Steve Flowers: 2026 Governor’s race has begun
Alabama’s original 1901 Constitution had a law whereby the governor could only serve one four-year term and not succeed themselves. In 1968, the law was changed, and since then, the governor and all other constitutional offices in the state can now serve two consecutive terms. This one term and you are done, made for a very interesting, anticipated, and competitive governor’s race every four years. They could begin four years in advance in earnest, and they would begin. Since Kay Ivey will be serving her second elected term, she cannot run four years from now. Therefore, we have set up an ole timey open governor’s race in 2026, and it has already begun. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth has already been running for four years and has ramped up a reelection game plan for his next four years as Lt. Governor. He will be tough to beat. Ainsworth was elected Lt. Governor in 2018 at the ripe old age of 36. He began running for governor the day after he won the GOP Primary that year – even before he was inaugurated in January 2019. I have never seen anyone in recent years as dedicated and focused on grabbing the brass ring of Alabama politics as young Will Ainsworth. He is almost as dedicated as George Wallace. Wallace’s whole world and every part of his being was dedicated to being elected Governor of Alabama. He campaigned seven days a week, 12 hours a day, and hardly saw or cared for his family for four years. He campaigned relentlessly. His devotion paid off with a victory in 1962 and subsequent conquests later. Young Will Ainsworth does not have this total devotion, nor should he or anyone else. Ainsworth is a devoted family man. His family and church come first. Being governor is not his God. He is the ultimate father to his twin sons, Hunter and Hays, and his daughter, Abbie. He and his wife, Kendall, are committed to loving and caring for their children. They go to all ball games and church and school-related events with them in Guntersville. At the State-of-the-State Address four years ago, he had his two sons with him. They have impeccable manners. They looked me right in the eye with a smile and firm handshake and said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Flowers.” One of the boys was with Will when he spoke at the Trump rally in the summer of 2021. Will had been to his son’s ballgame in Cullman that morning, and he brought him to the rally. When Will spoke at the Mid-Alabama Republican Club in Vestavia last July, his daughter was with him. Ainsworth is campaigning all over the state. He is at ribbon cuttings and Chambers of Commerce events from Dothan to Huntsville. He hails from Sand Mountain in vote-rich North Alabama. His father has done well financially. However, his mama has instilled in Will the desire to serve in politics. She is very astute and active politically and more gregarious than Will’s father. There are others lining up to run who do not fear Ainsworth nor his family’s money. Interestingly, the two major potential threats to Ainsworth in the four-year away governor’s race are from North Alabama. Attorney General Steve Marshall and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle would make a strong threat to Ainsworth’s perceived front-runner status. Ironically, Steve Marshall and Will Ainsworth are both from Marshall County. If the Attorney General makes the move, he would be a viable candidate. He won his second term in this year’s GOP Primary, impressively. He has to move up or sideways or out. An intra-county race would be interesting. Marshall bears watching. Tommy Battle, the Mayor of Huntsville, would be the most formidable candidate that Ainsworth could face. However, I do not think Battle is interested in running. Being the Mayor of Huntsville is probably a better job than being Governor of Alabama. However, the biggest obstacle in Ainsworth’s run for governor may be someone you have never heard of. There are probably some rich folks sitting back privately contemplating a run for governor. That unknown rich person may be the one to watch. We will see. Four years seems a long way off, but the 2026 Governor’s Race has begun. 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 lawmakers set to focus on Jobs Act and economic incentives for 2023 session
Now that the Alabama Special Session is done and ARPA funds have been allocated, leaders can focus on the 2023 regular session that begins on Tuesday. Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter explained that the Alabama Jobs Act would be one of their first priorities. “(The Alabama Jobs Act) is going to be priority No. 1 coming back after break. I think you’ll see a big push for that,” Ledbetter stated. “They’ve been very positive for our state. We’ve seen the job growth has been tremendous because of it. We’ve looked at the numbers; we got a return on the investment of 173% over a 20-year period.” Ledbetter believes legislation on this needs to be done quickly. The Alabama Jobs Act, created in 2015 and set to expire this year, has netted $256.8 million in incentives, Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield reported in 2022. This amount outpaced the department’s benchmark of $164.6 million. The Joint Study Commission on Renewing Incentives has discussed extending the Jobs Act through 2028 with a