Napoleon Bracy, Kirk Hatcher enter Democratic race for 2nd congressional district
by Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector Two Democratic state legislators have entered the race for Alabama’s new 2nd Congressional District, and a third said Monday he will decide whether to get in in the next 10 days. Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, said in an interview Monday that he will run for the seat. The district stretches from the Mississippi border to the Georgia line and includes Montgomery and much of the Black Belt. “We have an opportunity in this district, for these counties represented, to impact a whole host of issues,” said Hatcher. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, said in a statement Monday he would also run for the new seat. “This is our time, our time to have a seat at the table built on the backs of those who, my entire lifetime, had been disregarded by their Congressional representatives due to their voting record or area code,” the statement said. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said in a phone interview Monday he would make a decision about the race before Nov. 9. The new 2nd Congressional District, created by a federal court order at the beginning of October, has a Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) of about 48.7%. With patterns of racial polarization in voting in Alabama, where white Alabamians tend to support Republicans and Black Alabamians tend to support Democrats, the seat is considered a pick-up opportunity for Democrats. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, is currently the only Democrat in Alabama’s seven-member U.S. House delegation. Hatcher, the director of Project Head Start in Montgomery, said he wanted to be an advocate for additional educational resources and for the military bases within the district. Hatcher also said he wants to get more “equity” when it comes to infrastructure issues. “I’m one of those individuals who’s not going in to upset the apple cart,” he said. “I go in to see what works.” Hatcher was elected to the Alabama House in 2018. He won election to the Alabama Senate in 2021 and was re-elected in 2021. Alabama Political Reporter first reported Hatcher’s candidacy. Hatcher said Monday he had the support of Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, who had been seen as a top candidate for the race. Reed told Al.com’s Mike Cason earlier this month that he was considering a run. Adam Muhlendorf, a spokesman for Reed, said Monday the mayor had no comment on his congressional plans. Bracy, a member of the Alabama House since 2010, touted his legislative leadership, including his prior service as chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus in 2013. “At the heart of progress is education, healthcare, economics, and workforce development,” Bracy’s statement said. “And in communities where poverty is still real and economic development is scarce, we have watched the world grow around us while feeling the strain of disinvestment with no one to stand in the gap.” Bracy did not provide further comment beyond the statement. Daniels, who has touted his connections with Bullock County, said he had a track record of delivering programs around the state, including a bill passed in the Republican-controlled Legislature this spring to exempt overtime pay from income tax. He also cited work on behalf of Democratic candidates around the state. “What have you done to make an impact? That’s what voters want to know,” he said. Other figures may jump into the race. Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said Monday that she was still exploring a candidacy, but she had not decided. She has filed with the FEC due to technicalities around her exploratory committee. Former Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road, said Monday he is still considering a run in the district. U.S. Rep Barry Moore’s chief of staff confirmed to Al.com’s John Sharp that he would be running in the new 1st Congressional District, setting up a primary battle with current U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile. The new map drew Moore, currently the U.S. representative for the 2nd Congressional District, into the 1st Congressional District. Brewbaker said that Moore’s decision “clears the way for me to run in the 2nd.” “But until I qualify, I don’t want to make an official announcement because you never know what God has for a person,” he said. One other candidate confirmed their candidacy Monday. Phyllis Harvey-Hall said in a phone interview Monday that she is running to be the “people’s candidate” and pointed to her previous runs in the district. Hall’s concerns included women’s healthcare and autonomy, as well as hospitals in rural areas. “So I’m running to be a people’s candidate, the voice and someone that’s going to fight for the things that we need today,” she said. Federal Election Commission filings also show that Harvey-Hall filed on Oct. 18, Terrell Anderson filed in April, and Austin Vigue filed in 2022. The Democratic primary for the seat will take place in March. Editor Brian Lyman contributed to this report. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence.Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
Personnel Update: Commerce Sec. Greg Canfield to retire, Kay Ivey appoints Ellen McNair
On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield will step down after 12 Years of Service. Ivey announced that she will appoint economic developer Ellen McNair to take over next year. Canfield will stay on until the end of the year. “Throughout my time as governor, we have proudly solidified Alabama as a top state for doing business, and no doubt, Greg has been a key part of that success,” Ivey said. “Together, we have secured more than $42 billion in new investments in our state, which has created 78,000 good-paying jobs,” said Governor Ivey. “Greg will go down as one of Alabama’s best economic development heads, and he will be noted for projects like Mazda Toyota and credited for branding the Made in Alabama name worldwide. I will forever be grateful for all that Greg has accomplished for our state, and I know he will continue having great success in his career.” Previously, Canfield served in the Alabama House of Representatives. In both his role at Commerce and in the Legislature, Canfield has been a champion for pro-business legislation. In this past legislative session, he helped Gov. Ivey pass Alabama’s economic incentive package, “The Game Plan.” Ivey