Stephanie Petelos Nabavian reelected as Chair of the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans
The Greater Birmingham Young Republicans (GBYRs) met on Thursday to hold their officer elections. Chair Stephanie Petelos Nabavian was elected to her second term as GBYR Chairperson, defeating challenger Christian Brown. “I am so happy to continue leading the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans!” Petelos said in a statement on Facebook. “The results last night, 85% in my favor, prove that our membership are excited to continue our path of growth, hosting unique events, and building a strong community of like minded and passionate young people. I am so thrilled about the exceptional new board I get to serve with! Thank you so much for allowing me to continue serving you!” Petelos told Alabama Today that in the last year, she grew the club to such a point that they were able to break off the Shelby County Young Republicans as their own group. She hopes to possibly do the same, creating other groups, perhaps Gardendale, in the future. “With kids and a long work day, it is asking a lot for them to get on Interstate 65 and fight traffic to get here (Vestavia Hills). Some of them aren’t able to do that,” Petelos said. Petelos is also the Chair of the Alabama Federation of Young Republicans. Petelos told Alabama Today that the COVID-19 global pandemic and the shutdown of the restaurants had a detrimental effect on the Young Republicans statewide. She said her goal is to grow the GBYRs to what they were a few years ago before the group’s more recent setbacks. Petelos previously was the Chair of the Federation of College Republicans. She recently got married and finished law school. She is the daughter of former Hoover Mayor and Jefferson County Manager Tony Petelos. Her mother is a former Jefferson County judge. Brown said that running for the position was a “learning experience.” Josh Cox was elected Vice Chair, and Taylor Martin was elected Secretary. In other business, the group voted to hold the GBYR Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 12, at the Fish Market Restaurant in downtown Birmingham. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) is expected to be the speaker. New Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Bolin (R) addressed the group. “This is a treat for me to come meet with the yrs because I missed this when I was coming through,” Bolin said. Bolin is a former Jefferson County Probate Judge and a former Alabama Supreme Court Justice. He was elected to the Jefferson County Commission this summer in a special election when Steve Ammons left the Commission to accept a new position. “Some of you here will hold elected office,” Bolin said. “It might be county commissioner, it might be a judge, it might be governor.” Eric Lee discussed the special election coming up in January in House District 16. HD16 represents part of western Jefferson County, Northern Tuscaloosa County, and Fayette County in the Alabama House of Representatives. Republican Brian Brinyark faces Democrat Bubba Underwood. The seat was previously held by Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette), who left on July 1 to accept a role with the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. Lee said he is working with Terry Richmond and the Jefferson County Republican Party to help get out the Republican vote for that special election to elect Brinyark. They need phone bankers to call Republican voters in HD16 to remind them to come to the polls. Lee said that the next meeting of the Jefferson County Republican Party Executive Committee is November 21 at the Homewood Public Library. 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.
Susan Dubose briefs Birmingham Young Republicans on Legislative session
The Greater Birmingham Young Republicans (GBYR) met on Thursday in Vestavia Hills to hear State Representative Susan Dubose discuss legislation being considered by the Alabama Legislature during the ongoing 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. GBYR President Stephanie Petelos said that Dubose is a first-term member of the Alabama House and is the former head of the North Shelby County Republican Women, which meets monthly to full meetings at a country club. It was announced at the meeting that a Shelby County Young Republicans chapter is being organized. “I am excited about the Shelby County chapter,” Dubose said. “I represent District 45, which includes parts of Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties.’ Dubose said the legislation to ban holding a cell phone while driving, essentially requiring hands-free devices, is likely dead for the session. “That was tabled,” Dubose said. “There were problems with that bill. It got too much overreach for me. I don’t think it is coming back.” “I passed my first bill out of committee,” Dubose said. “It is a women’s sports protection bill. It is to protect women college athletes.” “It passed unanimously,” Dubose said. “It (House Bill 261) will be on the House floor on Tuesday.” “April Weaver is running it through the Senate so it could become law,” Dubose said. “The attorney general really wants this passed.” “I am working on an age of majority law,” Dubose said. “14-year-olds are allowed to make medical decisions,” Dubose explained, saying that the age limit should be raised and that parents should be able to have the final say on their children’s medical decisions. “I would like to eliminate the grocery tax,” Dubose said. “Anthony Daniels is for it.” Dubose said, “It is not an exact loss.” Dubose explained that when you give that four percent back to the people, they are going to spend it on other things we collect sales taxes on. “I am a big believer in supply-side economics that Reagan did.” “One of the votes that we had, Vestavia Hills came to our county delegation,” Dubose said. “They wanted to raise their ad valorem taxes by 9.8 mills. They are very proud of their school system there. Many people move to Vestavia for the schools. Our entire Jefferson County Delegation voted yes unanimously.” Dubose told Alabama Today, “Regarding Vestavia Hills, the Vestavia Hills city council unanimously supports letting their residents vote on the 9.8% increase in ad valorem tax. Our Jefferson County House of Representatives delegation voted unanimously by voice vote to move the bill to the floor of the House, where it passed. I believe the people of Vestavia Hills should have a right to vote and make decisions for their own community. Vestavia Hills has a reputation for excellent schools. As a legislative body, we have given the residents the opportunity for a yes or no vote on the property tax increase.” “Another vote where I got real criticism for was the adoption bill,” Dubose said. Dubose said the criticism was for voting down an amendment to the bill that would have blocked any vaccine requirements for adoptive or foster parents. “That should be a personal choice, but that amendment came up at the last minute,” Dubose said. The Senate did add a vaccination amendment when that legislation passed on Thursday. The House will consider Senate changes to the bill as soon as Tuesday. “I do not believe in COVID vaccine mandates at all. That