Kay Ivey hosts the second annual Made in Alabama showcase
Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Commerce hosted the second annual Made in Alabama Showcase on Friday at the Old State Supreme Court Chambers in the historic Alabama Capitol Building to recognize some of Alabama’s top companies. “It is great to be surrounded by some of Alabama’s most wonderful businesses who continue showing the world what it means to be Made in Alabama,” Gov. Ivey stated. “As I like to say, the work that our businesses are doing, Made in Alabama, is bringing back Made in America. I would like to begin by offering big congratulations to this year’s 14 honorees. I am truly honored to recognize y’all today here in our State Capitol. We have got companies from all across Alabama run by a group of diverse group of Alabamians. Truly we are seeing Alabama. In booths around the room, we are honoring great Alabama companies producing things from honey balls to pop sickles, to game clocks, to Red Land Cotton bed sheets. I firmly believe that Alabama has the best businesses in the country. What you have accomplished has made that Made in Alabama brand even more exceptional. As Governor, please know that you always have my full and total support. When you are successful, the state of Alabama is successful.” “It is amazing all the good things that Alabamians are making,” Ivey told reporters. The governor praised “all the good work that the people of Alabama are doing.” Gov. Ivey selected 14 top-rated businesses for their work and invited them to exhibit their products at the Alabama State Capitol. The 11 honorees that were able to attend showcased their products, discussed their company’s history and gave away promotional items to the public. “Our state is blessed to have numerous companies producing outstanding Alabama-American-made products every single day. During Manufacturing Month, I am proud to recognize 14 of the best our state has to offer,” said Governor Ivey. “Alabama made products speak to who we are as a state, and we could not be more excited to showcase these exceptional companies’ products and service to all our visitors today.” Ivey has prioritized economic development since her elevation to governor in 2017. The state has attracted over $32 billion in capital investment and 65,000 new jobs over that time period. “The ‘Made in Alabama’ badge is synonymous with quality, and it’s crystal clear that the companies being honored in today’s showcase have mastered the art of turning out an amazing variety of world-class products,” said Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield in a statement. The honorees were nominated by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Manufacture Alabama, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, and the Business Council of Alabama. The 14 honorees are as follows: Frios Gourmet Pops, based in Mobile, produces gourmet popsicles for its franchisees across the country. The company has grown from a brick-and-mortar shop to pivoting in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to be mobile by attending parties and corporate events in their tie-dye food trucks. Shaw Industries Group, Inc. offers a diverse portfolio of carpet, resilient, hardwood, tile and stone, laminate, synthetic turf, and other specialty items for residential and commercial markets worldwide via its brands Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Floorigami, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, Shaw Floors, Shaw Sports Turf, Southwest Greens and more. Shaw’s fiber manufacturing plant in Andalusia, Alabama, is Covington County’s largest employer. To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company is a national pioneer in producing organic sprouted grains. In their 17 years of business, they have grown to become the largest U.S. producer of sprouted grains, flours, legumes, seeds, and nuts, producing close to one million pounds per year. They are located in Fitzpatrick, Alabama, in Bullock County. Victory Game Clocks is a female, veteran-owned and operated team sport timing supplier based in Roanoke, Alabama. Victory Game Clocks designs, manufactures, and sells high-quality practice timers, play clocks, scoreboards, electronic down markers, and timeout countdown clocks for football and other sports. Their products first hit the market in 2011, and today are used by professional, college, and high school teams across the country. WoodHaven Custom Calls designs top-of-the-line turkey and deer calls in Heflin, Alabama. The calls can be customized as a mouth, wood, or friction call. The idea for the company was built in the late 1980s from the owner’s desire to be the best turkey hunter he could be. Red Land Cotton is a family-owned, direct-to-consumer e-commerce company crafting luxury bedding, towels, and loungewear exclusively from cotton grown on their family farm in north Alabama. Red Land Cotton utilizes a supply chain that starts and ends in north Alabama. All of the cotton is grown, harvested, and ginned on Red Land Farms in Lawrence and Colbert counties. It is manufactured in different communities across the United States before it returns as finished cloth to be cut and sewn and then distributed from Moulton, Alabama. Golden Eagle Syrup founders, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Patterson Sr., produced their first can in Fayette, Alabama on October 28, 1928. The original manufacturing building still remains the home of Golden Eagle Syrup today. In efforts to keep the historic company viable, additional products, which incorporate the syrup, are being added. Caramel Corn was the first of these brought to market and is carrying on the tradition of quality products at fair prices. Golden Eagle Syrup remains a family-owned, family-run business; the present owners have a strong commitment to preserving the tradition and quality established by the founders. Jack Daniel Cooperage manufactures white oak barrels for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The Jack Daniel Cooperage is located in Trinity, Alabama, and is home to approximately 175 employees. “JDC” was established in 2014 and currently produces approximately 1,200 barrels per day. Specification Rubber Products began in 1968 as a manufacturer of molded rubber components for the waterworks industry, specializing in rubber gaskets. Today, their company is a primary supplier of ductile iron pipe, valve, and hydrant producers. Not only do they help to make drinking water safe, but they also received the “Best Place to Work” award in 2021 from Rubber News, a national industry publication.