says this legislation will help the state continue attracting businesses and industry and support existing companies for years to come. After a long career in the private sector, Secretary Canfield took the helm of the Alabama Development Office in 2011 and reorganized the department into the Department of Commerce. During his tenure, Alabama launched its first-ever strategic economic development plan: Accelerate Alabama. The state has established new records in international exports, capital investment, and job creation. Secretary Canfield represented Alabama on business and trade missions to 30 countries across the globe and is credited for launching Commerce’s successful rural development strategy. “I am proud to have been a part of Governor Ivey’s cabinet, and I am proud of the team of professionals we have assembled at Commerce. I am more confident than ever that Alabama is poised for a robust era of economic expansion that will transform the trajectories of communities and families across the state,” said Secretary Canfield. “I am honored to have made a contribution to the effort to improve Alabama’s future, and I know that the momentum we’ve built will continue to grow in the capable hands of Ellen McNair.” McNair will take over the Commerce Department on January 1. McNair is currently chief economic development officer with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Throughout McNair’s tenure at the Chamber, she has successfully worked on almost 600 national and international projects with a capital investment of over $8 billion, resulting in nearly 30,000 new jobs for the Montgomery community. “I have known Ellen since my days at the Alabama Development Office, and I know she will be of tremendous value to the state of Alabama,” Ivey said. “She sees past just the investment and jobs numbers and knows that these results are changing the lives of Alabama families. Ellen has partnered with Greg and I to bring growth to the Montgomery area, and I am confident we will see success like that all over the state.” McNair was the senior project manager and a member of the negotiating team that brought Hyundai Motors Corporation to Montgomery. Former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange and current Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed described McNair as a “smooth bulldog” and “tenacious.” “I am extremely honored to have been selected by Governor Kay Ivey for this very important role,” McNair said. “Economic development has been a passion and focus for the governor her entire career. The success of the state under Governor Ivey’s and Secretary Canfield’s leadership is unprecedented. These will certainly be big shoes to fill.” “I have great respect for Secretary Canfield and the Commerce team, and we will work together for a smooth transition,” McNair continued. “The state of Alabama is blessed with many strong local and regional economic development professionals, and I look forward to working closely with them and the entire state team to continue Alabama’s smart and strategic economic development.” Before working with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, McNair worked for the Alabama Department of Commerce. McNair first entered the economic development sector after graduate school in the Department of Economics at Auburn University. At that time, Governor Ivey served as assistant director of the Alabama Development Office, now known as the Department of Commerce. McNair comes to lead the Department of Commerce with 40 years of economic development experience and a handful of firsts. On top of being the first female project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce, she was the first woman Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in Alabama and one of a handful of economic development professionals in Alabama with this designation. She was also the first woman president of the Economic Development Association of Alabama and the first woman to lead a major metro area’s economic development effort in the state. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: It’s Official – Alabama will have new Congressional Districts
It’s official and final. Alabama will elect our seven-member congressional delegation under new lines next year. The federal court has spoken. The special master drawing the lines has acted, and the final omnipotent power, the U.S. Supreme Court, has concurred and confirmed the decision. It is over. The result that the plaintiffs desired has been decreed by the courts. There will be a new second majority Black Congressional district. This accomplishment has been sought for decades. Now the question becomes, can the Democrats succeed in electing a Black Democrat to this new opportunity district? It is not a slam dunk. The new district is 50% Black and 50% White. It favors a Montgomery candidate. The bulk of the population and the geographic center of the new district is Montgomery County. Montgomerians are like the rest of the state. They adhere to the well-known predilection known as “friends and neighbors” politics. That means they prefer to vote for someone from their neck of the woods, especially their county. My early prediction is that Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed will be the Democratic nominee and the favorite to win the new seat. The special master that drew the new lines attached an index to his maps that revealed that if there were a congressional race within this new district that this district would have voted for the Democrat in 15 out of 17 of the last 17 elections. Therefore, the court’s desire to make a second minority Democratic district where a Democrat has a good opportunity to win has been accomplished. The entire basis of this high-profile federal case has been centered around the fact that Alabama has one Black Democratic Congressperson, Terri Sewell, and six White Republicans. One Black Democrat constitutes 14% of the state’s population. The plaintiff’s argument is that the state’s Black population is 27%. Therefore, there should be two Black Democratic congressional seats in the Heart of Dixie. The courts bought that argument and hung their hat on the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and having one seat rather than two violates and dilutes Black voters in Alabama’s voting rights. The question now becomes, what are the down-home political implications and results of these court-mandated new congressional lines? All of you who live in middle and north Alabama, which is most