State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, the Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the Alabama House, announced a second round of State House committee chairs Wednesday.
Because Republicans hold a 77-member supermajority in the Alabama House, Ledbetter’s selection as the GOP Speaker nominee next month is considered by many to be tantamount to election.
“From rural to urban areas, from employers to employees, and from tradesmen to consumers, the collective decisions made by these committees affect every Alabamian in some manner,” Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said. “All of these individuals have my full faith and confidence, and I am certain they will always work on behalf of the citizens each of us seek to serve.”
Rep. Randall Shedd – Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure Committee
Prior to his election to the Alabama House in 2013, Shedd (R-Fairview) served as chairman of the Cullman County Commission and as mayor of Fairview, Alabama. He was the director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging and has been a strong advocate for senior citizens and their needs as a member of the House. Shedd previously chaired the House Urban and Rural Development Committee and was vice chair of the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee.
Rep. Jim Carns – Commerce and Small Business Committee
Carns (R-Vestavia Hills), a businessman with experience in manufacturing, chaired the House Commerce and Small Committee in the previous quadrennium and will retain that assignment under Ledbetter. He served in the Alabama House from 1990-2006 and returned to the body following a special legislative election in 2011. Carns also held a seat on the Jefferson County Commission from 2006-10.
Rep. Margie Wilcox – Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee
Elected to the Alabama House in a special election in 2014, Wilcox (R-Mobile), whose committee will be responsible for overseeing, reviewing, and renewing roughly 100 occupational licensure boards and other agencies across Alabama, is a businesswoman who has been involved in the Mobile area transportation industry for many years. Wilcox currently chairs the Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee and the Joint License Plate Oversight Committee. She previously served as vice chair of the House County and Municipal Government Committee and also held a seat on the Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Committee that she will soon lead.
Rep. Danny Crawford – Agriculture and Forestry Committee
Crawford (R-Athens) chaired the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee in the previous quadrennium and will also keep his assignment. Elected to the Alabama House in a 2016 special election, Crawford previously served on the Athens City Council from 1993-2005. He was employed with the Farm Service Agency for 33 years and was appointed state director by President George W. Bush in 2001.
Rep. Reed Ingram – County and Municipal Government Committee
Ingram (R-Montgomery), who was elected to the Alabama House in 2014, was originally appointed chairman of the County and Municipal Government Committee in 2018 and will continue to hold that post in the current quadrennium. He previously served as vice chair of the committee, as well. The owner and operator of a popular restaurant, farmers’ market, and entertainment venue in Montgomery, Ingram served as a member of the Montgomery County Commission from 2004-14.
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