higher payout cap. Legislation has not been filed yet. The Jobs Act created two separate incentives: The Alabama Jobs Credit and Alabama Investment Credit. The Jobs Credit gives companies cash rebates on their previous year’s payroll for qualified employees, and companies can get higher rebates if they locate in rural parts of the state or hire veterans. The Investment Credit addresses a company’s capital investment and can be applied to several taxes, including income. Companies can receive incentives for up to 10 years. The incentives are currently capped at $350 million annually . Canfield said the Jobs Act has helped the state recruit 217 projects creating more than 38,000 jobs, and he believes the $350 million cap should be increased. Canfield discussed on Twitter how rural areas have benefited from the Jobs Act as much as urban areas. “We are going to continue to build on that success,” Canfield stated. “Alabama has led the Southeast in economic development, job creation, and industrial recruitment for roughly 20 years, and much of that success is the result of the incentives we offer,” Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth told Alabama Daily News on Thursday. “If we are going to continue that incredible success for decades to come, our incentives must remain competitive with those offered by our sister southeastern states, and this proposal does just that in a conservative, common sense manner. The pay-as-you-go package we have crafted also ensures taxpayers are protected from companies that are unable to fulfill their commitments.” Other recommendations from the task force in December included: Several lawmakers agreed that focusing on the Jobs Act is a priority for the Legislature. “When we come back, the economic incentive package to me is the No. 1 priority,” Rep. Marcus Paramore stated. “I want to make sure that gets done, make sure it gets out, make sure we can continue to recruit good businesses and good high-quality jobs for our constituents.” Rep. Phillip Ensler said, “But as with any bill, I want to look at the details, and having it done in a way that is equitable and making sure that we’re doing it in a way where the numbers of it make sense.” Lawmakers will meet for three legislative days next week, Tuesday through Thursday.
Ron Desantis speaks to Alabama Republicans
Florida Governor Ron Desantis was in Hoover on Thursday to address the Alabama Republican Party. Over 1,400 attended the GOP’s winter dinner fundraiser to hear the likely presidential candidate denounce the “woke” movement. Desantis was welcomed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who introduced DeSantis, as well as other top state elected leaders. Attorney General Steve Marshall, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, Secretary of State Wes Allen, State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate, Chief Justice Tom Parker, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, and many more were on hand at the Finley Center to welcome DeSantis to Alabama. “Tonight, I was proud to welcome @GovRonDeSantis to our Sweet Home Alabama!” Gov. Ivey said on Twitter. “I was honored to welcome “America’s Governor” @GovRonDeSantis to Alabama and lead the ALGOP dinner in the Pledge of Allegiance,” Lieutenant Gov. Ainsworth said on Twitter. Gov. DeSantis’s speech was heavy on social conservatism. DeSantis spoke about his feud with Disney, his opposition to books that preach alternate sexual lifestyles to children even in elementary school being in school libraries, his opposition to the COVID-19 economic shutdowns mask mandates, his anti-riot measures in Florida following the George Floyd riots, his shipping illegal aliens to Martha’s Vineyard, his opposition to the transgender agenda, and the migration of people from blue states like New York, Michigan, and California to red states like Florida. DeSantis said that Hispanics in Florida support his efforts to reduce illegal immigration to Florida. He also compared and contrasted his state of Florida with the state of New York. They have similar populations, but New York has twice the state budget. “What do they get for all that money?” DeSantis said. “We have no state income tax. Alabama should try that,” DeSantis said. While Florida has no income tax, their property taxes are far higher than Alabama’s, and as anyone who has driven around Florida knows, there are toll roads and toll collections all over the state outside of the federal interstate system, which are very rare in Alabama. Florida residents, on average, have a 9.1% state and local tax burden (#11 in the country), while Alabama residents pay 9.8% (#20 in the country.) Tennessee has the lowest tax burden in the southeast at 7.6% (#3 in the country). DeSantis spoke about his hurricane response and how fast his team built back a bridge to connect the residents of an island to the mainland. Desantis said that if he was President, his team could get the border wall built quickly and at reduced cost. DeSantis has not yet announced his presidential campaign. At this point, the only announced presidential candidates are former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Governor and U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. DeSantis and President Joe Biden are, at this point, presumed to be presidential candidates. DeSantis’s speech was the speech of a governor, touting his accomplishments as a governor. The most pressing issues facing the next President are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, balancing the federal budget without crashing the economy, the possibility of war with China, the high likelihood of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, the prospect of that triggering a war in the Middle East, as well as energy policy and its perceived connection to climate change. Desantis will have to discuss these larger issues in a presidential campaign. The Alabama Republican presidential primary is scheduled for March 5, 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The State of Alabama honors Richard Shelby