of you, are unaffected. The majority of the people in Alabama who live in Birmingham north are not affected. In fact, everyone north of Montgomery is unaffected. All of the commotion and redrawing has occurred in Montgomery, the Black Belt, the Wiregrass, and Mobile. Our three powerful Republican congressmen are left with basically their same districts. Republicans Robert Aderholt, Mike Rogers, and Gary Palmer, who are our centers of power in the House, have their same, if not enhanced, GOP districts. Huntsville’s freshman congressman, Dale Strong’s district is unchanged. Congresswoman Terri Sewell’s Democratic district has been favored in the drawings. She has a perfectly drawn district that pretty much mirrors her current Birmingham-based seat. She will probably be spared a Republican challenge. However, State Senator Bobby Singleton, who hails from the Black Belt, may challenge her in a Democratic primary out of spite. He wanted a district that favored him but lost to Sewell in the legislative battles over the drawing of the new Black district. The real rubber meets the road within the Republican ranks in the Wiregrass, and Mobile and Baldwin counties. The five Wiregrass counties of Covington, Dale, Geneva, Houston, and Coffee are sent to Baldwin and Mobile. Therefore, new Congressmen Jerry Carl from Mobile and Barry Moore from Enterprise/Coffee are in the same district. Moore is the odd man out in this dilemma. The majority of votes in this new district are in Baldwin and Mobile counties. Carl will be the prohibitive favorite against Moore or any other Republican. It will be a very conservative Republican district. Therefore, six of our seven seats will be in safe reelection journeys for our incumbent congressmen. Jerry Carl in the first, Mike Rogers in the third, Robert Aderholt in the fourth, Dale Strong in the fifth, Gary Palmer in the sixth, and Terri Sewell in the seventh are very safe bets for reelection in 2024. Therefore, all of the turmoil and court intervention only affects one area of the state. All the brouhaha and action will be in the newly drawn second district. It is Montgomery Democratic Mayor Steven Reed’s race to lose. He will be the favorite to win and change Alabama’s delegation in Washington from six Republicans and one Democrat to five Republicans and two Democrats. However, I would handicap that race as a 50/50 toss-up. There will be a lot of Republican dollars from Washington showered upon the Republican nominee. It will be interesting. 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.
Riverfront brawl brings unwelcome attention to Montgomery
Three white boaters in Alabama’s capital city will be charged with misdemeanor assault for a riverfront brawl with a Black boat captain that drew nationwide attention, with more charges likely to come, police said. Videos of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, have proven crucial in investigating what happened, Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert said. One person has turned himself in, and the other two have agreed to turn themselves in by the end of the day Tuesday. “The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are likely,” Albert said. The fight was largely split along racial lines and began when a moored pontoon boat blocked the Harriott II riverboat from docking in its designated space along the city’s riverfront, Albert said. The Harriott II had 227 passengers aboard for a tour. The viral video of white boaters assaulting a Black riverboat captain and the following melee brought unwelcome attention to the historic city — which is known across the country for the Montgomery bus boycott in the 1950s and voting rights marches in the 1960s. The city, in recent decades, has tried to move beyond its reputation as a site of racial tension and to build a tourism trade instead based on its critical role in the Civil Rights Movement. “I don’t think you can judge any community by any one incident. This is not indicative of who we are,” Mayor Steven Reed said Tuesday. He noted that the people on the pontoon boat were not from Montgomery. “It’s important for us to address this as an isolated incident, one that was avoidable and one that was brought on by individuals who chose the wrong path of action,” Reed said. Before the fight began, the riverboat captain tried to contact the pontoon boat owner by loudspeaker. People on the other boat responded with “obscene gestures, curse words, and taunting,” the police chief said. The riverboat co-captain took another vessel to shore to attempt to move the pontoon boat and “was attacked by several members of the private boat.” Albert said several people from the riverboat came to the co-captain’s defense, “engaging in what we all have seen since on social media.” Video captured by bystanders showed that once the Harriott II docked, several people from the riverboat rushed to confront the people on the pontoon boat, and more fighting broke out. The video showed people being shoved, punched and kicked, and one man hitting someone with a chair. At least one person was knocked into the water. “The co-captain was doing his job. He was simply trying to move the boat just enough so the cruise ship could park safely, but it quickly escalated,” Albert said. The police chief said so far, the charges are against people from the pontoon boat who assaulted the co-captain and a 16-year-old who got involved. Police are trying to locate and question the man with the chair. The fight took place along Montgomery’s downtown riverfront in an area where slaveowners once unloaded people from steamboats to be sold at auction. Now, the city has developed the area into a tourist and recreation place with restaurants, bars, and hotels. The Harriott II takes tourists on sightseeing trips with food and entertainment, along the Alabama River. The brawl sparked dozens of internet memes and videos, with some joking that the chair should be placed in a local museum. Albert said while some made racial taunts, the police department does not believe the motivation behind the fight rises to the standard of a hate crime. Alcohol is believed to be an escalating factor, he said. Christa Owen of Clanton was aboard the riverboat with her husband and their daughter for a dinner cruise to celebrate the daughter’s 12th birthday. She said the riverboat captain said on loudspeaker: “Black pontoon boat, move your boat,” and that passengers also yelled for the boat to move so they could dock. “They shrugged their shoulders,” Owen said. She said the crew member, identified by police as the co-captain of the riverboat, got off to move the pontoon boat a few feet. Owen said the tension was obvious and mounting before punches were thrown. She said passengers felt helpless as they watched the co-captain get pummeled by several people on shore. Owen, a stay-at-home mom, filmed the confrontation as it began on the dock. She said as a “mother of many,” she knows the importance of being able to document how a conflict started. Once the boat was able to dock, she said her family had to figure out how to get off the boat safely with the fighting going on around them. “It didn’t have to escalate to that,” she said. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Gov. Kay Ivey signs ‘The Game Plan’ legislation
