The Alabama Republican Party passes resolutions and elects officers
The Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee held its Winter Meeting in Birmingham on Saturday. The ALGOP elected officers and passed resolutions urging legislators to adopt these policy positions. John Wahl was elected to a second term as Chairman. Wahl is a butterfly farmer in Limestone County. “It is an honor for me to represent you, not just you, the Republican executive committee, but you, the Republican primary voters,” Wahl said. “I am incredibly humbled by the support of my fellow committee members and the trust they have put in me. I look forward to working with them, as well as our County Parties and Auxiliary organizations, to promote and defend our Conservative values.” Joan Reynolds of Shelby County was elected Vice Chair. Reynolds is the founder and head of the Mighty Alabama Strike Force, a group that campaigns door-to-door for Republican candidates in swing states. “I would like to thank the members of the ALGOP Executive Committee for the confidence they have shown in me by electing me as Vice Chairman,” Vice Chair Reynolds stated. “I have worked with our chairman for two years as Finance Chair and feel that together we can accomplish great things for the state.” Carol Jahns of Autauga County was elected Secretary. “I am honored and respectively thank the State Executive Committee members providing me the opportunity to continue to serve as your ALGOP Secretary,” Jahns said. “I am confident that supporting each other and staying true to our platform principles are the keys to the Alabama Republican Party’s future victories.” Sallie Bryant of Jefferson County was re-elected as Treasurer. Bill Harris of Autauga County was elected Regional Vice Chairman, Congressional Districts 1 and 2. Renee Gentle Powers of Chilton County was elected Regional Vice Chairman of Congressional Districts 3, 6, and 7. Josh Dodd of Lauderdale County was elected as Regional Vice Chairman, Congressional Districts 4 and 5. State Rep. Matt Simpson of Baldwin County was elected as the Congressional District 1 Chairman. William Rayburn of Crenshaw County was elected as Congressional District 2 Chairman. State Sen. Lance Bell of St. Clair County was elected Congressional District 3 Chairman. Bonnie Sachs of Winston County was elected as Congressional District 4 Chairman. Former Congressman Mo Brooks of Madison County was elected Congressional District 5 Chairman. Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Chris Brown was elected as the Congressional District 6 Chairman. Pierce Boyd of Sumter County was elected as Congressional District 7 Chairman. All those elected on Saturday will serve a two-year term. They will also sit on the 21-member ALGOP Steering Committee that directs Republican business throughout the year. The Alabama Republican State Executive Committee also passed three resolutions: • A measure calling on the Alabama Legislature and Governor Kay Ivey to correct the state’s so-called “Good Time” law by passing legislation sponsored by State Sen. April Weaver and State Rep. Russell Bedsole. • A measure to abolish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracies and policies in public institutions. • A measure calling for an improved working relationship between the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Republican Party. The Alabama Republican Party maintained its supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and won every statewide elected office: including Governor, U.S. Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor, Public Service Commission, Alabama Supreme Court Justice, and picked up 50 new county and local seats across the state; while contributing to Republicans winning back control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “The Alabama Republican Party has had an amazing two years, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together during my second term,” Wahl said. The 400+ member ALGOP State Executive Committee is the governing body of the Alabama Republican Party. Its members are elected every four years and meet twice a year at the Winter Meeting and the Summer Meeting. The Summer Meeting will be in August at Montgomery’s Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. The Winter Meeting will return to Birmingham in 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Republican Party holds winter meeting
The Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee held its Winter Meeting in Birmingham on Saturday. Chairman John Wahl was elected to a second term. Joan Reynolds was elected as vice chairman. “It is an honor for me to represent you, not just you, the Republican executive committee, but you, the Republican primary voters,” Wahl said. “In the last election cycle, we picked up 50 seats across the state,” Wahl said. “Many of those were rural and minority seats.” The Alabama Republican Party actively promoted Republican candidates outside of the state. The GOP took control of the U.S. House of Representatives; but failed to retake the Senate. “Alabama volunteers knocked on 85,000 doors in swing districts and swing states,” Wahl said. “We fired Nancy Pelosi.” “I am incredibly humbled by the support of my fellow committee members and the trust they have put in me,” Wahl said in a statement. “I look forward to working with them, as well as our County Parties and Auxiliary organizations, to promote and defend our Conservative values. The Alabama Republican Party has had an amazing two years, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together during my second term.” “I would also like to thank so many of my friends and family for their support. It’s not always easy being in the spotlight, and I am blessed to have so many people standing by my side,” Wahl said. “I especially want to thank the ALGOP staff for their hard work. They help make my vision a reality, and I am grateful for what they do.” Vice Chairman John Skipper did not seek re-election due to health issues. Joan Reynolds, who previously chaired the Shelby County Republican Party, was elected vice chair over Pat Wilson, who represented the fourth and fifth congressional districts on the steering committee, and True the Vote activist Greg Phillips. Phillips’ last-minute pursuit of the position was particularly surprising as he was not a member of the executive committee. “I appreciate you for putting your faith in me as Vice Chair,” said Reynolds. “Alabama is probably the number one state in the country for standing up to woke policies to our kids,” Wahl added. “We don’t back down, and we stand up for our principles.” “Liberals are the ones who will use the power of government to force you to be injected with something even if it is against your will. Those are the radicals,” Wahl said. Florida Governor and possible presidential contender Ron DeSantis will be a guest of the Alabama GOP in Hoover on March 9. “Ron DeSantis has taught us: don’t be afraid to be a bold conservative,” Wahl said. ALGOP Treasurer Sallie Bryant said the party only has $783,513.28 in cash following the midterms. “A lot of money is coming in for our dinner on March 9,” Wahl said. “I am very confident that we will have over a million dollars by the time of the event.” Reynolds said, “We have already sold 416 individual tickets, 90 sponsorship tables, 137 other tables, and have raised $530,000. We currently have 1,300 people coming. The 440-member Republican Party State Executive Committee meets twice a year – February for the Winter Meeting and August for the Summer Meeting. The Summer Meeting will be held in Montgomery at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. The Alabama Republican Presidential Primary will be on March 4, 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Sallie Bryant: Alabamians need practical solutions for health care
Democratic frontrunner and former Vice President Joe Biden recently unveiled his health care plan. While this public option plan may not sound as extreme as some plans for his other fellow candidates pushing Medicare-for-all, it’s not moderate at all. Any provision that would create a public option to compete with private insurance is an impractical plan that would harm hardworking Americans. No one disagrees that health care costs are too high, but we should be focusing on improving the system we currently have in which more than 90 percent of Americans are covered. Vice President Biden seems to understand this as he has opposed the push for a “Medicare for All” system that other Democratic presidential candidates are calling for. But this plan would ultimately lead to a government run health care system through under-pricing private health insurers and abolishing the free-market system, making the public option the only option. He should not mask his intentions for a universal health care system by calling it a “public option,” which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from government-controlled health care. A public option would not only cause premiums in the private insurance market to rise, but it would also lead to higher taxes for hardworking people and could potentially result in longer wait times for lesser quality care. This is not the solution most Americans want from our elected officials. What most people want is to build upon our current health care system and work to address the issues that still persist. For the good of Alabamians and all Americans, I hope Vice President Biden corrects his course and focuses on practical ways to improve health care in our country. Sallie Bryant is executive director of the Alabama Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
