first Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

Governor Ivey releases statement on Alabama’s first confirmed coronavirus case

Governor Kay Ivey on Friday, upon learning of Alabama’s first confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) case, released the following statement: “Along with my fellow Alabamians, I have closely monitored the rapidly changing events regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a state, we have taken precautionary measures and made preparations in the case that the virus would eventually reach … Continued

March 13, 2020

With new leadership, a viable Democratic Party is possible, even likely

The only constant in politics as in life is change, and the election of State Rep. Chris England as the Alabama Democratic Party’s chair is a sign of positive change. However, in a state that overwhelmingly elected Donald Trump president and is ruled by a Republican supermajority, how will England rebuild a currently factious Democratic … Continued

November 4, 2019

Montgomery elects Steven Reed as its first black mayor

Montgomery has its first black mayor. Steven Reed, the Montgomery County Judge of Probate, gained 67 percent of the vote Tuesday night, steamrolling past challenger David Woods, a local TV station owner, to become the first African American mayor in the city’s 200-year history. Reed began his term as mayor-elect with a unifying message. “Let … Continued

October 9, 2019

Hot political summer in the City of Montgomery

It has been a long hot summer in Montgomery, and I do not mean at the Capitol or Statehouse, but in the City of Montgomery itself. There is a heated and pivotal mayor’s race. It has been considered a foregone conclusion that Montgomery will elect their first African American mayor this year. It is probably … Continued

August 21, 2019

Marshall granted restraining order in state’s first civil human-trafficking case

Attorney General Steve Marshall has been granted a temporary restraining order against a chain of North Alabama massage businesses. He said the businesses have actually been operating a human-trafficking enterprise. This is the state’s first civil human-trafficking case under the new civil enforcement provision to Alabama’s human-trafficking law. The complaint also claims violations of Alabama’s … Continued

April 22, 2019

Why aren’t Montgomery’s charter schools following the rules?

There is a process in place to approve charter schools in Alabama. When the Alabama Legislature passed the law allowing charters in the state, they spent some time putting together a written plan with steps that must be followed. Things like: any organization wishing to start a charter school must submit an application that includes … Continued

January 30, 2019

Letter to the Editor on FCPA and the Ethics Commission

In the 2015 Alabama Legislative Session, the Legislature passed legislation that required all county candidates and political action committees running for public office to file campaign finance reports with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. The 2015 legislation did not change the requirement for all state candidates to file with the Alabama Secretary of State’s … Continued

June 13, 2018

Patricia Todd, state’s first openly gay lawmaker, insinuates Gov. Ivey may be gay

Alabama’s first openly gay lawmaker — Rep. Patricia Todd, a Democrat — suggested that Republican Gov. Kay Ivey is gay in a tweet posted to her account Tuesday evening. Ivey’s campaign responded immediately, calling Todd’s comments a “disgusting lie.” In the tweet, Todd wrote, “Will someone out her for God’s sake….I have heard for years … Continued

May 16, 2018

Judge blocks Montgomery’s first charter school

Hold up on those charter school plans. A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday tossed a big wrench into the rushed plans for Montgomery’s first charter school, LEAD Academy, saying the state’s Charter School Commission violated its bylaws by approving LEAD’s application without a majority of the commission voting for approval. The Commission approved … Continued

May 2, 2018