On Thursday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a package of four bills to extend and expand the economic incentive tools available to state financial planners. The Alabama Legislature passed the package of bills on Thursday morning, promising that the four “Game Plan” bills are the “plays” Alabama needed to call to have a bright future. “I am proud the Alabama Legislature has officially passed all four bills in The Game Plan package – my plan for our state’s continued economic success,” Ivey said in a statement. “I commend both the Senate and House for their incredible work on this timely legislation that will, no doubt, be transformative for our state and, more importantly, for our families. We are creating stability for our economy and are going to keep Alabama winning for many years to come.” “The Game Plan will give Alabama’s team the tools it needs to extend our winning record in economic development and help us unleash a new wave of growth and innovation across the state,” said Gov. Ivey. “From our rural areas to our big cities, this is going to benefit every corner of Alabama.” Senate President Pro Temp Greg Reed said that passage of the package was a victory for the state and its future. “The Game Plan is a multi-pronged approach to strengthen Alabama’s economy from all angles,” said Reed. “The four ‘plays’ are effective pieces of legislation that will help Alabama’s local communities thrive by attracting high-quality employers, creating jobs, and stimulating economic growth.” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said that the package would benefit Alabamians by better positioning the state to compete for the best jobs in the country. “Industries across the nation and globe are trying to come here because of our great employees, our low taxes, and our unbeatable quality of life,” said Ledbetter. “We want to make sure that, from a competition standpoint, we have the tools needed to bring companies here and keep them here.” Greg Canfield is the Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The Game Plan will serve as our next-generation strategic economic development framework as we work to build a more dynamic economy for Alabama and its citizens,” said Secretary Canfield. “Neighboring states are aggressively escalating their economic development activities, and this will allow us to keep winning the projects that trigger lasting impacts.” The Alabama Big 10 Mayors praised the passage of the economic development Incentives bills. Passing the economic incentives legislation was item number one on the Alabama Big 10 Mayors’ 2023 legislative agenda. “These incentives programs are critically important to our cities and the entire state of Alabama,” the Alabama Big 10 Mayors said in a joint statement. “For our cities to be successful, we need to have the tools to attract new industry, businesses, and high-quality jobs. These bills give Alabama the ability to not just remain competitive, but also increase our ability to attract the world-class businesses and developments that improve the quality of life across our state.” “We thank Governor Kay Ivey, legislative leadership and their members, the Department of Commerce, and the many stakeholders who worked tirelessly to make this happen. We were proud to support this package of bills, and we look forward to seeing the impact that these incentives programs will have on each of Alabama’s ten largest cities.” The Mayors representing Alabama’s ten biggest cities work together to address the state’s most important issues and make Alabama a safer, better place for all its residents to live. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. The Game Plan includes four bills — or “plays” — focusing on economic development issues such as incentives, site development, small business support, and transparency. Play 1: The Enhancing Alabama’s Economic Progress Act renews the Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama program and extends their sunset dates to 2028 while adding strategic enhancements to increase their effectiveness. The Jobs Act is the state’s primary incentives platform, while Growing Alabama primarily speeds development of shovel-ready sites. Play 2: The Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) will allow the State Industrial Development Authority to accelerate the development of industry-ready sites at a time when available sites are scarce, and other states are expanding their site programs. Play 3: The Innovation and Small Business Act aims to supercharge growth in Alabama’s innovation economy and support underrepresented businesses and enterprises in rural areas, transforming the state into a hub for technology and innovation. Play 4: The Enhancing Transparency Act will amend the Jobs Act to require the Alabama Department of Commerce to publish certain incentivized project information on its website. Transparency around important information related to companies receiving incentives will serve a valid public service and increase confidence in the process. Critics of the idea of economic incentives to lure industry and projects argue that it is corporate welfare and picking winners and losers, but there were no critics in the Alabama Legislature as the plan sailed through both Houses. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Big Ten mayors host annual breakfast