Yolanda Flowers addresses prison protesters
On Friday, Democratic nominee for Governor Yolanda Flowers addressed the “Break These Chains” protest rally on the Capitol steps in Montgomery. The rally aimed to draw attention to conditions within the Alabama Department of Corrections. Alabama is one of seven states that do not pay its prisoners for their labor. There is reportedly still an ongoing work stoppage in some state prisons. “Criminal justice is in my heart,” Flowers told the crowd, saying that she shares their concerns. Flowers said that some prisoners have endured being stripped “naked and beating them to a bloody pulp” in the prisons. “I am a recent widow, for just about a year,” Flowers said. “My husband is free, but I want my people to be free.” “They have been incarcerated since they were 12 years old,” Flowers charged. “They when they turned 17 or 18, they found some way to convict them and keep them locked up.” Flowers said that “God is the only way” to resolve this problem. “God is the government. He is the ruling authority because he made the universe. We are going to have to get down on our knees and humble ourselves before the Lord.” Flowers then sang a Gospel song, “You are all important to me. I will pray for you. You pray for me. I love you. I need you to survive. You are all important to me. I need you to survive.” One of Flowers’ supporters said, “The singing governor, a praying governor; that is what we need.” Flowers acknowledged that she is being out-fundraised by the incumbent, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. “Money does not move me,” Flowers said. Diyawn Caldwell, who emceed the event, urged voters, “Don’t divide the vote. That only benefits Kay Ivey.” Glenn Ray with the NAACP also addressed the crowd. “When you have somebody who does not listen to you, you got to vote them out of office,” Ray said. “We have human beings that are being mistreated,” Ray claimed. He argued that the Governor and Republicans have ignored the situation. “We are going to have to vote these people out.” Ray said that the Ivey administration is using money that was supposed to be distributed to the people for COVID relief to build new prisons. “Those prisons are for your children and grandchildren,” Ray said. Addressing the problems with Alabama prisons will be a challenge for the next governor as the state faces a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit and suit that is already in federal court. The court has tasked the state with hiring more guards and providing appropriate mental health and healthcare services to the prisoners. The DOJ charges that the violence in Alabama prisons is so bad that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Flowers is retired from a career as a teacher and rehabilitation services specialist in Tennessee. She has several degrees from the University of Tennessee. She is a native of Birmingham, where she lives in the Woodlawn community of the city. She is a mother and grandmother. Flowers, Ivey, and the Libertarian nominee, Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, will be on the November 8 general election ballot. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jared Budlong running as a write-in for governor
Jared Budlong is seeking to be Alabama’s next governor. Budlong is running a write-in campaign for the office in the November 8 general election. On Thursday, Budlong spoke in a phone interview with Alabama Today. Budlong was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, into a working-class family; his father worked as a custom furniture maker but now works in the construction industry. Budlong has lived in Alabama since 1994. When asked why he did not qualify to run as an independent on the ballot, Budlong stated, “The biggest hurdle is the number of petitions.” He said that it would take approximately 52,000 signatures, roughly 3% of the registered voters in the state, for him to get access to the ballot as an independent or minor party candidate. “Attempting to get 52,000 signatures without a very large budget is next to impossible,” Budlong said. Alabama Today asked how difficult it has been for him to raise money as a write-in candidate. “As difficult as I would have expected,” Budlong said. “However, as of August, I have raised a comparative amount to the Democratic nominee.” Budlong said that he is in favor of Medicaid expansion. “Healthcare in our society is a medical necessity,” Budlong commented. “We should not let people die because they lack the ability to pay.” The state is expected to have a $2.5 billion surplus rollover into fiscal year 2023, which begins on October 1. When asked how he would spend that money if elected governor, Budlong said, “We would have to do an audit of the rest of our spending first. I would love to put it toward getting people out of prison as quickly as possible.” Alabama Today asked if doing that would make Alabama less safe by letting out thousands of violent and dangerous criminals suddenly into the population. “That is not the case,” Budlong responded. “I am not for releasing dangerous, violent criminals out of prison. 