By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday, January 13 Representative Mike Hubbard (R from Auburn) was re-elected with bipartisan support as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives. Hubbard received the votes of 99 of the 105 members.
Rep. Mickey Hammon (R from Decatur) nominated Hubbard to lead the Alabama House for another four years.
Rep. Hammon called Hubbard, “A friend of all of ours,” and credited Hubbard for bringing, “Us to this place in the history of Alabama.” Rep. Hammon said, “This man is not just a Republican leader he is a leader and a friend of us all.” Hammon called Hubbard: A man of honor, a man of honesty, and said, “There is nobody I respect more than Mike Hubbard.”
Rep. Mike Hill (R from Shelby County) seconded the nomination of Speaker Hubbard. Hill recounted how he asked Mike Hubbard to run for the house and how as a University of Georgia student, a young Mike Hubbard helped Hershel Walker win the Heisman and how he came to Auburn to run Bo Jackson’s campaign for the Heisman Trophy.
Rep. Hill said that Mike Hubbard loved athletics, loved the radio, the TV, and the media. He worked the for the Auburn Athletics department and was a winner there then, “Went out into the real world and formed the Auburn Network.”
Hill said that Hubbard has done a fantastic job and is, “As honorable as truthful and as fair as anybody could possibly be,” as Speaker.
Hill said that it was his honor to second the motion to continue the legacy of Mike Hubbard as Speaker.
Representative Victor Gaston (R from Mobile) then took the floor to close nominations for Speaker. Rep. Gaston said that he was delighted to make a motion that nominations be closed.
The motion to close carried and then a roll call vote was held in which Hubbard received 99 votes.
The newly re-elected Speaker of the House said, “Thank you for the confidence you’ve shown by electing me as your speaker. It is truly an honor and a privilege.”
Speaker Hubbard said, “I’m fortunate to have a wonderful family and I hope they realize just how grateful I am for their love and support.” Hubbard thanked his wife and said that she, “Does not deserve all the daggers that come our way.”
Speaker Hubbard said, “Many pundits and political observers have written about how productive and innovative the Alabama legislature has been over the past four years. And I tend to agree with them. But I also believe those accomplishments will soon pale in comparison to the achievements that await us during this quadrennium.”
Hubbard received 99 votes and Representative Alvin Holmes (D from Montgomery) voted for himself.
State Representative Victor Gaston was then re-elected majority leader with 100 votes.