On Wednesday, the Alabama Big Ten Mayors hosted legislative leaders at a breakfast on the Sixth Floor of RSA Plaza. The mayors thanked the legislators for their service and asked them to support their 2023 legislative agenda. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said, “There are a lot of great things happening in this city and across Alabama.” “We had a record year in economic development in the city,” Reed said. “It could not have happened without great help from the state of Alabama and our elected representation.” Reed said that the new $90 million waterpark would be an “economic lynchpin” for the city. “Gen Z picks the place and then picks the job,” Reed said. “That is a little bit different from what I was used to. We found the job and then went to the city where it was.” Reed said the water park would feature whitewater rafting next to a walking trail on the Alabama River and Maxwell Air Force Base. “It will definitely be a destination,” Reed stated. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson is the Chairman of the Big Ten Mayors. “This started in 2014 as the big 5,” Stimpson said. “We started meeting on a quarterly basis. We found out that we had the same problems.” “That morphed into the Big 10 Mayors in 2019,” Stimpson. “Rebuild Alabama was our first focus. Rebuild Alabama has been great for the state.” Stimpson said that the mayors next got involved in Anaiah’s Law. “There was a repeat offender who had already shot a couple of people,” Stimpson said. “We asked the judge: Don’t let him out. The judge said: I have to. If you don’t like it, change the constitution.” The Mayors then got behind Anaiah’s law, which was sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown. That amendment to the Alabama Constitution passed the Legislature and was ratified by the voters in the 2020 election. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said that the Mayors are urging the Legislature to pass the Simplified Sellers Use Tax. “Small business is the heart of our cities,” Maddox said. “We know it is not easy, but these are the people borrowing the money and taking the risk to build our communities, and they are the heart of our downtowns.” Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth said, “The big ten mayors play a big role in our state. Thank you for your support of our incentives package.” Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed said, “We will be looking at a four bill incentives package,” “We have had great success in Alabama with incentives,” Reed said. “We have created tens of thousands of jobs.” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said, “Our state is growing at a pace that I have not seen in my lifetime.” Ledbetter credited the incentives package for contributing to this growth. “The incentives have led to $40 billion in investment in the state and created 60,000 jobs,” Ledbetter said. “Rebuild Alabama has changed Alabama’s economy. All over the state, you see (road construction) barrels wherever you go. It used to not be that way.” “Ports are hugely important,” Ledbetter said. “We are expanding our port and building a new one in Montgomery.” Stimpson said, “75% of the people in Alabama live in the state’s metropolitan areas, and most of the economic growth occurs in the metropolitan areas.” The Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Wednesday will be day 8 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution limits the regular session to no more than thirty legislative days during a regular session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Big 10 Mayors announce their 2023 Legislative agenda
On Friday, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors released their legislative agenda for the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative session. “Policy decisions made in Montgomery have a direct impact on our cities,” the ten mayors said in a joint statement. “And with nearly three out of four Alabamians living either in or around our state’s ten biggest cities, legislation that creates jobs and improves public safety in our communities benefits the vast majority of Alabamians. That’s why we have joined together to collectively advocate for important, common-sense legislation that will make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family. We look forward to working with our state’s dedicated elected lawmakers to make Alabama a safer, more prosperous state.” The Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. While 75% of the state’s population lives in the state’s largest metropolitan areas, just 25.1% of Alabamians actually live in the city limits of the ten largest Alabama cities. They range in size from Huntsville at 215,006 down to 56.933 for Madison in the 2020 Census. The mayors listed their key legislative priorities for the Alabama Big 10 Mayors for the 2023 legislative session. These policies, if enacted, will make Alabama a safer, more prosperous state. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors support the reauthorization and accompanying expansion of the Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama Act. The Mayors claim that the incentive programs established by these bills are critical to keeping Alabama’s economy globally competitive as we work to attract new businesses and new jobs to our communities. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors support efforts to make online sales tax distribution data from the State available publicly. If Alabamians are required to pay taxes on items purchased online, they deserve the right to know where their tax dollars are going. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors support legislation that would make it easier for local governments and land bank authorities to seize vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent private properties from landowners and address them in a way that would allow those previously unusable properties to contribute to and improve communities in Alabama cities. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors supports legislation enabling more expedient prosecution of unlicensed persons found to have any “trigger activator“ device, such as a “Glock switch.” These devices are federally illegal and not authorized by gun manufacturers. They effectively turn a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. These devices increase the number of rounds that a handgun can fire per second and decreases the amount of control that the shooter has over the firearm, increasing risks to bystanders and law enforcement. A state law would allow offenders to be prosecuted for having the unapproved device in the state and federal courts. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors support legislation that prohibits and provides criminal penalties for “exhibition driving“ – when a driver purposefully drives intentionally to create unnecessary engine noise, tire skid, burnouts, and other dangerous and dangerous and damaging driving techniques. This is a growing problem across Alabama cities that creates a public safety hazard for pedestrians and other drivers while draining limited law enforcement resources. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Power Moves: Sheron Rose helps Montgomery keep moving forward