66% of them are in for poverty-related crimes.” “The end goal is to let as many people out of prison as possible,” Budlong said. Budlong said that the state should get them the training and the skills that they need to succeed before releasing them from prison and that “Reviewing the current cases” would be one of his first priorities as governor. “They may be worse off after they spent ten years in ADOC,” Budlong said of the presently incarcerated. Alabama Today asked if this exceeded the authority of the Governor as the legislature tasks the Alabama Pardons and Paroles Board with making decisions on when to release inmates, not the governor. “There are other mechanisms to get people out of prison,” Budlong said. “I am fervently opposed to the death penalty.” Alabama Today asked Budlong if he favored building a toll bridge over Mobile Bay. “I am not a fan of the toll aspect of that,” Budlong said. “I am directly impacted by that decision.” Budlong and his family live in Daphne, in Baldwin County, where any trip to their west in Mobile County would mean either paying to use the toll bridge or driving around. He has also lived in Birmingham. “I am in favor of the idea of legalizing medical marijuana,” Budlong said. “I would like to go beyond that and decriminalize marijuana as a whole.” However, Budlong did say that he had some problems with how the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is awarding the licenses to participate in that. Budlong cited the “Large barriers” to getting a license. “It seems that it has set predetermined people to get those licenses,” Budlong said. Budlong said that he favors raising people out of poverty. “A part of that would be pushing for a living wage so people can live and stay in the state,” Budlong said. Another part of that is “universal income.” Budlong suggested that he would pursue federal dollars so that there is a basic income “keeping everybody above the poverty line.” The State Legislature passed constitutional carry allowing every Alabama citizen with gun rights to carry their weapons with them without having to purchase a permit from their sheriff. “I am not in favor of that specifically,” Budlong commented. “My concern about gun violence is not limited to the tools themselves. There is a much larger problem at hand.” Budlong said that he is not in favor of gun seizures. “We should not be stripping them from our citizens,” Budlong said. Budlong is not an advocate for a state lottery. Budlong said that he would not oppose a lottery if the legislature passed one, but he would not advocate for it either as a program that raises money for education, and the general welfare should not be funded on the backs of the poorest citizens. He also said that he would not spend state resources to close down casinos currently operating illegally in the state. “My opposition is not opposed to gambling, but what that program would do to poor citizens and residents,” Budlong said. Alabama Today asked if the state of Alabama has enough revenue coming in. “No, we are not unless there is an unknown black hole somewhere,” Budlong answered. “I need everyone to understand that I feel connected to the registered but inactive voters,” Budlong said. “1.4 million people did not vote at all (in the 2020 presidential election)…If you feel unheard, that is why I am running.” Budlong has an associate degree from Faulkner State Community College. He and his wife have three children. He earned his Eagle Scout in 2001 and is an active volunteer with his local scouting organization. His career experience includes working as a project manager for a marketing agency that has worked internationally with businesses, both large and small. Incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey, Democrat Yolanda Flowers, and Libertarian James Blake will be the names on the November 8 general election ballot. To vote for Budlong, voters must check the write-in box as their selection for Governor and then write Jared Budlong next to it. Pastor Dean Odle
Kay Ivey leads August gubernatorial fundraising
Republican incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey has continued to cruise towards re-election during the month of August. According to filings with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, Ivey lapped her general election opponents in both funds raised and money spent during the month despite having the Governor making very few public appearances during the month of August. The Governor’s re-election campaign entered August with $219,918.69 – that was several times more than what her general election opponents had available. The Ivey campaign reported having raised another $132,314.30 over the course of the month. The Ivey campaign, however spent more money than she took in. The campaign reported expenditures during the month of August of $301,649.83. This left the governor’s campaign with just $50,583.16 in cash on hand. The Ivey for governor campaign also reported in-kind contributions of $1,200 during the month of