On Thursday, both Houses of the Alabama Legislature joined Alabama Governor Kay Ivey for a joint legislative session to honor former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and his 52 years of service to the State of Alabama. Shelby represented State Senate District 16 from 1971 to 1979. In 1978, he was elected to Congress, representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. He served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1986 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He spent the next 36 years serving the people of Alabama in the United States Senate. Shelby is a native of Birmingham and a graduate of the Birmingham School of Law, but it is Tuscaloosa where he launched his career. He was hired as city prosecutor for Tuscaloosa and became a special assistant attorney general before launching his political career as State Senator representing Tuscaloosa in the 1970 election. Every year Shelby was in the Senate, he introduced a flat tax and a balanced budget amendment—neither ever passed the Senate. The Legislature commended Shelby for his “Service to the state of Alabama and its citizens and wished him continued health and happiness in all future endeavors.” Ivey said, “We are here today, honoring a friend to all of Alabama. To Richard Shelby, I say welcome home. We are honored to have you back.” “He is the state’s longest-serving Senator at 36 years,” Ivey said. Ivey said that out of all the great senators the state of Alabama has had, they have been “eclipsed by Senator Shelby.” Ivey praised Shelby for having steered hundreds of millions of dollars in engineering and sciences funding to Alabama colleges and universities, as well as Redstone Arsenal, the Port of Mobile, and other projects across the state. “We wish you the best, and we proudly welcome you back to our sweet home Alabama,” Ivey concluded. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth said Shelby “should be forever known as Alabama’s greatest builder.” “Perhaps the most important and lasting thing that Richard Shelby has built is his legacy,” Ainsworth said. “His legacy will be felt long after Richard Shelby and all who gather in this room have passed by generations of Alabamians not yet born.” Senate Pro Tem. Greg Reed said, “I echo everything that has been said eloquently by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said, “It is an honor and a privilege to honor a man in Senator Shelby who has dedicated his life to service of the people of Alabama.” Ledbetter thanked Shelby for the contribution that he has made to the development of the state. “Alabama’s economy is stronger than it has ever been,” Ledbetter said. “We have more jobs that we can ever fill. We look forward to building on the foundation that you have built in your 51 years of service.” State Sen. Jabo Waggoner praised Shelby, saying, “It appears that I am the only one in the Alabama Legislature still standing when he came to the Senate in 1971. I was elected in 1966, so I had a four year head start on Richard.” “He grew up on the west side of Birmingham like I did, but I did not know him until then,” Waggoner recalled. Every legislator today has an office in the Alabama Statehouse. In 1971 the Legislature still met in the historic 1859 State Capitol. “There were about five offices behind this (House) chamber,” Waggoner said. “For the rest of us, our office was this seat in this chamber, so we spent a lot of time together under the rotunda.” “When the history is written, what he has done in the House of Representatives and the Senate will put him right at the top,” Waggoner continued. “Everybody in Alabama knows the name Richard Shelby – everybody – and what he has accomplished for this state. When the history book is written, my friend, you will be right at the top.” Shelby said, “Today, I come back around to where I started 52 years ago. It is a great honor.” “I thought I was going to come down here and run things,” Shelby said. “After ten days, I realized I was going to have to work with people.” “We have come a long way,” Shelby said. Shelby said that he learned legislators can accomplish the most “if we work together to advance everybody.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
‘Alabama’s greatest builder’: State officials honor Richard Shelby