Since 2015, Sheron Rose has been a leader in the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, where she is exposed to opportunities that foster economic and community growth. She has been a pioneer in the city of Montgomery, helping to pave the way for growth and development that will benefit the city for generations to come. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of being affiliated with great organizations and people,” said Rose, the Chamber’s executive vice president for External Affairs. “Being a part of the Chamber of Commerce team has provided an opportunity to expand and broaden my scope of responsibilities in ways that have a positive impact on the community. The results have been rewarding.” Rose’s primary area of focus has been on forming partnerships and working on key projects with elected officials from the local, state, and federal levels, as well as leaders of education, the military, and community organizations. Supporting Montgomery’s emphasis on career and technical education, she has taken part in many community decisions regarding public education. That includes efforts to encourage students pursuing college, career, or military pathways. “We have experienced success in engaging the community more in public education that adequately prepares students for life after high school graduation,” Rose said. “We’re also seeing increased community involvement in the educational system through greater participation and involvement in the activities of the school board, including as candidates for seats on the board. “There’s a great awareness that the students of today will make the decisions that impact the life of our community tomorrow.” Rose said her most rewarding initiative to date is working with Mayor Steven Reed and the Montgomery City Council in 2020 to pass a property tax increase for Montgomery Public Schools. It was the first such increase approved by voters in more than 50 years Looking to the future, Rose anticipates that Montgomery will continue to expand its military footprint, increase its engagement with the growing corporate community, attract young talent from throughout Alabama and across the country, and continue to expand its cultural and entertainment offerings. The city will keep making progress, she said. “The future of Montgomery continues to move forward with growth in so many areas,” Rose said. “Our elected and community leadership has planned the work and is working the plan.” Republished with the permission of The Alabama NewsCenter.
Steve Flowers: Alabama’s big 10 mayors are influential
Students of Alabama political history will rightly remember the 2022 midterm election. This election saw the majority of Alabama voters cast their ballots for Katie Britt, who will be the first woman elected to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate. Governor Kay Ivey easily coasted to victory to gain her second full term in office, continuing her reign as the first Republican woman to serve as Governor. Republicans from the top of the ballot on down cemented their control of the state government by huge margins. On top of all this, I suspect that students of Alabama politics will also note 2022 as the year that a new political force emerged on the scene. For the first time this cycle, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors – as the name suggests, the mayors of the state’s ten biggest cities – flexed their political muscle and put their support behind the Aniah’s Law constitutional amendment, which received a staggering 1,018,004 “yes” votes, more than any other item on the ballot. For those who are not aware of this emerging new group, the mayors of Alabama’s ten biggest cities joined together to use their collective influence to advocate for public policy positions that they believe will make Alabama a safer, more prosperous state. If you happen to live in the metro areas of Birmingham, Huntsville, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Dothan, Hoover, or Decatur – you live in the orbit of this group’s sphere of influence. While these mayors have been meeting regularly for several years to discuss issues like crime, infrastructure, and economic development, this election cycle marks the first time they have weighed in on electoral politics. Through a focus on local media, these mayors were able to ensure that this popular proposal stayed top-of-mind for Alabama voters. In fact, the late push against the referendum from both the far left and far right of the political spectrum was likely a reaction to the media coverage and public support that these mayors generated. Their advantage is not just in the media. They are a bipartisan group with credibility on both the right and left sides of the aisle. They are popular, and many are serving their third or even fourth terms. They are geographically diverse, with representation from Huntsville to Mobile to the Wiregrass. Finally, they represent a whole lot of Alabamians – approximately 75% percent of the state lives in one of their metro areas. As our state works to attract new residents and grapple with brain drain, policymakers would do well to listen to what these mayors have to say. It is clear that the future of Alabama depends on successful cities that can attract and retain the types of people who work in our booming space, medical research, and advanced manufacturing industries. Ignoring our cities is a recipe for decreasing competitiveness across the state. If you think we are a rural, small-town state, you are mistaken. In case you missed my earlier statement, a clear three-fourths of all Alabamians now live in one of our ten major cities in the state. Most of the real governing in the state is done by mayors. Being mayor of a city is where the rubber meets the road. It is the governmental constant where everyday problems are resolved. The gentlemen who comprise the group of the Big 10 mayors are hardworking, true public servants. They are doing their job day-in-and-day-out without fanfare and without an eye toward moving up statewide or to Washington. They love their cities and are governing them well. Representing the largest cities in Alabama, the Big 10 mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. It is interesting and noteworthy that two of the Big 10 cities are suburban enclaves of two of our large metropolitan areas. Hoover is one of the largest cities in the state and is an outgrowth of Birmingham. If census trends continue the next ten years the same as the last, Hoover may be a larger city than Birmingham. It more than likely will be in 20 years. However, if those same trends stay in place, Huntsville will continue to be Alabama’s largest city. One of the most revealing things to note is that Madison, a suburb of Huntsville, is one of the ten largest cities in Alabama. The Big 10 Mayors should have a big story for a long time to come. 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 Big 10 Mayors say state will be safer thanks to Aniah’s Law
