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The Alabama Association of County Commissions has been a powerful organization in Alabama politics for almost a century. County Commissioners are an integral part of governing in our state. Over the years they have been thought of as simply road commissioners. They are that, they do oversee all of the county/rural roads in the state. You might say they are where the rubber meets the road. However, they are much more than that.
County governments are big business. In many of our 67 counties, the county government operation is one of the largest employers in the county. Therefore, the chairman and other county commissioners have to be good business managers and stewards of very large county budgets. In the past three or four decades, Alabama has been transcending from a rural to a more urban state. Our larger counties, especially the big three of Jefferson, Madison and Mobile are really big businesses.
Randall Dueitt is doing a good job as Chairman of the Mobile County government. The Chairman of the Madison County government, Mac McCutcheon is working closely with Huntsville Mayor, Tommy Battle, to oversee the amazing growth of the Madison/Limestone/Morgan area of our state. The Jefferson County government led by Joe Knight and Jimmie Stephens is a tremendous and integral ingredient of the state’s largest county. Jefferson County government is one of the largest employers in Birmingham.
The aforementioned Joe Knight has served as President of the Alabama Association of County Commissions (ACCA) for the past year. The Association held their annual meeting in late August. Commissioner Knight handed over the gavel to Calhoun County Commissioner Lee Patterson. He plans to focus on rural health care. Lee hails from the Jacksonville/Piedmont area of Calhoun County. Patterson is smart, personable, and politically savvy. He will have a good year as President of ACCA. He has a bright future in Alabama Politics.
Other rising stars in the ACCA are Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shouppe, Baldwin County Commission Chairman Billie Jo Underwood, Justin Sawyer a Monroe County Commissioner, and Fayette County Probate Judge Mike Freeman, who is the former owner of an automobile dealership. He has quickly turned around Fayette County financial condition and is now actively involved in economic development in the area.
Colin Daley is doing an excellent job as chairman of the fast-growing Limestone County. His father served as chairman. Colin, now in his second term, is becoming a major leader in economic development in that area.
Desirae Lewis Jackson from Elmore County is a star on the rise in the Association. She is a young Republican lawyer to keep your eye on.
A superstar is set to arise on the scene of the ACCA in January from Lee County. Jere Colley, Jr. will become Probate Judge of Lee County, who will also serve as Chairman of the County Commission. He will do a great job of leading this important and booming county.
Sonny Brasfield is the Executive Director of the ACCA. He is a mainstay of the organization. Sonny is a Tuscaloosa native and graduate of the University of Alabama. He has been with the Association since 1988 (36 years) and Executive Director since the retirement of Buddy Sharpless in 2009 (15 years). His long tenure reflects his dedication and significant contributions to county governance in Alabama.
The Association of County Commissioners has long been a power on Goat Hill. Sonny Brasfield has sustained and advanced that power immensely. Governor Ivey’s 2019 Rebuild Alabama Road Program was fostered by Brasfield and the ACCA. The Act allotted almost 25 percent of the proceeds of the 10-cent increase in gas tax going to counties for road and bridge improvements.
Brasfield and the ACCA played a significant role in the development of Alabama’s internet sales tax (SSUT), that produces almost a billion dollars a year.
When the ACCA talks, legislators listen. The ACCA, established in 1929, concluded their 96th annual convention on August 22. It was a success with Senator Tommy Tuberville giving the keynote address.
An interesting note, Mac McCutcheon, the current Chairman of Madison County Commission, is a former Speaker of the Alabama House. His predecessor, Dale Strong, was elected to the Tennessee Valley Congressional District, and current Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Bolin is a former Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
See you next week.