Gov. Kay Ivey and other state officials on Thursday paid tribute to former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, saying he transformed the economic and education landscape of the state during his decades of public service. Shelby, 88, retired this year after serving 36 years in the U.S. Senate in a career where he harnessed seniority, political savvy, and relationships to become one of the Senate’s most influential members. The Alabama Legislature met in a Thursday morning session held at the state Capitol to honor Shelby. “When we think of Alabama’s monumental U.S. senators, for many, Lister Hill, Jim Allen, and John Sparkman come to mind. While each was known for expertly navigating Washington politics to benefit our state, I think it’s fair to say their impacts have been rivaled and eclipsed by the work of Senator Shelby,” Ivey said. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said Shelby forever changed Alabama by bringing projects for universities, government installations, infrastructure, and encouraging the development of aerospace and other industries in the state. “He should be forever known as Alabama’s greatest builder,” Ainsworth said, adding that the impact of Shelby’s work will be felt for generations. “Perhaps the most important and lasting thing that Richard Shelby has built is his legacy, a legacy that provides jobs, hope and opportunity to our children, our grandchildren, and their children after that for decades to come.” Shelby told the state leaders that it was “good to be home,” and said he always believed elected leaders should work together for the good of the people they represent. “It’s not about me. It’s about our state, the people, and the future of our state,” he said. The longtime senator announced in 2021 that he would not seek another term. Shelby was replaced in the Senate by his one-time chief of staff, Katie Britt, who was elected in November. Shelby, a lawyer and former member of the Alabama Legislature, was first elected as a conservative Democrat in 1978 to the U.S. House of Representatives during the party’s waning days of control in the Deep South. In the House, he belonged to a caucus of Southern conservatives known as the boll weevils. Shelby was elected to the Senate in 1986 but switched to the GOP in 1994. He became known for his measured demeanor and ability to harness his clout and relationships to direct billions of dollars in projects back to his home state of Alabama. He also had the rare accomplishment of chairing four major Senate committees — Appropriations; Intelligence; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Rules and Administration. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Alabama leaders prepare for legislative session
The 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session begins on Tuesday, and state leaders are meeting with stakeholders and developing legislation in preparation for the coming legislative session. On Thursday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey met with the Alabama Council of Association Executives. “It was a pleasure to visit with the Alabama Council of Association Executives this morning,” Ivey said on Twitter. “We have a busy session ahead of us, and I look forward to working with these exceptional leaders to move Alabama forward!” Improving Alabama’s public schools has been a perplexing issue for legislators for many years. On Monday, Ivey met with her new Commission on Teaching and Learning to get input from education professionals. “I was proud to call the first meeting of my Commission on Teaching and Learning to order this morning,” Ivey said on Twitter. “This body is tasked with helping solve the most important issue facing our state, and I have no doubt their work will lead to great outcomes for our students.” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter told reporters that improving education is his number one priority. “As the legislature moves into the new quadrennium, we’ll work hard to ensure our students receive a quality education at state-of-the-art facilities,” Ledbetter said on Twitter. “We’re on the right track but have much more to accomplish.” On Tuesday, Ledbetter and Senate Pro Tem. Greg Reed met with the Alabama Forestry Association. “With forestry being the 2nd largest economic sector in Alabama and providing a $29 billion economic impact to the state’s economy, the value that foresters and private landowners add to Alabama is truly remarkable,” Ledbetter said on Twitter. “Great being back with my good friend, @TripPittman and @RepLedbetter discussing legislative priorities at the @ALForestry policy seminar,” Reed said on Twitter. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth said that the state should find the money to six-lane I-65 that runs from Mobile thru Prichard, Atmore, Greenville, Montgomery, Prattville, Calera, Alabaster, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Birmingham, Gardendale, Cullman, Hartselle, Decatur, and Huntsville before going on to Nashville, Tennessee. “While driving home from the Auburn/Kentucky basketball game, it’s obvious that If Tennessee can six-lane I-65, Alabama should do the same,” Ainsworth said on Facebook. “It’s my number one infrastructure project for Alabama. Let’s all work together to make it happen and end frustrating interstate gridlock.” The Alabama Senate GOP said on Twitter, “With Alabama’s education budget surplus of more than $2.7 billion and around $1 billion in unspent federal dollars from ARPA, Pro Tem @SenatorGregReed said allocating those funds would be a top priority for this upcoming session.” The Legislature has over $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds yet to appropriate. Gov. Ivey is expected to call a special session in the first few days of the start of the regular session for legislators to appropriate that money. Legislators met in committee on February 21 to be briefed on how the ARPA money has previously been spent. On February 22 and 23, the Joint Budget Committees met to hear presentations from the executive branch department heads. Improving prisons and addressing K-12 public education are the biggest issues confronting legislators in this quadrennium. On Thursday, the House Legislative Council met on House personnel matters ahead of the pending session. As of press time, state legislators had already pre-filed 72 bills ahead of the session. Both Houses of the State Legislature will gavel in for Tuesday’s first legislative day of 2023. That night both Houses will join Gov. Ivey in a joint legislative session in Alabama’s historic State Capitol Building, where she will present her sixth annual state of the state address. The joint legislative budget committees will meet that morning where executive agency heads will begin outlining the Governor’s 2024 fiscal year budget requests. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the Legislature to a maximum of 30 legislative days in a regular session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Will Ainsworth addresses Safari Club International
Alabama Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth addressed the Safari Club International (SCI) convention on Friday. Ainsworth thanked God for Safari Club as he led the group in prayer. “Join me as I pray, Lord,” Ainsworth prayed. “Thank you for SCI. Thank you for all the people in this room that work so hard to protect the sport that we love. Lord, we thank you for freedom. We thank you for countries that protect freedom, Lord, and pray for all hunters as they go out throughout the year that you will protect them. Protect their outfitters, Lord, and protect their businesses. Lord, we thank you for the food. Thank you for the hams that were prepared. And again, Lord, thank you for letting us be in this greatest nation. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.” “Hunter and Hays joined me at the Safari Club International dinner in Nashville where I delivered the invocation, and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy received the “Governor of the Year Award” for his work in conservation,” Ainsworth said on Facebook. “The future of hunting is in the hands of the next generation.” Following his studies at Auburn University, Ainsworth was a youth pastor at a Church in Guntersville. Ainsworth is an avid hunter. He and his father and brother founded the Dream Ranch – where hunters from around the country could come to Alabama to hunt trophy whitetail deer and other game. Ainsworth also started the annual hunting expo in Huntsville. He is also a farmer, rancher, builder, and real estate broker. According to the SCI website, “The politically active members of SCI hunt on federal, state, and private lands, and globally. They vote in federal, state, and local elections to protect their hunting opportunities, to conserve our nation’s wildlife, and to conserve wildlife around the world. SCI is the country’s leader in advocacy to protect the freedom to hunt and to promote wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 50,000 members and 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. Through our active advocacy network, SCI works with federal and state legislators and policymakers to develop, promote and communicate positions on important issues, laws, regulations, and initiatives. SCI generates broad support for candidates who support hunting and the issues that are important to them.” The stated mission of SCI is to protect the freedom to hunt and to promote wildlife conservation worldwide. The purposes of SCI are…. To advocate, preserve and protect the rights of all hunters. To promote safe, legal, and ethical hunting and related activities. To advocate within the limits imposed by law and regulation. To monitor, support, or otherwise take positions on local, national, and international legislative, executive, judicial or organizational endeavors that foster and support SCI’s mission and purposes. To inform and educate the public concerning hunting and related activities. Ainsworth served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2014 to 2018. In 2018 he was elected Lieutenant Governor. He was re-elected to his second term in a landslide in 2022. He faced no Republican or Democratic opponent in his re-election effort but did face a Libertarian opponent. Ainsworth is widely believed by politicos to be a contender for the Governor’s office in 2026. Incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey, whom Ainsworth endorsed last year, is term-limited from running again. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Bill to change ‘good time’ law named for slain deputy Brad Johnson
Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson was shot and killed in 2022 by a man authorities said had his prison sentence shortened under Alabama’s good-time behavior incentive law despite escaping from a prison work release center in 2019. Sen. April Weaver, who was a friend of Johnson’s and lives yards from where he was fatally shot, is proposing legislation that would roll back the use of good-time incentives, cutting the time that inmates can shave off their sentences and mandating that certain actions, including escape, cause an inmate to lose all of their credit. Austin Hall, the man accused of killing Johnson and shooting another deputy, served less than four years of a nearly 10-year sentence for theft, according to state records. “They were shot by a felon who was given good-time credits even though he had a history of a lot of bad behavior when he was incarcerated,” Weaver said at a news conference Thursday. The shooting has led to calls to revamp the good-time behavior incentive law, which Weaver and Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth on Thursday called the most generous in the country. But opponents argue the incentives are public safety tools that encourage inmates to better themselves. The issues around the suspect’s release are also complicated. Hall could have had his good-time credit revoked for the escape, but he never returned to state custody after the escape. Alabama allows certain inmates sentenced to 15 or fewer years in prison to receive “good time” behavior incentives— earning up to 75 days of credit for every 30 days of good behavior. Most inmates, including those convicted of murder or manslaughter. are not eligible. In 2021, about 9% of state inmates were eligible for these incentives, according to the Alabama Sentencing Commission. “The subject that done this had done roughly three years of his 10-year sentence and had been out roughly three days before he shot my deputy and murdered my friend,” Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said Thursday. Weaver’s bill would slash incentive time credits by more than half and mandate that escape and other offenses would cause an inmate to lose all of their good time credits. It would also require the prison system to submit reports about its use. The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama opposes Weaver’s legislation, saying “people traditionally released on ‘good time’ have earned that time, and its existence incentivizes individuals to utilize education and programming opportunities.” “This bill will further entrench our state in the issues pervading Alabama’s overcrowded and unconstitutional prisons. Limiting ‘good time’ is not in the interest of public safety, as the sponsor is purporting,” Dillon Nettles, the ACLU’s Policy and Advocacy director, said in a statement. The Department of Justice has accused Alabama of housing male prisoners in violent conditions that violate the ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Hall, was serving a nine-year sentence for theft when he escaped from a Camden Work Release Center in 2019. He was on the run for about a month before he was captured after a police chase. An Alabama Department of Corrections spokeswoman wrote in a July email that Hall had a good time balance of 2,268 days but never came back to prison custody after his escape, “so he never had a disciplinary hearing to revoke the good time.” He faced other unrelated charges, but he was allowed to bond out of local jails. Justin Barkley, chief deputy general counsel for Kay Ivey, told a legislative committee earlier this month that one issue was that Hall was in a couple of different county jails and not returned to state custody. In January, Ivey issued an executive order putting uniform rules on the use of good time and seeking better communication among law enforcement agencies. Deputy Chris Poole, the other deputy shot in the incident, recalled Johnson as a man who wanted to help others. “I watched him try to get people to change their life. It wasn’t just putting them in jail and saying we’re done with you,” Poole said. Poole said after he was shot through his windshield that he radioed Johnson saying, “Brad, don’t chase him,” but Johnson continued. Weaver’s husband, a doctor, rushed to try to help Johnson after he was shot, the county sheriff said. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Will Ainsworth supports school choice in Alabama
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is throwing his support behind school choice in Alabama. In a recent Facebook post, Ainsworth stated, “During this School Choice Week, join me in working to give parents full power over deciding how their children are educated. No child should be trapped in a failing school, and no parent should feel powerless over their children’s future.” Ainsworth argued that the school choice options in Florida are what Alabama should strive for. “Look at Florida: Over 700 charter schools, over 600 magnet schools. Thousands of students that have got out of historically failing schools going to private schools. Those kids have a choice now. Those parents have a choice in where they go. We’ve gotta do the same in Alabama,” Ainsworth argued. Ainsworth also pledged support for public schools as well, stating, “I love public schools. Public schools have got to be strong in order for Alabama to be great, but I also believe that choice gives parents the option of deciding what’s best for their child.” According to a News13 report, a new school choice bill introduced recently in Florida will make all students in Florida eligible for private school vouchers, regardless of income or whether they are in public school or are being homeschooled.