On Tuesday, Alabama voters went to the polls and overwhelmingly voted to ratify Amendment One -Aniah’s Law. The Big 10 Mayors had endorsed ratification of the bill to allow judges to deny mail to dangerous felons. After Tuesday’s victory, the Mayors said they will continue to collectively advocate for policy goals that make the state a better place for all Alabamians “We were proud to support this constitutional amendment and to have fought for its approval by Alabama voters,” the Mayors said. “This is a big win for public safety in Alabama and will honor Aniah’s memory for generations to come.” They thanked voters for making Alabama safer by showing up at the polls and voting for Aniah’s Law. “As mayors of Alabama’s ten largest cities, we understand the great responsibility we have to promote public safety in our communities,” the Mayors said. Early on, we identified Aniah’s Law as an issue in which we could use our collective influence to advocate for and make Alabamians safer. This amendment will give Alabama judges and District Attorneys the tools they need to keep violent criminals off the streets.” Under current Alabama law, judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. Proponents say that means that dangerous criminals are often released back onto the streets, even when it is likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. Aniah Blanchard was a Southern Union student who was kidnapped off of the streets of Auburn at a gas station by a known violent kidnapper who was out on bond. She was brutalized, raped, and murdered by her attacker. Her parents were instrumental in Aniah’s law being passed by the Alabama Legislature. Now, after a majority of Alabama voters voted to pass Aniah’s Law, judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when charged with serious felonies like murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse. “Far too often, these offenders – who are often charged with crimes such as murder, rape, and kidnapping – are released to re-commit more heinous crimes while they await trial. That flawed system led to the kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard in October of 2019. Simply put, Aniah’s accused killer should have been in jail, and Aniah should still be alive. We were honored to help get this constitutional amendment across the finish line to protect Alabamians from suffering the same tragedy that befell Aniah and her family. We were proud to support this constitutional amendment and to have fought for its approval by Alabama voters. This is a big win for public safety in Alabama and will honor Aniah’s memory for generations to come.” Amendment one was also endorsed by Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Secretary of State John Merrill, and unanimous votes by both Houses of the Alabama Legislature, where it was sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown. “We will continue to collectively advocate for policy goals that make our state a better place for all Alabamians,” said the Mayors. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. All ten statewide constitutional amendments and the 2022 recompiled state constitution were ratified by voters on Tuesday. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Marshall urges voters to vote Yes for Aniah’s Law
Attorney General Steve Marshall released a video statement on Monday expressing his strong support for Statewide Amendment 1, Aniah’s Law. Marshall asked the people of Alabama to vote to adopt the amendment when they vote on Tuesday. “On Election Day, several proposed amendments to the state constitution will be on the ballot,” Marshall said. “One is vital for public safety. That would be Amendment 1, which creates what is known as Aniah’s Law.” “As you will recall, Aniah Blanchard was the young woman who, in 2019, went missing and was later found murdered,” Marshall said. “The man charged with Aniah’s abduction and murder was out on bond at the time he committed his heinous acts, despite already being charged with multiple violent crimes, including kidnapping.” “Aniah’s case was a terrible tragedy that drew national attention, but I am here to tell you that hers is not the only case of this kind—and it won’t be the last,” said Marshall. “That’s why we need Aniah’s Law. Aniah’s Law—which you will find on your ballot as Amendment 1—amends the state constitution to allow judges the discretion to deny bond to violent criminals like Aniah’s murderer. So, on Tuesday, be sure to vote “yes” on Amendment 1, which will keep dangerous criminals off the street and the public out of harm’s way. And thank you to Aniah’s family for leading the charge to make Alabama a safer place.” Aniah’s Law has also been endorsed by Governor Kay Ivey. “It is past time we fix those issues, but because of the unwavering dedication of Aniah’s family and the unanimous support by the Alabama Legislature, Amendment One, also known as Aniah’s Law, will be on the ballot this November,” Ivey said. “I encourage every Alabamian to join me in voting yes on Aniah’s Law to ensure no family would have to go through the pain of preventable tragedy.” Under current Alabama law, judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. That means that dangerous criminals are often released back onto the streets, even when it is likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. Proponents argue that if the majority of Alabamians vote for Aniah’s Law, then judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when they are charged with serious felonies like murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse. This legislation was sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown. It