August. In-kind contributions are when people donate services such as printing, postage, vehicle use, etc. to a campaign or purchase advertising such as signs rather than making an actual cash contribution. Since in-kind contributions are not cash, they do not count toward the total funds raised or show in the cash balance of a campaign. Kay Ivey chairs her own campaign, and Ashley Newman is her treasurer. Ivey is a former two-term Alabama Lieutenant Governor. She was elevated to the governor’s mansion in 2017 and then elected to her own term in 2018. Ivey also served two terms as state Treasurer. She has a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and is a former teacher who has held a number of positions in Alabama government, including service in Gov. Fob James’ cabinet. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Yolanda Flowers began the month of August with just $939.77 in cash on hard. During the month, the Flowers campaign reported raising total cash contributions of just $150. Her campaign had net expenditures of just $38. This left Flowers with a September cash balance of $1,051.77. Flowers also reported in-kind contributions of $1,300. The Chair of the Flowers campaign is Jada Nichole Flowers, and Clementine Essex is the treasurer. Flowers lives in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Birmingham. She is a former teacher and is a retired rehabilitation services professional for the state of Tennessee. She has multiple degrees. from the University of Tennessee. Flowers and other Democratic candidates have struggled to raise funds as Alabama’s Democratic donors have been noticeably absent thus far from participating in the 2022 campaign cycle. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake had $0 in campaign contributions, but has personally loaned his campaign $13,035. Blake also reported expenditures of $12,200 for a balance coming into September of $834. Blake chairs his own committee, and Justin Smith is the treasurer. Blake is a former two-term Birmingham City Councilman. He is a doctor and an Air Force veteran. He has a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a medical degree from UAB. Write-in gubernatorial candidate Jared Budlong reported entering the month of August with just $708.49 in cash on hand. During the month, the Budlong campaign reported raising $356 in itemized cash contributions plus another $143.18 in non-itemized cash contributions for a total of $499.18. The Budlong campaign reported $1,102.44 of expenses during the month of August, leaving the campaign with just $105.23 entering the month of September. Budlong also reported in-kind contributions of just $605. Budlong is the sole member of his campaign committee. Budlong lives in Daphne and is a former project manager for a marketing company. He has an associate degree from Faulkner University. Write-in gubernatorial candidate Rev. Dean Odle reported a beginning balance of $10,637.48. Odle reported August contributions of $2,165 and expenses of $720.87 for an ending balance of $12,081.61. The Odle campaign also reported in-kind contributions of $148.48. Odle’s campaign is chaired by Nancy Odle, and Kelsey Hines is the treasurer. Odle is a pastor, evangelist, and private schoolmaster who resides in Lee County. Odle ran in the May 24 Republican primary, where he ultimately lost to Ivey. $26,887,024.83 has already been raised by all campaigns in the 2022 gubernatorial race, and $26,855,007.61 has been spent. Most of it was spent in the Republican primary battle, where Ivey emerged as the victor. The general election is on November 8. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey visits elementary school robotic and engineering labs
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey visited Dalraida Elementary School in Montgomery on Monday to inspect the new robotics and building/engineering labs there. Ivey was accompanied by education leaders and members of the capital press corps. “When I was in Fourth Grade, we didn’t do robotics,” Gov. Ivey said. “We just were memorizing our multiplication tables.” The third and fourth-grade students in the robotics lab demonstrated their proficiency at building and operating the little robots that lift and manipulate objects in tasks analogous to construction equipment. Like robots at a factory, they were being operated by the children who assembled them from kits. Dr. Bryan Cutter is the principal at Dalriada Elementary School. Principal Cutter said that there are robotics labs at the high school and middle school levels, but their school was the first in the region to have a dedicated robotics lab in the elementary school lab. The students in the engineering/building lab demonstrated their ability to stack blocks and sticks in order to build a bridge over a construction paper river. The students were working in groups of three. “You did a great job,” Ivey told one group of students after they completed their bridge and were able to roll a toy car over it without the structure collapsing. “You did an amazing job building that.” “This is