Steve Flowers: Legislature organizes for Quadrennium
The legislature had their every four-year organizational session earlier this month. It is exactly what the title states. They are organizing for the next quadrennium of lawmaking. They officially chose their leadership and adopted the rules for the two chambers. The 105-member House of Representatives and 35-member State Senate are elected for four-year terms, the same as the governor and other constitutional offices. However, unlike the governor, who was sworn in on Monday, January 16, as set out in the state constitution, the legislature takes office the day after they are elected in November. The state House of Representatives will have 77 Republicans and 28 Democrats. That is a veto-proof, bulldozer-shoving, anything-you-want supermajority. The Democrats have very little say with those overwhelming numbers. Two days after they were elected in November, the 77-member Republican majority met in a private caucus meeting in Montgomery and selected their leadership. Therefore, the vote for Speaker of the House two weeks ago was simply a formality. The House has chosen Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter to be the Speaker of the House. Speaker Ledbetter hails from Rainsville in DeKalb County. He is a former Mayor of Rainsville. He has only been in the House of Representatives for eight years, having been first elected in 2014. He was chosen to be the majority leader in the House in his freshman year. He was close to the former Speaker Mac McCutcheon, and he served on both the powerful agenda-setting Rules Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Education Budget Writing Committee. Representative Chris Pringle of Mobile has been chosen to be Speaker Pro Tem of the House, which is the second highest position within the body. He has served previously for 16 years in the House from the Port City. He succeeds fellow Mobilian Victor Gaston in this post. There are two young stalwarts who will be serving in Republican Party positions within the House. Representative Scott Stadthagen of Decatur will be the new House Majority Leader. Representative Wes Kitchens of Arab will serve as the Republican Leadership Caucus Vice Chair. Representative Debbie Wood from the Valley will serve as the Republican Caucus Secretary/Treasurer. The three most powerful posts in the House are the chairmanships of the two money committees and the agenda-setting Rules Committee. Representative Danny Garrett of Trussville in Jefferson County will continue to Chair the Ways and Means Education Budget Committee. Representative Rex Reynolds of Huntsville will be the General Fund Ways and Means Chairman. Reynolds replaces longtime Ways and Means Chairman Steve Clouse of Ozark. Representative Joe Lovvorn of Auburn will be the new Rules Committee Chairman. Representative Jim Hill of St. Clair will chair Judiciary. He is a former circuit Judge and a veteran of the House. All of these House leadership positions are held by Republicans. To the victor goes the spoils. The Democrats have a veteran and sterling team heading their Caucus Leadership in the House. Anthony Daniels of Huntsville will be the Democratic Minority Leader. Barbara Drummond of Mobile will be the Caucus Chair. Mary Moore of Birmingham will be the Vice Chair, and Kelvin Lawrence of Hayneville will be Secretary/Treasurer of the Democratic Caucus. The 35-member Alabama State Senate returns almost intact with their continuity and quality leadership. They will dominate and provide a stable State of Ship to help lead the state. Republicans control this upper chamber to the same degree that the GOP members do in the House. Republicans outnumber Democrats 28 to 7 in the Senate. State Senator Jabo Waggoner of Jefferson County begins his 50th year in the legislature. This is a state record. He is definitely destined for the state history books. Jabo will continue to Chair the powerful Rules Committee. Greg Reed of Walker County will be Pro Tem of the Senate again. The Majority Leader will again be Clay Scofield of Marshall County. The two money committee chairmen will continue to be in charge of how the state revenues are spent. Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur will chair Finance and Taxation/Education. Senator Greg Albritton of Escambia will chair Finance and Taxation/General Fund. These two men will be very powerful. Popular state Senator Will Barfoot of Pike Road will chair Judiciary in the Senate. Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville has become a stalwart leader in the Senate. He will be Majority Whip. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth presides over the Senate. The Regular Session begins in early March. 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.
Steve Flowers: Inauguration day
The Inauguration of our Alabama Constitutional officials was Monday. Our state constitution calls for the Inauguration to be held on the third Monday in January. As you would expect, and as Almanac suggests, it is usually a cold day. Over the years, I have had countless folks harken back to their high school band experiences of marching in the Inaugural Parade, especially ladies who had been majorettes. They had to march and twirl a baton in 20-degree weather with skimpy, legless, bathing suit style attire. It left them with a lasting indelible memory of an Alabama Gubernatorial Inauguration. Mind you, I was not there, but every old-timer who has talked politics with me over the years and who have seen a good many inaugurations, will remark that the January 1963 George Wallace’s initial inauguration as governor was the coldest. There was a lot of frostbite that day. However, the inaugural address from George C. Wallace was hot and heavy. That was the day that Wallace threw down the gauntlet and declared, “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever.” That was exactly 60 years ago. A lot has changed since that day. It was during the Wallace era that the Civil Rights movement changed the political landscape of the nation and especially in the south. Wallace was an integral part of that historical