passed unanimously by the state legislature in April 2021 and was named in memory of murdered 19-year-old Southern Union Community College student Aniah Blanchard. Her accused murderer was out on bail awaiting trial for charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery. Amendment One has also been endorsed by the Mayors of Alabama’s ten largest cities. “As members of the Alabama Big 10 Mayors, public safety is one of our top priorities,” the Mayors wrote in a statement. “And on the November 8 ballot, there will be a constitutional amendment that, if voted for by a majority of Alabamians, would give our state’s judges the tools they need to keep violent, repeat offenders off our streets and out of our communities, and in jail where they belong. In October 2019, 19-year-old college student Aniah Blanchard was tragically kidnapped. The suspect in her case was out free on bond, awaiting trial for charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. He should have been incarcerated, and Aniah Blanchard should still be alive.” “We urge all Alabama voters to vote for Amendment One on election day so what happened to Aniah and her loved ones will not happen again,” the Big 10 Mayors concluded. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Polls will open Tuesday at 7:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. Voters need to bring a valid photo ID to the polls with them in order to vote. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Hyundai supplier, Mobis, announce new factory bringing 400 jobs to Montgomery
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey joined executives of Hyundai Mobis in the Old House Chambers of the historic Alabama State Capital to announce the company’s plan to build a second manufacturing plant in the Montgomery area. Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Chairman Cedric Campbell said that Mobis plans to invest $205 million to open an EV battery module plant in Montgomery that will eventually employ at least 400 people. Once it reaches full production, the 450,000-square-foot facility will be able to supply over 200,000 EV batteries annually to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) factory in Montgomery and the Kia Georgia plant. Hyundai plants to produce a luxury Genesis GV70 vehicle as well as an electric version of the popular Santa Fe sports utility vehicle. “Alabama’s auto manufacturing sector is evolving rapidly to capitalize on the EV revolution that is sweeping the industry, and this new Hyundai Mobis battery plant represents another milestone in that transition,” said Gov. Ivey. “We’re excited about the company’s new investment and what it represents for the next chapter of automaking in Alabama.” Mobis is one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world. “It is an honor to host you all in the state capital, and especially to have our friends from Korea, here today,” said Gov. Ivey. Ivey praised Hyundai. “We have watched the company grow more and more and have watched the company evolve to keep up with the ever-changing automotive industry,” said Ivey. “When you choose the state of Alabama to do business, you can expect the full support of the state of Alabama as well as from local government.” H.S. Oh is the vice president of the division that produces the electric powertrain business for Hyundai Mobis. Oh said that the new Alabama EV battery assembly facility will play a critical role in the company’s plans to expand its production network across the globe. “As the EV market continues to grow, having a strong production capacity will be key in allowing Hyundai Mobis to see continued growth in the market,” Vice President Oh stated. “We believe this new facility in Montgomery will be an important step in that process, and we are excited for the project to be underway.” “Governor Ivey, we thank you for the work that you, your cabinet, and your entire staff do for the state of Alabama, the Montgomery City, and the entire river region,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. “There are a lot of pieces that have to come together to have a $205 million dollar investment, especially one that produces over 400 jobs.” “We will be there every step of the way to get things up and running in this facility,” said Mayor Reed. Reed thanked the members of the industrial development board, the Governor, the county, and the Chamber of Commerce, “It is the hard work of the employees that make this possible. It is their hard work that allows us to recruit companies to this city and the river region.” “This is one of the best economic development years in memory, said Reed, who just last week welcomed Manna Beverages and Ventures to the city. “I am delighted to welcome the Mobus facility to Montgomery,” said HMMA President Ernie Kim. “Over the last ten years, Hyundai has enjoyed the support of the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama. This facility will allow Hyundai to become a leader in electric vehicle production.” Isaiah Sankey is the Vice Chairman of the Montgomery County Commission. “Electrification of vehicles creates a green, clean economy,” said Sankey. “Electrification of vehicles makes me proud that Montgomery County will be part of cleaning up the environment.” “Thanks to the governor for all that you do that makes the state of Alabama great,” Sankey said. The EV battery module plant will expand Hyundai Mobis’ already large presence in Montgomery. Hyundai Mobis has operated a manufacturing facility on 83 acres in Montgomery since 2002 as the largest Tier 1 supplier to HMAA and Kia Georgia. The plant supplies the auto plants with complete cockpit modules and front and rear chassis modules, as well as bumper assemblies and instrument panels. “Hyundai Mobis’ investment project in Montgomery reflects an acceleration in the development of the EV supply chain in Alabama’s auto industry,” said Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield in a statement. “We’re going to be a major production player in the EV market, and that’s going to trigger more growth within the sector.” Hyundai Mobis said that the construction of the new facility will be located on HMAA’s sprawling campus just off Interstate 65 in Montgomery. Construction is expected to begin as early as December. Production of EV battery assemblies is projected to begin in 2024. President Joe Biden has announced a goal of making the entire new American automobile production electric by 2030. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
