Bill Poole Named State Finance Director
MONTGOMERY -- Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed state Rep. Bill Poole as the state’s next finance director, her office announced Friday. The appointment is effective Aug. 1. Read more.
Government
Britt Leads Rivals in Fundraising for GOP U.S. Senate Nomination
Katie Boyd Britt, former chief of staff to Sen. Richard Shelby, collected more than twice as much in campaign contributions as her three rivals combined during the past three months, according to reports filed this week by candidates in Alabama’s 2022 U.S. Senate race. Britt, who resigned earlier this year as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, entered the race for the Republican nomination to succeed Shelby on June 1. Since then, she has raised $2.3 million in contributions. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville reported contributions of 820,775 for the three-month period that ended June 30, and Montgomery business executive Lynda Blanchard raised $190,873. Jessica Taylor of Birmingham, who announced her candidacy earlier this month, had no report on file with the Federal Elections Commission. Read more. Contributor Lists in U.S. Senate Race
Several Sitting House Republicans Draw Primary Challengers
According to June campaign filings, at least three sitting state House members have GOP primary challengers who plan to raise funds against them. In House District 48, Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham, is running for reelection and being challenged by Republican William Wentowsk of Vestavia for the district that covers parts of Jefferson and Shelby counties. Read more.
Company Begins Study to Shorten Jefferson County Emergency Response Times, Some of More Than 3 Hours
The problem of extended ambulance response times didn’t pop up overnight, and the solution won’t either, according to a consultant Jefferson County is bringing in to address the situation. “This is our first day on the project,” Joseph “Jay” Fitch, founding partner of Fitch and Associates, said Tuesday at the committee meeting of the Jefferson County Commission. “We're going to be to touring your 911 center and working with an advisory group of municipal officials and fire chiefs today.” Fitch said the first part of the project is discovering data so his company knows when and where emergency calls occur. Knowing that, he said, the company can look at different kinds of options for emergency medical service coverage. Commission President Jimmie Stephens said long ambulance response times has been an ongoing problem for more than nine months. He said the extended wait times for an ambulance for emergencies, including heart attacks, sometimes exceeds three hours. Read more.
Birmingham Recycling Kicked Up to Twice a Month, City Buys Refuse Equipment
Birmingham has increased its recycling pick-up schedule to twice a month, though Mayor Randall Woodfin says his “full intent” is to eventually return to the program's pre-COVID weekly schedule. Read more.
Birmingham Elections Ballot Set
Seventy-two people have filed their paperwork and are officially running for office in the upcoming Birmingham city elections. After the qualifying deadline elapsed Friday, eight people were on the ballot to compete in the mayor’s race, trying to capture the seat now held by Mayor Randall Woodfin. The other most populated race is for Birmingham City Council District 8, where eight people also have qualified to run for the seat being vacated by Councilor Steven Hoyt. The election will be held Aug. 24, and voters have until Aug. 9 to register to vote. On the ballot will be the mayor’s race, nine City Council races and nine Birmingham Board of Education races. Read on for the official lineup.
Business Exec, a Self-Proclaimed “Full-Throttle Conservative,” Enters Senate Race
Birmingham business executive Jessica Taylor launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, proclaiming a love for “God, guns, family, fishing and four-wheeling,” and promising to take on socialists, big tech and radical liberals. Read more.
Scales Qualifies to Run for Mayor of Birmingham
Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales filed papers Wednesday to officially qualify to run for mayor of Birmingham. Read more. See who has qualified for city races: Birmingham Elections Begin Officially as Candidates File Qualifying Papers
Anti-Rioting Bill Pre-Filed for 2022 Legislative Session
MONTGOMERY — A bill that would change the definition of riot in state law and increase penalties for those who participate in one has been pre-filed for the 2022 regular legislative session. Read more.
Primary Challengers, Incumbents Raising Funds for ’22
The 2022 state primary elections are nearly 11 months away, but several candidates in contested races got off to strong fundraising starts in June. One candidate lent himself $250,000 for his statewide office bid. House District 54 Incumbent Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, raised nearly $19,000 in cash contributions in June. Brit Blalock in her bid to