Author

Steve Flowers

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.

Rounding Out the Field

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers This week we will conclude our analysis of the potential horses in the 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial Derby. First, let me briefly recap the horses we have already handicapped. The list includes, in descending order, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (18), Supreme Court Justice Jim Main (17), Sen. Greg … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 16, 2015

Opinion

Handicapping the Race: Week Three

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers This week we will continue our analysis of the potential horses in the 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial Derby. So far, we have counted down from 18 to 8. In descending order the list includes, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (18), Supreme Court Justice Jim Main (17), Sen. Greg Reed … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 9, 2015

Opinion

Handicapping the Governor’s Race (Continued)

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers This week we will continue counting down and handicapping the prospective horses in the 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial Derby. We handicapped the following horses in descending order last week, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (18), Supreme Court Justice Jim Main (17), Sen. Greg Reed (16), Sen. Arthur Orr (15) … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 2, 2015

Opinion

Vetting the Horses

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers Last week I gave you an alphabetical list of the 18 potential horses in the 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial Derby. We will begin this week handicapping them in descending order. The Number 18 horse is current Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard. We will know whether the beleaguered Speaker of … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 25, 2015

Opinion

Prelude to the Alabama Derby

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers We Alabamians love the governor’s race. When talk turns to politics in our beloved state, it usually leads to the governor’s race. It does not matter if the governor’s race is four years away, political gossip starts early as to who will run for governor. As each new race … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 18, 2015

Opinion

Political Friends and Neighbors

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers As a young boy I would sit for hours contemplating and analyzing the next governor’s race. At that time the governor could not succeed himself. He was limited to one four-year term. Therefore, we had developed a tradition whereby the man who had run second in the last governor’s … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 11, 2015

Opinion

Race for White House Under Way

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The 2016 Presidential election has not only begun, it is well under way. It is now a lengthy process that spans the entire four-year presidential term. The race essentially begins the day a president is sworn into office. Aspirants begin jockeying for the brass ring of American politics the … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 4, 2015

Opinion

Shelby’s Gamble

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers In 1986 Richard Shelby was a 50-year-old congressman from Tuscaloosa. He was elected to congress eight years earlier, after two successful four-year terms in the Alabama State Senate. However, Shelby was ready to move up again. He was planning to run for the United States Senate. Shelby had never … Continued

Steve Flowers

October 7, 2015

Opinion

A Tumultuous First Year Of The Quadrennium

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers This first year of the quadrennium has been an interesting mix of politics in the Heart of Dixie. At the heart of the news and interest has been the continuous wrangling over the General Fund budget. From the get go, Gov. Robert Bentley has taken a gung ho approach … Continued

Steve Flowers

September 23, 2015

Opinion

Alabama Legends

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers When Jim Bennett left the Secretary of State’s office earlier this year, he set the record for the longest serving Secretary of State in the state’s history. His 12 years in the office surpassed the legendary ladies, Agnes Baggett and Mabel Amos, who would rotate between State Treasurer and … Continued

Steve Flowers

September 16, 2015