Parker Snider: What you need to know about proposed constitutional amendments 3 and 4
On November 6, Alabamians will vote on four proposed statewide constitutional amendments. Although the first two amendments will likely receive the most attention (API’s analyses can be found on our website), amendments three and four deserve notice as well. They are, in fact, changes to the longest known constitution in the world. We’ll start with Proposed Amendment Three, which addresses the University of Alabama’s Board of Trustees. Currently, the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System – which governs UAB and UAH in addition to the Tuscaloosa campus – is composed of three members from the seventh congressional district (which includes Tuscaloosa), two members from each of the other six congressional districts, the governor and the state superintendent of education. If approved, this amendment would require that the Board continue to be made up of members of congressional districts as drawn on January 1, 2018. This means that, in the case that Alabama gains or, more likely, loses a congressional seat in 2020, the makeup of the board of trustees would not be affected nor thrown into disarray. Additional stipulations include the removal of the state superintendent of education from automatic membership on the board and of the requirement that board members retire after their 70th birthday. It is worth mentioning that the bill allowing this University of Alabama-specific amendment passed unanimously in both the State House and Senate. Amendment Four, in contrast, will have a significantly wider impact if approved. This amendment addresses something Alabamians have been hearing about for a while now–special elections. It is important to note on the front end, however, that it does not address special elections for the U.S. Congress like that of 2017. Instead, it impacts vacancies in the state legislature. If accepted, legislative vacancies that occur on or after October 1 of the third year of a quadrennium (in other words, seats that become open only months before the final session of the legislature’s four-year term) would remain vacant until the next general election. Currently, the governor is required to schedule a special election when state legislative vacancies occur. These elections cost the state money, create voter fatigue, and according to Senator Glover, the amendment’s sponsor, are “just bad government.” In an interview with API, Senator Rusty Glover described one case where, thanks to a late special election, a legislator was sworn in on the last day of session. Cases like these, where relatively powerless legislators are added to the state payroll, will not occur if the amendment is approved. The main purpose, according to Glover, is to “save some money and confusion.” He estimates that, if this language had been on the books earlier, the state would’ve saved “just under a million dollars” in 2018 alone. For example, this amendment would prohibit what will, come November, be four separate elections for Alabama’s 26th state senate seat in less than a year. Additionally, the amendment received unanimous support when it passed the Senate and overwhelming support in the House earlier this year. Although these two amendments are not as polarizing as amendments one and two, both are attempts to make the state better, and they should not be ignored. ••• Parker Snider is Policy Relations Manager for the Alabama Policy Institute (API). API is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to strengthening free enterprise, defending limited government, and championing strong families. If you would like to speak with the author, please e-mail communications@alabamapolicy.org or call (205) 870-9900.
42 tapped for Leadership Tuscaloosa class of 2018
Forty-two people have been selected for the 2018-19 class of Leadership Tuscaloosa, a nine-month leadership development program. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the University of Alabama System, the program is designed to make each selected participant more aware of and sensitive to the wide range of needs and opportunities in the community through shared experiences with a cross section of highly capable fellow citizens. Using field trips and interaction with community decision-makers, the program broadens understanding of issues facing our community. The class is comprised of 42 individuals chosen from a cross section of occupations through an interview process conducting by the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association. Concetta Odongo of Michelin BF Goodrich will serve as the Chair for this year’s class. She is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa and an active member of the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association. Class members for 2018-19: Bibby Bailey, American Red Cross Shannon Biddlecome, Broadway Pizza Jewitt Bradley, Community Service Programs of West Alabama Daniel Bradshaw, Tuscaloosa Association of Realtors James Carpenter, City of Northport Mac Chambers, Frontier Enterprises Vikki Chavis, The University of Alabama Laura Chism, Dorroh & Mills, P.C. Erica Cochran, Hospice of West Alabama Jesse Crane, First Federal Bank Wade Dailey, Wells Fargo Bank Stacey DeLoach, Ward Scott Architecture Lourn Evans, Michelin BF Goodrich Tanner Funk, Alabama One Credit Union Erica Grant, The Charm District/Tuscaloosa City School Board of Education Nicole Hampton, Rosen Harwood, P.A. Amy Henderson, Shelton State Community College Savannah Howell, City of Tuscaloosa Dan Johnson, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC Elliott Jones, Raymond James & Associates Quin Kelly, Jr., Stillman College Jamie Lake, Insuresoft, Inc. Javelin Lewis, Community Service Programs of West Alabama Hannah McPhillips, The DCH Foundation Pam Mixon, The University of Alabama Holly Morgan, The University of Alabama Adrian Newson, DCH Health System Kelly Norstrom, Tuscaloosa City School System Danny Owen, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Alison Phillips, Parker Towing Kyle Phillips, Bryant Bank Quinton Poole, United Way of West Alabama Mason Primm, StressCrete, Inc. Lillian Roberts, Shelton State Community College Anna Kay Springer, Hamner Real Estate Charlie Taylor, The University of Alabama System Delshonda Thomas, The Arc of Tuscaloosa County Caitlin Tubbs, Hamner Real Estate Cade Warner, The Westervelt Company LaTonya Washington, Alabama Community Care Vadonna Williams, Tuscaloosa’s One Place Cyndee Worrall, Echols, Taylor & Associates, PC.
