “I would like to extend my congratulations to you on your time as St. Clair County Commissioner,” Tuberville wrote. “St. Clair County has experienced great economic growth during these years. This economic expansion was in no small part due to you and your abilities. You have served your state and county well.” “Thank you for letting me stay around for 36 years,” said Paul Manning. “I see Mayors here, I see Councilmembers here, but I also see the other people. I was always honored to represent the people that did not think that they had representation otherwise.” State Rep. Jim Hill presented Manning with a letter of commendation from Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth and a framed state of Alabama flag that has flown over the state capital.” “I am a retiree from Alabama Power, so I have been on the other side of things where I had to get along with politicians, and some were easier to get along with than others,” said St. Clair County Commissioner Tommy Bowers. “I love Paul and the family to death.” Bowers also reminisced about former County Commissioner Jimmy Roberts, who died after 28 years of service on the commission. Bowers announced that the commissioners had named both chambers where the commission meets after Paul Manning and presented the plaque and Manning portrait that will hang in both chambers. Due to the mountain ridge that divides St. Clair County and the difficulty of driving a wagon over that ridge, St. Clair County is the only county in the state to have two county seats: Ashville and Pell City. Prominent Pell City attorney Billy Church said, “Paul, most people have to die to get all these accolades; but all you had to do was to lose an election.” St. Clair County Commissioner Bob Mise presented Manning with a framed St. Clair County flag that has flown over both of the St. Clair County courthouses. Logan Glass is the Vice Chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Party and the Chairman and founder of the St. Clair County Young Republicans. “He was the first to recognize that we were a force in St. Clair County and the first to put his money behind us,” Glass said of Manning. “Paul is a true statement; we don’t have enough of them today. It is no secret that I want to run for office someday, and if I am, I can only hope that I will be as much of a statesman as Paul Manning.” “I appreciate every year that I served, and I appreciate all the people that I have worked with,” Manning said. Manning was also honored by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Manning is married to Marie Manning. Marie Manning is a career educator who has served St. Clair County as a teacher, principal, as well as the elected St. Clair County school superintendent. She is presently ending her tenure on the St. Clair County Board of Education. Marie Manning is the Republican nominee for State school board district 6. She is running unopposed in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Board of Education
School board members are some of the most selfless public servants in Alabama. This accolade goes to the Alabama State Board of Education, and, more specifically, local school board members. These members are tasked with a very important mission but receive very little compensation for their time and efforts. They are indeed public servants. The Alabama State Board of Education is a nine-member body that sets public education policy for K-12 schools. The governor is an ex-officio member of the board, and the remaining eight members are elected to four-year terms from single-member districts of approximately equal population. There is no limit to the number of terms a school board member may serve. The seats are partisan-driven. Currently, our state school board has six Republican members and two Democratic members. Given the fact that members are elected rather than appointed, it is somewhat surprising that our current eight members are so well-qualified and suited to be state school board members. Dr. Wayne Reynolds, who represents District 8, best exemplifies this statement. He has a doctorate in education and has spent over four decades as an education administrator. He is retired and brings his experience and wisdom to the table. In his early years, Wayne was a decorated Vietnam War Veteran. He and his wife Carol reside in the Limestone/Madison area. Wayne is a Republican and was re-elected to his second four-year term earlier this year. Marie Manning has just been elected to District 6, which is a Republican district. She will begin her first term in January. Prior to her recent election to the state school board, Marie served as Vice President of the St. Clair County Board of Education. During her stellar career in education, Marie was a classroom teacher, vice-principal, principal, and superintendent. Dr. Yvette Richardson represents District 4 and is a resident of Montgomery. Yvette is a Democrat and was re-elected to another four-year term in the Democratic Primary. She has a doctorate degree from the University of Alabama and has had a distinguished career in education. Tracie West is a Republican member of the board from District 2. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in the Republican Primary. She hails from Auburn and, as would be expected from this area, is well-qualified and versed in education knowledge and policy. Prior to being elected to the state school board, Tracie served as a member of the Auburn City Schools Board of Education, including serving as president of that board. There are four members up for re-election in 2024, Jackie Ziegler, Stephanie Bell, Tonya Chestnut, and Belinda McRae, provided all four decide to seek another term. Jackie Ziegler of Mobile is a Republican board member and represents District 1. She was first elected in 2016 and is an experienced and successful educator. She is a graduate of the University of South Alabama. She was a classroom teacher, then a longtime principal in the Mobile County School System. She is married to State Auditor Jim Ziegler. Stephanie Bell, who represents District 3, is by far the most veteran member of the board, having first been elected in 1994 and re-elected to eight consecutive terms. At the end of her current term, she will have served over 30 years. She is a stellar member, an asset to the board, and hopefully, will run again. Stephanie is a lifelong resident of Montgomery, as is her husband. Dr. Tonya Chestnut, a native of Selma, is a Democrat and represents District 5. She has a doctorate in education and is the former Dean of Alabama State University College of Visual and Performing Arts. Belinda McRae of Hamilton is the Republican board member for District 7. She is in her first term. Belinda taught English and art for 25 years in the Marion County School System and served on the Marion County Board of Education before being elected to the State School Board. Choosing the State Superintendent is probably the most important task of the Alabama State School Board, and the board made an excellent choice when they selected Dr. Eric Mackey as Alabama State Superintendent of Education. Dr. Mackey is a former school superintendent and former Executive Director of the State School Superintendents Association. Most of our former governors did not take their ex-officio role as seriously as Governor Kay Ivey. Governor Ivey has been a very active and dutiful member of the Alabama State School Board. In closing, allow me to not only give accolades to the state school board but also a tip of the hat to all local school board members. 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.
Alabama Republican Assembly releases primary endorsements
The Alabama Republican Assembly has released its candidate endorsements for the upcoming May 24 primary. The Republican Assembly meets every two years to listen to candidates, questions candidates in private settings, and then issues endorsements in races where any candidate garners at least a two-thirds vote of delegates. The 2022 Endorsement Conference was held last Saturday at Hotel Capstone in Tuscaloosa. Local President Jennifer Montrose said she was “excited about the passion and energy in support of conservative candidates and constitutional values.” U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks was endorsed for U.S. Senator, receiving 96% of the vote. ALRA President Don Wallace stated, “Mo Brooks made a clear and convincing case for being the only consistent conservative in the race, based on a track record of experience and an un-matched voting record on issues like illegal immigration, pro-life values, support for our military and sound economic policies. The near unanimity of his support, when other races were not so clear cut, is an indication that the Brooks campaign has a new focus, new energy, and rising hopes to reclaim leadership in the Senate race.” In the matchup in the Governor’s race, businessman Tim James led the field, followed by Pastor Dean Odle. However, no candidate received enough votes to be endorsed in that race. Former BAM Executive Lew Burdette was placed fourth. Lindy Blanchard was fourth. There were also not enough votes for endorsement for the races for Attorney General, State Auditor, or the Secretary of State race where current State Auditor Jim Zeigler was just shy of the number of votes needed from the 55 delegates. Calhoun County Circuit Judge Debra Jones received the necessary votes for endorsement at Supreme Court Justice, Place 5. Robin Litaker and Brent Woodall also garnered an over 67% vote for their respective PSC campaigns. Other major endorsements included Paul Sanford and Michael Joiner for Congress, as well as Alex Balkum, Marie Manning, and Wayne Reynolds for State Board of Education. The group also is in the process of making endorsements in a slate of legislative races in the Republican primary to be released soon on social media and other outlets.
