The Governor’s office announced last week that State Finance Director Marquita Davis is resigning to take a job as director of the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. Davis is well-liked by her colleagues and will be sorely missed. But with her departure, one of the most powerful positions in state government is now up for grabs.
Deputy Finance Director Clinton Carter has frequently come up in conversations over the last few days as insiders have speculated about Davis’s successor.
Here’s what we had to say about Carter in our 2012 “Power & Influence Up & Comers” list.
“Carter is a graduate of the famed Wharton School of Business and has a solid private sector background. He is young and ambitious and has gotten rave reviews from people who have dealt with him since he took on the role of Deputy Finance Director. One insider summed up Carter in one word: ‘Brilliant.’”
Carter is a major talent and has a big future ahead of him.
But sources in Montgomery say that a different succession scenario is emerging that would have a couple of top Bentley aides changing seats.
Governor Bentley’s Chief of Staff, David Perry, is said to be angling to reclaim his old job as Finance Director, which was his first position in the Administration.
Perry has expressed privately to several people around Montgomery in recent months that a transition may be a welcomed change. He commutes back and forth from Birmingham, and his wife, Leigh Davis Perry, has a high-pressure job as a senior VP and general counsel at Southern Nuclear. Perry’s job as the Governor’s Chief of Staff is one of the most demanding jobs in state government. A move to Finance would take some responsibilities off of Perry’s plate while allowing the Administration to retain one of its brightest and most experienced staffers.
So who then would become Chief of Staff?
Rumblings right now are that another top Bentley aide, Blaine Galliher, would simply move from his current position as legislative director and take over as chief of staff.
Galliher was #11 on this year’s Power & Influence 40 list. Here’s what we had to say about him:
“Very few people could leave the House of Representatives where they were Rules Chairman, and actually become MORE powerful. But that is exactly what Galliher has pulled off. He has taken on a senior advisor role in addition to his position as legislative director. He’s always in the room when decisions are being made, and his influence has made him the most powerful staffer in the state. Legislators on both the 5th and 7th floors have immense respect for Galliher, which has really boosted the Governor’s ability to get things done in the State House. His hiring was a major coup for Bentley, and it’s really paying off.”
Galliher led the Administration’s legislative efforts this session and the results were huge. Most recently, the Administration successfully lobbied the legislature to pass a Gulf State Park development bill that numerous governors over the past couple of decades had tried, but failed, to push through. Many legislators, staffers and insiders credit Galliher with greatly increasing the Governor’s influence in the halls of the State House. His rise to Chief of Staff would be another major coup for the Administration.
So who then will become legislative director?
Well…hopefully that’s enough speculation for now.
What else is going on?
1. Heritage Foundation report eviscerates Gang of Eight immigration reform bill
2. So what should we expect this week in the legislature?
3. NRA urges Alabama Senate to concur with House-passed gun
4. Birmingham Attorney Elected NRA President
5. Alabama Enviro Groups Gear Up for Fight