should be a personal choice,” Dubose told Alabama Today. “I voted to table the amendment on the floor because we didn’t have time to research the amendment and vet any unintended consequences. I am happy to hear that the Senate did pass the adoption bill with a slightly different amendment so that an option with exemptions from vaccines will be available for potential parents. I will happily support the adoption bill when it comes back to the House with the vaccine exemption amendment.” “That particular bill was not taking amendments on it at all,’ Dubose explained. “I knew it was going to fail. I try to vote with the Speaker when I can. “ Dubose said the House passed legislation limiting good time incentives for Alabama prisoners. “Bibb County deputy Brad Johnson was shot and killed by a felon who had been out of prison only three days after serving only a third of his sentence,” Dubose said. “Russell Bedsole carried that in the House, and then April Weaver carried that in the Senate.” “Dubose said that the Legislature also voted to outlaw exhibition driving. “This is something that the Mayor of Birmingham and the Mayor of Hoover asked us to support,” Dubose said. “We have had 16 persons and a baby killed by a Dodge Charger that was doing donuts with a crowd watching.” Dubose said the state’s economic incentives were renewed and passed out of the House on Thursday. “Surrounding states are spending a lot of money on incentives,” Dubose explained. “I support the economic incentive package “The Game Plan” proposed by our governor,” Dubose said. “This passed out of the House on Thursday.” “Where are our workers going to come from,” Dubose said of the state’s labor force participation rate. “Only 56.7% of people are in the labor force. We need them to come back to work.” “I do still worry about our workforce participation rate in Alabama, which keeps going down,” Dubose said. Dubose said the Legislature also passed DRAM shop reform legislation so that bars and restaurants that serve alcohol can get liability insurance for when a person leaves their premises and is intoxicated and is involved in a wreck. Dubose said that the Legislature also passed legislation to guarantee that patients of hospitals and nursing homes would be able to receive visitors in the future. “During COVID, so many people died alone,” said Dubose. “The bill sponsor, Debbie Wood – We sit next to each other, and she explains everything to me. Her mother actually starved to death in a nursing home.” Dubose said patients “can appoint a designated person who can visit two hours a day even if there is a crisis situation.” Dubose
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego addresses Greater Birmingham Young Republicans
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego spoke recently with the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans meeting at Baumhower’s Victory Grill in Vestavia Hills. “When a lot of people hear Sheriff, they think of somebody with a cowboy hat on who gets on a horse and rides off into the sunset or shoots someone,” Samaniego said. “We are a constitutional officer.” “We are the arms and legs of the judges,” Samaniego continued. “The Sheriff’s office has to run and maintain the jail.” Samaniego said that the Sheriff’s office also plays a vital role in election integrity. “I am part of the election committee,” Samaniego said. “Our deputies play an important part in making sure that our polling places are secure. That is important, especially now.” Samaniego said that the deputies are also responsible for bringing the ballots to the courthouse, where they are counted. “The ballots then go to the Sheriff’s office. We have secure storage there. Recounts, we have to do all of that as well as election challenges.” Samaniego said that the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office also has a major law enforcement role. “Shelby County has 232,000 people. We give direct service to about 130,000,” Samaniego said. “All municipalities house their inmates in their jails. We also have the patrol division.” “Early in my career, I spent 20 years in investigations,” Samaniego said. “Patrol is totally different.” Samaniego said that patrol is the most dangerous assignment a deputy can do because they are uninformed. They are the first on the scene and could be walking into a dangerous situation where people know they are coming. “Investigations handle all the felonies and serious misdemeanors,” the Sheriff said. “Domestic violence is the number one serious misdeed. The children that grow up in that wind up going in the same path in over 90% of the time.” “Then we have our drug task force which is very important,” Samaniego said. “Unfortunately, Shelby County is more of a consumer county than a distributor county.” Samaniego said that because the judges in Shelby County are so tough on drug deals, drug dealers avoid making deals in the county. “I ran the drug task force in Tuscaloosa County,” Samaniego said. “The law allows law enforcement officers to go anywhere in the state. They just have to get warrants from the local magistrate.” “Just about every municipality shares their investigations with Shelby County,” Samaniego said. “We work hand in hand.” The Sheriff said that when they catch a juvenile involved in drugs, they get their cell phones and contact the parents of all the kids on those kids’ phones to tell them what their kids are into. “It’s 50: 50,” Samaniego said. “50 will cooperate, and 50 will just hang up on us. Your child is at risk. Let’s do something about it.” Samaniego said that the passage of permitless carry is already costing his department a lot of money. His office had been making about $800,000 yearly in pistol permit sales. That money is used for training and equipment. “We would usually do 125 to 150 a day,” he explained. “We are doing about 25 now. That is a turndown of about 70%.” When asked if he supports constitutional carry, Samaniego said, “I have never supported that because there is no such thing as constitutional carry. The Constitution has no provision for it. We already had open carry. Six thousand thirty-one people were turned down for permits. 80% of them were for mental health issues. Unless you were a felon or had an alcohol or drugs, you could get a permit.” Samaniego said that he had his say on that issue last year. “That is in the past,” Samaniego said. “It is over with. We are going forward.” Samaniego said that he also opposed the legalization of medical marijuana. “I think it is further deteriorating the moral compass,” Samaniego said. “Do I think it is going to continue? Yes, that lobby is strong. I don’t think Shelby County wants it. You might have some municipalities.” Samaniego said that criminals are coming to Shelby County and are focusing on stealing cars at apartment buildings and parking lots. If the doors are open, they steal people’s guns, electronics, and money. If they leave their keys in the car, they steal the vehicle. “We have been trying to get people to lock their cars,” Samaniego said. Stephanie Petelos is the President of the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans and is a candidate for state chair. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
