By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
The 2014 Alabama Legislative Session began on Tuesday.
The first order of business was to swear in two new members who had won special elections since the legislature closed the 2013 session.
State Representative Adline Clarke (D) from Mobile was sworn in first.
Rep. Clarke told the legislators, “I look forward to working with all of you.”
Next Dimitri Polizos (R) from Montgomery said, “I would like to thank everybody, the speaker the chair, my family who came down, my colleagues, and I would like to thank the whole district of 74 who came out and voted for me.”
The Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mike Hubbard (R) from Auburn congratulated both on their election and said, “I am looking forward to serving with you.”
Democrat Adline Clarke was elected to the Alabama state House representing House District 97 after longtime incumbent state legislator Yvonne Kennedy (D) passed away after a short illness.
Adline Clarke said in a written statement, “For over three decades, I have had the honor and privilege of serving the Mobile community as a newspaper journalist, entrepreneur, agency administrator, and as a community volunteer. Representing you in District 97 would be an extension of my decades of service to a host of community service organizations, including Sickle Cell Disease Association, the YWCA, Mercy Medical, and Senior Citizens Services.”
Clarke said following her election, “House District 97 is dear to my heart. I have lived and worked in the district for most of my adult life. There is a dire need for us to have effective and honest leadership in order for District 97, our city, county and state to continue making positive strides.”
Clarke owns ‘Black Classic Books and Gifts’ and ‘Jamabalaya.’ She was also the former owner of a temporary job service, Norrell Staffing Services. Clarke currently serves as Senior Vice President of Business and Community Relations for Mobile Development Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Mobile Housing Board. Clarke is also a former reporter for the Mobile Press-Register.
Polizos’s House District 74 seat became vacant following the resignation of Representative Jay Love (R) from Montgomery this past August.
Both Polizos and Clarke will have to run for re-election again this year along with every other seat in the Alabama Legislature.
Polizos ran on the slogan, “It’s time to send a businessman to the State House.” Dimitri Polizos’ father founded the long popular Riviera Restaurant in Montgomery back in the 1960s. Polizos has been a Montgomery County Commissioner since 2004.
Following the swearing in of Reps. Polizos and Clarke, the Alabama House recessed for the rest of the afternoon until reconvening in the old state House for Governor Bentley’s State of the State address before a joint meeting of both Houses of the State Legislature.