an exciting visit,” Ivey told reporters. Ivey said that she would like to see more labs such as these across the state to get children interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields). “We have a long way to get there,” Ivey acknowledged. “They view it as a game,” Principal Cutter said. Cutter explained that the school is bringing scientists and engineers to interact with the students. “The students have met athletes and musicians, but they are not used to seeing scientists and engineers,” he stated. Cutter said that the children work in groups. “We want them to learn collaboration. We are looking at teaching them to be good citizens of the world.” “We are excited to be here,” said State Superintendent Eric Mackey. “We have several labs like this around the state. This is a fairly new program.” Mackey said that it is important to get students learning how to manipulate the robots and do early coding in elementary and middle school. “These are not cheap labs,” Mackey said. “The robotics kits have to be purchased, and they wear out.” “Finding teachers to do it and getting them trained,” is the major limiting factor, Mackey said. “We anticipate that we are going to ask for more money next year,” Mackey said. This was the first time that the Governor has addressed reporters in three weeks. During that time, there were unsubstantiated rumors about her health. Ivey was peppered with questions about her health and possible medical treatments. One reporter asked the Governor if she had had a medical treatment requiring her to stay overnight in a hospital. “It seems like some of you want to will these rumors into being, and that is just not going to happen,” Ivey responded. Ivey said that she thanked “God every day for giving me a clean bill of health.” Ivey is the oldest governor in the country. She will turn 78 on December 21. Ivey is running for re-election in the November 8 general election where she faces Democratic nominee Yolanda Flowers, Libertarian Dr. James Blake, and independent Jared Budlong. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey tells reporters she has a ‘clean bill of health’
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday made her first public appearance in nearly three weeks, telling reporters she was in good health but also declining to say whether she had undergone any recent medical treatment. Ivey toured a science and technology lab at a Montgomery elementary school in her first public appearance since an August 2 groundbreaking ceremony, news outlets reported. The gap between appearances fueled speculation about the 77-year-old governor’s health. “I’ve got a clean bill of health from the doctors, and I’m looking forward to serving for four more years as governor,” Ivey told reporters. Ivey brushed aside questions about whether she had recently undergone medical treatment in a hospital and did not directly answer, news outlets reported. “It just seems like a lot of you just want to will these rumors into being, and that just isn’t going to happen,” the governor responded, according to al.com. “I’ve got a clean bill of health from the doctors. That’s what matters, and I’m looking forward to serving four more years as your governor.” Ivey’s office, on August 12, began releasing occasional photos of her at work to combat the rumors, beginning with an Aug. 12 photo of her greeting South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem at an airport when Noem arrived in Alabama for a speech. Ivey announced in 2019 that she had been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer and would undergo radiation treatments. In 2020, she said the cancer appeared to be gone and that her doctor considered her free of the disease. Ivey easily won the GOP gubernatorial nomination without a runoff in May; Ivey is a heavy favorite over Democratic gubernatorial nominee Yolanda Flowers in the November general election. The rumors about possible health concerns came as a deadline approaches to replace candidates on the November ballot. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Kay Ivey’s office releases photos after dismissing health rumors
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office released photos of her greeting South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem at an airport on Friday, a day after it dismissed rumors that Ivey was having health issues just months ahead of the general election. The four photos showed Ivey, 77, with Noem beside a small jet that landed at the regional airport in Montgomery, where Noem was among the speakers scheduled to address an Alabama Republican Party fundraising dinner. Ivey was last seen in public on August 2 at a groundbreaking ceremony. On Thursday, Ivey’s office said she remained “healthy and cancer-free” as it knocked down rumors that she was having medical problems. Still, the governor’s office did not respond to questions asking about Ivey’s upcoming schedule, her whereabouts this week, and whether she had been in the hospital in the past four weeks. Ivey, who easily won the GOP gubernatorial nomination without a runoff in May, announced in 2019 that she had been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer and would undergo radiation treatments. In 2020, she said the cancer appeared to be gone and that her doctor considered her free of the disease. Ivey is a heavy favorite over Democratic gubernatorial nominee Yolanda Flowers in the November general election. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Steve Flowers: Women and young folks prevail in 2022
