Yellowhammer Multimedia is publishing its list of Alabama’s most powerful and influential political leaders.
Taking into account conversations with political insiders, as well as the most recent developments in politics and public policy, the list is meant to recognize the top individuals in government and politics who leverage their power and influence on behalf of those they represent and the Yellowhammer State.
The ranked list is being released in five segments. Numbers 41-50 came out on Monday, 31-40 came out on Tuesday, 21-30 came out on Wednesday, and 1-10 will publish tomorrow.
Clay Scofield, Majority Leader, Alabama State Senate
What we said in 2021: The reality is that the newly-installed Senate Majority Leader will see himself included in any sort of list judging stature among the Yellowhammer State’s political leaders.
Scofield’s meteoric ascension to majority leader of the Alabama Senate, at just the age of 40, is a highly impressive feat. What’s more impressive are the legislative accomplishments Scofield has been able to rack up in the prominent role.
Even as he has achieved great success early in his promising political career, Scofield has been anything but complacent.
Scofield’s leadership as it relates to broadband expansion has been an absolute game changer. By all accounts, Alabama now leads the nation in broadband planning due in no small part to the Marshall County senator.
Leading on an issue as vital to the state’s economic growth as this, alongside leading the Senate’s majority party, has thrust Scofield’s name into the mix alongside the Alabama political arena’s heaviest hitters, and deservedly so.
Twinkle Cavanaugh, Alabama Public Service Commission
What we said in 2021: Twinkle Cavanaugh has built one of the most trusted brands in Alabama politics. In 2020, she received 1.38 million votes, the most by a non-presidential candidate in Alabama history. Few things send a stronger signal of a formidable statewide presence than that kind of stout vote tally.
As part of her resounding election victory in 2020, Twinkle Cavanaugh ran an ad campaign with the predominant theme being “Twinkle means tough.”
The campaign was obviously effective. She garnered a record number of votes. And it has stuck. Nearly two years later, she is still known to run into people around Alabama reciting the “Twinkle means tough” tagline back to her.
It is also how she has governed.
As president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, she has made drastic cuts to the size of her own agency and returned tens of millions of dollars back to the state general fund, a rarity in politics.
Then there is her annual pitched battle against environmental lobbyists who march into her agency demanding Green New Deal-type policies.
Pay close enough attention, and you will realize that Twinkle means power and influence.
Houston Smith, Alabama Power
What we said in 2021: If there were ever a public servant in the private sector, it is Houston Smith. Take his mindset toward service and blend it together with Alabama Power’s sustained strength in the governmental affairs realm, and you get one of the 20 most powerful and influential people in the state.
Houston Smith serves as vice president for governmental affairs at Alabama Power. Yet, his efforts and influence extend in numerous different directions.
He maintains a vast network both in Alabama and across the country, maintaining a watchful eye on trends in innovation and ways in which his home state can diversify its economy.
In his role as lead state government lobbyist for the Yellowhammer State’s largest taxpayer, he runs advocacy and outreach to elected officials and agency heads across the political spectrum. This is no small task considering the myriad of ways in which Alabama Power is affected by state policy.
Add in Smith’s deep involvement in groups like the Business Council of Alabama and the Birmingham Business Alliance, and his power and influence becomes obvious.
Greg Albritton, Alabama State Senate
What we said in 2021: He’s tough and fair and a conservative reformer at heart. Alabama is in a better place with Albritton in charge of its general fund budget.
If someone assembled a focus group in South Alabama and asked them to list out the ideal qualities they wanted to see in a state senator, our guess is they might say crafty, loyal, stubborn, thoughtful and hard working.
And that’s why the voters in Greg Albritton’s district send him to Montgomery.
Being in charge of the general fund, which supports all of the non-education components of Alabama state government, is a powerful, influential and thankless job. Yet, Albritton relishes the role.
He is thorough in his oversight of that big pot of money. Much to the discomfort of lobbyists and agency leadership, every program and appropriation gets a little extra scrutiny at his desk.
Combine his position as a budget chairman with a willingness to fight tooth and nail for the interests of his district, and you get a formidable presence in the Alabama Legislature.
Danny Garrett, Alabama House of Representatives
There is power in not needing the job that you have. There is power in knowing more about your subject matter than everyone else. There is even greater power in overseeing the distribution of $8.2 billion.
Danny Garrett finds himself in exactly that position of power and influence following his first legislative session as chairman of the Alabama House of Representatives Ways and Means Education Committee.
A rock-solid conservative, Garrett entered public service following a stellar career in the private sector. He accumulated decades of experience as a chief financial officer for companies which included Birmingham Steel, Nabi, Progress Rail, Summit Products and Vulcan Steel Products.
