Twinkle Cavanaugh campaigning for fourth term
Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (R) is canvassing the state to convince voters to give her a fourth term in office. President Cavanaugh has made several recent campaign appearances in her quest for re-election. “Thank you for the incredible support we’ve received on the campaign trail! From the state’s northern mountains to the Gulf Coasts’ beaches, I’m on a journey to connect with YOU, my fellow Alabamians. I look forward to meeting each of you!” Cavanaugh said recently on X. Cavanaugh recently spoke to both the Escambia County and Fayette County Republican Party. “Thank you, John Killian, for the invitation to meet with the Fayette County Republican Party and fellow elected Republicans!” Cavanaugh said on X. Prior to these recent appearances, the Cavanaugh campaign visited rural Southwest Alabama. Cavanaugh is a wife, a mother, and a small business owner. Cavanaugh said on her website that she believes a sound energy policy is the foundation for providing maximum opportunity to American workers. Cavanaugh says she has established a model ethics policy, cut government waste to save taxpayers millions of dollars annually, and assured the return of hundreds of millions of dollars to Alabama consumers. Cavanaugh has been a vocal critic of the Biden Administration’s energy policies, which she claims have adversely impacted ordinary American families and businesses with higher energy prices. Twinkle was the first female elected as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. She is a graduate of Auburn University. She is married to Jeff Cavanaugh, a veterinarian, and they have three children and two grandchildren. They are active members of First Baptist Church in Montgomery and are involved in numerous community initiatives. Cavanaugh was first elected to the PSC in 2010 as a commissioner before being elected PSC President in 2012. Cavanaugh is being challenged for the Republican nomination for PSC President by Dadeville businessman Robert McCollum. McCollum ran previously for the PSC in 2022 – ultimately losing to incumbent Commissioner Chip Beeker in the Republican primary runoff. The Republican primary on March 5 will likely be winner-take-all all as no Democrat qualified for the office. Republicans have a three to zero majority presently on the PSC. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Robert McCollum running for Probate Judge of Tallapoosa County
Businessman Robert McCollum on Monday announced his candidacy for Judge of Probate in Tallapoosa County. “I am Robert McCollum. I am formally announcing my candidacy for the Republican nomination for Probate Judge of Tallapoosa County,” McCollum said in a statement. “I was born and raised in Tallapoosa County.” “I have grown to love and care about my community,” McCollum said. “As your Probate Judge, I will strive to serve my fellow citizens as a fair and just judge in the cases of estate settlements, adoptions, guardianships, etc. I will represent my fellow citizens in a way that will make them proud.” McCollum promised, “As your probate judge, I will maintain election integrity by ensuring as well as providing proof of paper ballot and no machines are connected to the internet. I will also strive to protect the county from any cyber-attacks, and we will not even consider paying any ransom to those behind it.” McCollum expressed his concern that the people of Alabama and Tallapoosa County are too heavily taxed. “Lastly, I will work with the county commission to lower the tax on vehicles and put money back in the citizens of this county’s pocket to help them during times of rising cost of living,” McCollum said. “I will be a watchman against wasteful spending of your tax dollars in Tallapoosa County.” Robert McCollum was previously a candidate for Public Service Commission in 2022. He lost in the Republican primary runoff to popular incumbent Commissioner Chip Beeker. McCollum is a Horseshoe Bend High School graduate and a small business owner. “I was in everything from construction to truck rental and vending machines,” McCollum said. “I enjoyed every minute of it.” McCollum will be challenging incumbent Talmadge East in the Republican primary. East has served as a probate judge since 2018. He previously worked as the political director for Steve Marshall for Attorney General. He was a businessman and previously worked for the West Virginia Legislature. The Republican primary will be on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The Alabama Republican Party says that the Executive Committee has not yet voted on when candidate qualifying with the party will formally begin. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Robert L. McCollum considers challenging Rep. Mike Rogers
On Monday, Robert McCollum announced that he is considering running in the Alabama Republican primary for Congress. McCollum told Alabama Today that he is forming an exploratory committee to look at challenging long-time incumbent Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03). McCollum said that he had been considering a run anyway but was motivated to move up his timeline for the 2024 race after the Friday night incident where Rogers had to be restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Friday night from coming after Rep. Matt Gaetz. Rogers was angered by Gaetz’s refusal to change his vote from present to in favor of Rep. Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House. “After the disaster on the house floor, it became clear to me that the people of the 3rd congressional district deserve better than that. That was the most childish thing I had ever seen,” McCollum said. “What have we become? What happened to respect for our colleagues? What happened to spirited debates and not playground brawls?” Rogers has apologized for losing his temper with Gaetz. “.@RepMattGaetz and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding,” Rogers wrote on Twitter Sunday. Gaetz has accepted the apology and said he and Rogers have a strong working relationship. McCollum claimed that he found the incident “embarrassing” for the state and the district but had already been considering challenging Rogers because he was dissatisfied with how Rogers was representing the district. “The people of the 3rd district deserve someone that is going to represent them and not the Washington establishment!” McCollum said. “Someone that will work tirelessly with his colleagues to get the best for the American people!” Rogers, who is the Ranking Member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee in the 117th Congress, is expected to Chair the committee in the 118th Congress. McCollum said that under the circumstances, Rogers should not be chairing any committee. “Congressman Rogers should step down from any committee or chairmanship,” McCollum said. “That kind of behavior should not be rewarded nor tolerated.” Rogers was accused of being intoxicated at the time of the incident by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee). “Congressional leaders should not be allowed to drink on the house floor!” McCollum said. “Our leaders should have more respect for our capital and the meaning of it!” Rogers released a statement following McCarthy’s election as Speaker of the House on the 15th ballot. “I am excited to see Kevin McCarthy elected Speaker of the House,” Rogers said. “Now it is time for the House to do the work the American people sent us here to do.” McCollum appealed to voters for their support. “I’m not going to sit here and promise that I will be 100% perfect – no one but God is! But what I can promise you is honest representation, conservative representation, sober representation, and strong conservative representation of Alabama’s 3rd congressional district!” McCollum said in a statement. “That is why today I’m announcing I will be forming an exploratory committee for Alabama’s 3rd congressional district currently held by Mike Rogers; we deserve better!” Robert Lane McCollum is a native of Tallapoosa County. He is a graduate of Horseshoe Bend High School. He has been a small business owner. McCollum was defeated by Public Service Commissioner Chip Beeker in the 2022 Republican primary runoff. Rogers has represented the Third Congressional District since 2003. He previously represented Calhoun County in the Alabama House of Representatives and on the County Commission. The 2024 Alabama Republican Primary is tentatively scheduled for March 5, 2024. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