In my observations of Alabama politics, every election year brings an underlying election year surprise or two. The underlying prevailing theme emerging from the Alabama political arena this year is that women have arrived politically in the Heart of Dixie. Governor Kay Ivey is only the second female elected Governor of Alabama, Lurleen Wallace being the first in 1966. Governor Ivey won a decisive second-term nomination as the Republican nominee in May. She will face another female Democratic nominee, Yolanda Flowers, in the November General Election. This is the first time two women will face each other for governor. In fact, the first and second place finishers in both the Republican and Democratic primaries were women. Governor Ivey was followed by Lindy Blanchard, who finished second in the GOP primary. Dr. Yolanda Flowers, a retired Birmingham educator, was in a runoff with second place Democratic female State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier in the Democratic primary. Katie Britt emerged victoriously from the Republican U.S. Senate contest, and if elected in November, as is expected, she will be the first female elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama. Katie Britt is the brightest young star in Alabama politics. She is the new rock star of the state. Not only will she be the first female senator, but she is also the headliner for the second theme of 2022. That is, we have a pair of new youthful stars arriving on the scene as the dust settles from the June 21 runoffs. Wes Allen and Andrew Sorrell have become the new stars on the scene. Wes Allen defeated veteran politico Jim Ziegler in the Secretary of State race. Andrew Sorrell bested Stan Cooke and Rusty Glover to become State Auditor. Both Sorrell and Allen were about to become freshmen members of the Alabama House this time four years ago. Now, they are the new stars on the statewide political block. They will be joining Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth as young constitutional officeholders with a future. You have four young stars on the horizon in the state. Rockstar Katie Britt is 40, superstar Will Ainsworth is 41, star Wes Allen is 46, and star Andrew Sorrell is 36. Another young superstar has arrived on the behind-the-scenes political consulting arena in Alabama politics. Twenty-seven-year-old Sean Ross ran the Katie Britt campaign masterfully. He is absolutely brilliant. He ran one of Twinkle Cavanaugh’s campaigns four years ago when he was just graduating from the University of Alabama. Katie did a good day’s work when she acquired his services with a recommendation from Twinkle. He is the hottest item in Alabama political consulting. There were four vacancies in the Alabama State Senate. State Representative Merika Coleman, a Bessemer attorney, won a very impressive victory for the seat of retiring Priscilla Dunn. She is young and brilliant and is going to be a star in the Alabama State Senate. Lance Bell won the seat of retiring state Senator Jim McClendon. Bell beat his opponent 73% to 27% in this Republican seat. Keith Kelley emerged victorious over Wendy Ghee Draper, in the Anniston-based Republican seat of retiring veteran state Senator Del Marsh. In probably the biggest upset surprise of the 2022 primary season was the victory of Josh Carnley to fill the Republican Southeast Alabama Senate Seat held for decades by the powerful and popular Jimmy Holley. This district is comprised of Coffee, Covington, Pike, and part of Dale counties. Twelve-year veteran State House member Mike Jones of Andalusia was expected to waltz to victory having every business group’s endorsement. Carnley carried his home county of Coffee overwhelmingly, and veteran political consultant David Mowery did a masterful job with Carnley’s ads. Popular first-term state senator, Dan Roberts, was challenged by a self-financed urologist in Roberts’ silk stocking Jefferson/Shelby district, but Roberts won handily. For the first time in 40 years, there will not be a Sanders representing the Black Belt in the Alabama Senate. Veteran Senator Hank Sanders failed in his bid to take back his seat he loaned to his daughter, the aforementioned Malika Sanders Fortier. Hank Sanders had served nine terms as the Black Belt’s senator. He was defeated by Robert Stewart of Selma. Jay Hovey won the coveted Lee/Tallapoosa/Russell County State Senate seat, prevailing over incumbent Tom Whatley by one vote. For the most part, the powerful 35-member State Senate will return intact with only a few new faces. 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.