In addition to being a financial wizard, the Trussville resident has been a skilled legislator on issues dealing with jobs and economic development.
Garrett could be doing a lot of different things, right now. The fact that he is willing to serve the Yellowhammer State in his current capacity is a huge win for parents and our future workforce.
Steve Marshall, Attorney General of Alabama
What we said in 2021: He has surrounded himself with a talented, highly qualified team inside the attorney general’s office, and he is predictably popular in the law enforcement community and among his conservative base. Yet, he is not the least bit scared to take a principled stand in the face of criticism.
Steve Marshall has throughout his term been unyielding in his fight to protect Alabama values from his position as the state’s attorney general.
He has been on the forefront of national court clashes on issues involving unborn children, COVID mandates, Second Amendment rights, illegal immigration, censorship, consumer protection and victims’ rights.
Occupying the position of Alabama’s chief law enforcement officer inherently brings with it a high level of power and influence. However, when the attorney general is also chasing the Biden administration up and down America’s judicial system, that becomes a next-level opportunity to increase his standing.
Challenging the federal government, cracking down on corruption and supporting law enforcement, Marshall has done everything needed to maximize his power and influence.
Arthur Orr
What we said in 2021: Orr is the state senate’s chairman overseeing the nearly $7.7 billion education budget. Carrying the weight of that checkbook around in his suit pocket affords him an elite level of power and influence.
The weight of Alabama’s education checkbook has gotten heavier, and so has Orr’s influence.
Through the Morgan County senator’s leadership, the Alabama Legislature passed a historic $8.26 billion education trust fund budget during this year’s regular session.
Orr, who is known to be one of the upper chamber’s chief finance gurus, chairs the powerful Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.
In a state were one of the most politically powerful forces is the education lobby, Orr faces one of the most daunting annual legislative tasks of shaping the state’s massive education budget.
Orr’s ability to not only ensure proper fiscal management of the state’s largest budget, but successfully navigate the political hurdles associated with it, have proven his ranking on this list is more than deserved.
Joe Perkins, Matrix
What we said in 2021: One cannot help but marvel at the depth and breadth of Joe Perkins’ impact on Alabama politics. It is especially remarkable considering his specialized approach. In practical terms, it is difficult to describe what he does because discretion is so fundamental to his business model.
Joe Perkins is the most successful consultant in the history of Alabama politics.
Now, we choose to define the term “consultant” in the same spirit as Perkins articulates the mission of his storied firm. We imagine a consultant used in this manner is different than a lobbyist, a campaign operative or a public relations professional – and at the same time combines all three.
Accordingly, Perkins provides research, strategy and tactical advice to an elite stable of clients.
There is no shortage of elected officials seeking to tap into his deeply analytical approach to politics. There are few organizations or associations in which he does not have a foothold.
Frankly, at this stage of his career, Perkins’ level power and influence is simply up to him.
Steve Windom, Windom Galliher & Associates
What we said in 2021: Windom’s connections to elected officials are deep given his prodigious fundraising abilities. Go to an obscure office in any state agency, and you will probably find someone whom he knows and with whom he has banked a relationship — just in case.
Most marketing materials contain some amount of puffery in their statements. The target audience comes to expect it, and it can add some color to any ad campaign.
In the case of the Windom Galliher & Associates slogan, no truer words have ever been written, and nothing could better describe the firm’s founder: “Trusted. Respected. Never outworked.”
That’s Steve Windom in a nutshell.
A former state senator and lieutenant governor, Windom has earned every bit of his reputation as a tenacious lobbyist who delivers on a daily basis for his clients. He never stops working, either. If the man makes a quick run to the store at night for a gallon of milk, he is working on the way there — and back.
Windom is in his own tier of power player in Alabama.
Jabo Waggoner, Alabama State Senate
What we said in 2021: The reality is that as much as everyone wants to be like him, none of us are. You can’t force cool. You can’t fake importance. As much as young legislators want to grow up and be like Jabo, it is just never going to happen. Waggoner is simply one of one.
Grab ‘em up. Gather your kids, your grandkids, your friends, your neighbors or anyone else you can get your hands on.
Grab them up and carry them to the Alabama State Senate to watch a master at work.
The state of Alabama and the people of his Jefferson County district get at least one more term to soak in representation by a legend in Alabama politics.
Jabo Waggoner has attained iconic status in the lexicon of Alabama politics. Now it’s time to appreciate it.
Serving as chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee is all fine and dandy, but Waggoner would be sitting here on this list whether that was the case or not.
No one in either chamber legislates quite like Waggoner. He is smooth and cool – and effective.
Don’t miss out on history being made.
Yellowhammer will host a reception to honor the Power & Influence 50 on May 12th at 6pm in Montgomery. Email [email protected] for details.
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