era. He watched it all unfold from his Goat Hill office overlooking Dexter Avenue, and he was the reason for a lot of the bloodshed. Every time I see an inauguration on the Capitol steps, I reminisce about the history that has been made in that block of Dexter Avenue in Montgomery. The men who wrote Alabama’s overtly racist 1901 Constitution and the crowd that howled in defiance as Wallace made his 1963 declaration would marvel at the change and diversity of today’s Alabama. It is poetic and ironic that this year’s Inauguration Day, January 16, 2023, was on the same day as Martin Luther King Day, a state and national holiday. Kay Ivey grew up in the heart of the Wallace Era in Wilcox County. She cut her political teeth campaigning for the Wallaces. She was especially involved with Lurleen Wallace’s 1966 governor’s race when she was a student at Auburn University. After Auburn, she worked for a while in Banking and teaching in Mobile. She began her Montgomery career as the reading clerk in the Alabama House of Representatives under the tutelage of Speaker Joe McCorquodale. Black Belters, like McCorquodale, controlled the House and the Senate. Kay Ivey’s melodious, pronounced Black Belt accent drew folks’ attention to her reading even the most mundane legalese for hours on end. She later became associated with the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. As their Public Relations and Governmental Affairs Director, she learned the legislative process. She entered the political arena in 2002 when she was elected State Treasurer. She served eight years in that post. She was then elected Lt. Governor in 2010 and reelected in 2014. In the middle of her second term, she became Governor after Dr. Robert Bentley vacated the governor’s office. She served out the last 18 months of his term and was elected in her own right as Governor of Alabama in 2018. She was reelected, overwhelmingly, last year. If Kay Ivey finishes out this four-year term, she will have been Governor of Alabama longer than anyone else besides George C. Wallace. She is the first woman to be elected as a Republican. She is the second female governor, the first being her idol, Lurleen Wallace, 56 years ago. Also inaugurated with Governor Kay Ivey were Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, Attorney General Steve Marshall, State Treasurer Young Boozer, Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, Secretary of State Wes Allen, and State Auditor Andrew Sorrell. Jeremy Oden and Chip Beeker were sworn in for four-year terms on the Public Service Commission. Two Supreme Court Justices, Kelli Wise and Greg Cook, were sworn in for six-year terms in a special investiture last Friday. Justice Kelli Wise was sworn in for her third term. She has served 12 years on the Supreme Court and was on the State Court of Criminal Appeals for a decade prior to being elected to the high court. Justice Greg Cook was sworn in for his initial term on the high tribunal. He is a well-qualified and conservative jurist who will fit in well on the Supreme Court. It was a big day in Alabama politics. 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.
Kay Ivey sworn in for her second full term
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and other state constitutional officers will be sworn in today in Montgomery. Gov. Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, and Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate will be sworn in for their second term. Secretary of State Wes Allen and State Auditor Andrew Sorrell will be sworn in for their first terms. State Treasurer Young Boozer returns for another term. The festivities began Sunday with the Made in Alabama Reception at the Alabama Governor’s Mansion. The traditional Morning Prayer Service was held at 8:15 am. The Governor began inauguration day with an early morning prayer service at her home church, First Baptist Church in Montgomery. The Swearing-in Ceremony followed at 10:00 am. With one hand on the Bible, Governor Ivey took the oath of office on the Alabama State Capitol steps and was sworn into her second term as governor. The investiture ceremony for new Associate Alabama Supreme Court Justice Greg Cooke was on Friday. All of Alabama’s Constitutional Officers are Republicans since Democrats have been able to field a competitive slate of candidates since 2008 as the state increasingly tends to vote overwhelmingly Republican. Following the swearing-in ceremony, there will be a celebratory parade to mark the inauguration and another peaceful transfer of power. The parade will follow up Dexter Avenue to the historic 1859 State Capitol Building. The parade will showcase and celebrate Alabama’s diverse communities and talent. Attendance at the parade is free for all Alabamians and their families. Ivey will host an exclusive donor reception at 6:00 pm for her donors to thank those supporters who went above and beyond to keep Alabama working. The Inaugural Gala will follow at 7:00 pm. A formal gala will be held to commemorate Alabama’s first Republican female governor and celebrate Governor Ivey’s dedication to keep Alabama growing. Ivey was born on a cattle farm in Wilcox County during World War II on October 15, 1944. She is the oldest governor in the country. She graduated from Auburn University, where she served in the school’s student government association. She worked as a teacher in California before returning to Alabama, where she has held several posts in state government, including serving in Gov. Fob James’ cabinet and working for Speaker of the House Joe McCorquodale. Ivey served two terms as State Treasurer from 2003 to 2011. In 2010 she shocked the political world by unseating Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom Jr. in the 2010 Republican wave election that gave the GOP undivided control of the Alabama State government. Ivey was re-elected Lt. Gov in 2014. She was elevated to governor in April 2017 when then-Governor Robert Bentley resigned rather than be impeached. Ivey was elected in 2018 and then re-elected last November. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
