Top 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians, Part 4
Again, I am grateful to the many political insiders on both sides of the aisle who freely gave time and input to putting together this list of non-elected Alabamians who most influence Alabama politics and policy. Time and time again I would go back to them, saying, “Help me understand how this person wields influence.” Or, “What about this name? Should this name be included?” Each contributor’s own list would look at least a little different, but their collective input shaped the list we have here, and I appreciate the considerable time and interest they gave to this.
The introduction to the list is here. Numbers 31-40 are here, numbers 21-30 are here, and numbers 11-20 are here.
#1 - #10 of the
Top 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians
10. Jere Beasley –The former Democratic Lt Governor and nationally prominent plaintiff’s attorney virtually bankrolls Alabama trial lawyers’ political efforts out of his firm’s coffers, 
but has good relationships across the aisle, e.g. with Troy King and Rob Riley.
9. Jerry Newby – The head of ALFA which plays hard and heavy in a lot of Alabama elections and policy battles, probably the second most powerful interest group after AEA.
8. Bradley Byrne – Chancellor of the Two-Year College System is a powerful job in charge of dozens of campuses across the state; Byrne is an aggressive leader in the role with an eye on an even more powerful post.
7. David Bronner – The head of Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) handles billions of dollars every day and pretty much gets what he wants out of state government.
6. Bill Canary - The President of the Business Council of Alabama is arguably Gov. Riley’s closest ally, and BCA is in the thick of many political scrums.
5. Fine & Geddie – Joe Fine and Bob Geddie are the two most powerful contract lobbyists in Alabama. Period. Just check out their client list sometime.
4. Rob and Minda Riley – Folks on both sides of the aisle acknowledge the Govlings’ considerable influence on their father’s administration.
3. Charles McCrary – He’s the CEO of Alabama Power, the single most powerful company in Alabama politics. Other companies trail far behind in their political influence.
2. Jim Main – The state Finance Director oversees large sums of money, contracts, the state’s moneyed interests. Less experienced legislators try to see the Governor about advancing their cause; budget chairmen and those in the know see Jim Main.
1. Paul Hubbert – The head of the Alabama Education Association and legislative puppet-master was a unanimous choice for #1 among contributors. “The most powerful man in the state, no one else is close,” said one contributor.
How would your list look different? Are there egregious errors here? Notable omissions?
Related Articles:
(R) Jeff Sessions (1-19)
(D) Vivian Figures (33-1)
(D) Artur Davis (1-49)
(R) Mike Hubbard (13-1)
(?) David Bronner (OFF)
Mobile Bay Times noted that no one from Mobile or Mobile County has made the list. Umm, wonder if Haley Barbour wants us, and our German steel mill and French/German super tanker plant?
Comment by Willie — March 13, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
No one from Huntsville made it either and very few from birmingham. This is a Montgomery heavy list
Comment by Anonymous — March 13, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
So? Montgomery is the political center of the state. Why is anyone surprised?
Comment by Terry — March 13, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
#1, Dave Stewart is from Mobile. He was instrumental in landing both Thyssen Krup and EADS.
Comment by Fo-fiver — March 13, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Steve Raby is from Huntsville.
Comment by Anonymous — March 13, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
Byrne is from the Mobile/Baldwin area.
Comment by Anonymous — March 13, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
So is Windom. Sounds like the Mobile Bay Times needs to do a little better research.
Comment by Fo-fiver — March 13, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
Am I the only one who thinks that Bud Cramer greatly increased the Republican’s chances of winning CD-5 by retiring in this Presidential election year?
Comment by Terry — March 13, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Terry…you’re the only one. Let’s face it, you need someone with district wide name recognition that has the $$ to be taken seriously by the Federal GOPers. From the outside looking in, the Dems have someone that meets the last part of the two. Parker Griffith. That’s a tough hill to climb.
Comment by Trvld — March 15, 2008 @ 2:41 am
On comments 1 through 7,
In considering who belonged on the list, there was an intentional effort to have great diversity, including geographic diversity, in the pool of names that would be considered. In the final list, the main consideration of course was only how much influence did one person have relative to another.
The Mobile Bay Times observed that no one was in the Top Ten from Mobile (”unless the Eastern Shore counts”), but it was not, in my reading, expressed as a complaint.
I do think (similar to what Terry said in comment 3) that it’s not a surprise that people with political influence tend to be in the political center of the state. But as others have noted, that’s not exclusively true.
I would be interested in any suggestion as to who should be included that is not on the list, and who you would take off the list to make room for the suggestion.
Comment by Danny — March 16, 2008 @ 12:42 am
[…] One Montgomery insider told the Parlor about the efforts of the Business Council of Alabama to counter grassroots strengths of AEA and ALFA by using local Chambers of Commerce. Though BCA is a major player in Alabama politics, BCA has never been strong in the grassroots, and the business people and professional people involved in local Chambers of Commerce are “typically opposed to AEA and represent the potential for a Republican base, an embryonic grassroots movement.” The BCA effort - initiated by BCA head Bill Canary - can “use the Chamber to communicate with the community and with legislators.” […]
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