Posted by 
For ease of viewing the whole list and for future reference, here is our complete list of the Top 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians that the Parlor has been posting in pieces this week.
You may enjoy reading the comments already made on the previous posts (The first post with numbers 31-40 is here, 21-30 here, 11-20 here, and the Top Ten). If this post happens to be the first you have read of this list, then you may particularly enjoy reading the introduction. The introduction explains a bit about the criteria involved and how it came to be that, except for the Top Ten, the list is presented in unranked tiers of ten names.
Here is the complete list.
Top 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians
31-40, Alphabetical Order
- John Anzalone – The Democratic pollster has done work with Alabama Democrats at all levels and prominent interest groups like the State Employees, trial lawyers, and even BCA, offering strategy on how to help with policy issues. Doesn’t help with this ranking, but he has more than a dozen members of Congress from other states among his clients. One contributor said, “If I were running a campaign, he would be my first call.”
- Ginger Avery-Buckner – Longtime Executive Director for one of the more powerful interest groups in the state, the Alabama Association for Justice, formerly the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, and is recognized nationally as one of the more experienced and effective state trial lawyer directors.
- Brett Blackledge – The Birmingham News Pulitzer Prize winner is shaking up Alabama politics. Clearly important, would rate higher if he better fit the criteria, but instead divided the panel of contributors on whether he belonged on this list.
- Randy Brinson – New-ish head of the Christian Coalition of Alabama flexed some muscle on behalf of Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign. He’s expected to be influential in Alabama, and has bi-partisan ties that could transform the CCA from the Giles era.
- Dan Ireland – Outgoing Executive Director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) and a leader among Baptists, influences some legislators.
- Bobby Lowder – Colonial Bank founder and president is a force to be reckoned with when he’s engaged on an issue, but his interest in state politics waxes and wanes. Though not involved like he was in the late 90s, Lowder is still keeping a toe in the political waters.
- Gary Palmer – A founder of the Alabama Policy Institute, he influences some individual legislators and is a staple of Alabama op-ed pages.
- Dax Swatek – He’s the top establishment GOP consultant in the state and has the ear of Governor Riley, state party chair Mike Hubbard, and others.
- Joe Turnham – The state Democratic Party Chair is only one of many at the reins of the ADP. Had a solid 2006 and may take one more stab at high office down the line.
- Sharon Wheeler – She’s the top staffer to the Democratic Senate Caucus and very active in politics and policy. “Runs the Senate,” says one GOP’er.
21-30, Alphabetical Order
- Bill Blount – All hands describe the bond broker and former Democratic Party Chair the same way, “He’s [Birmingham Mayor] Larry Langford’s guy.” Langford, Langford, Langford.
- Tom Coker – One of the more powerful contract lobbyists in Montgomery.
- Peck Fox – Former Folsom Chief of Staff and current top “political guy” for Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom. Not a weak place to be.
- Jack Hawkins – Troy University Chancellor has worked hard to gain the attention and respect of many in Montgomery including Republicans and Democrats.
- Quentin Riggins – Has become very influential at the Business Council of Alabama. Worked as legislative liaison for two governors (Riley and James) and legislative analyst for House Speaker Seth Hammett.
- Dowd Ritter – The head of Regions Financial Corporation easily leads the second tier of Birmingham CEOs who are active in Alabama policy and politics.
- Dave Stewart – He runs the Office of the Governor and in this case – Policy. Makes most decisions in the Governor’s office that Riley doesn’t.
- John Teague – Ex-state senator who, like Coker, tends to get what he wants for his clients. Has a wide array of clients and associates.
- Neil Wade – Director of the Alabama Development Office while Alabama’s reputation as a desirable location for business and industry has grown by leaps and bounds.
- Jim Williams -The Executive Director of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) has become one of the most influential policy people in the state. He has the ear of many in Alabama, including the current Administration.
11-20, Alphabetical Order
- Tom Hamby – The head of BellSouth Alabama has a powerful personality and works very aggressively in the policy arena.
- Johnny Johns – The head honcho of Protective Life Alabama is part of the business triumvirate (with McCrary and Hamby) that has the loudest private sector voice in Alabama’s business policy.
- Mac McArthur – The Alabama State Employees’ Association is the second most powerful union in the state, and their Executive Director, who was once thought to have his own statewide ambitions, is an incredibly influential personality with friends on both sides of the aisle
- Milton McGregor – Gambling magnate makes money hand over fist in a capacity that most people think is illegal to do in the state. Uses it to influence politics, and as one contributor said, “Lord knows he’s aggressive.”
- Bill O’Connor – Former BCA President is now the right hand of Speaker of the House Seth Hammett.
- Joe Perkins – The Matrix founder is a legendary figure with a fearsome reputation among Alabama politicos; works in the shadows. Probably at his zenith of influence in the Siegelman years, still very close to the House Speaker and is a consultant to many CEOs.
- Steve Raby – Former Heflin Chief of Staff and Democratic consultant is “Lowell Barron’s guy” and has the ear of Paul Hubbert. Runs the Senate races for the majority and is the GOTV guru for Alabama Dems.
- Joe Reed – The #2 man at AEA and leader of the Alabama Democratic Conference is not as powerful as he once was, but still extremely influential in his spheres.
- Julian Smith – One of the most powerful and least known lobbyists in Alabama. He has been with political heavyweight Alabama Power for decades.
- Steve Windom – In addition to having served as Lt. Governor and State Senator (which comes with residual influence), he has raised large sums of money for candidates across the state. Very close to Governor Riley but on good terms with Democratic legislators as well.
Top Ten
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.
Related Articles:
Legislative Dispatch
Purple Dot Connection
2010 Big List
2010 Senate Elections
2010 House Elections
Press Releases
Doesn’t Patsy get to whisper in Bob’s ear?
Only 2 women?
We girls should do something about that.
Three women and two black men. And 37 white men. But it is, after all, a white man’s world. Politics is no different in that regard. We women should indeed do something about that. And we’re trying. Unfortunately, a lot of times women are harder on each other than they are on men. But 2008 could be a year for change. Time will tell.
“THE WHYS OF ALABAMA GOP ELECTIONS”
Tell me why top Alabama GOP operatives think that they are so deeply rooted in Washington that they are immune to prosecution?
-Many have large government/military contracts and government grants magically been steered to Alabama to make Bob Riley and the GOP look good. Why?
Why hasn’t the Alabama GOP been investigated or prosecuted?
Why does high ranking GOP operatives act so bold?
These are some of the methods that they use in Alabama to support running expensive media campaigns.
- Campaign money for silence from contra drugs passing through Alabama.
- Beginning in 1994, top Alabama GOP operatives assisted by Karl Christian Rove approached big business (tobacco, oil, etc) offering favorable court ruling for large GOP campaign contributions.
- In 1996 the Alabama GOP was a major recipient of campaign money from what came know as the Triad Scandal.
- From 1998 to 2006 millions came from the Abramoff and Scanlon Mississippi Indian Casino scam to defeat Siegelman’s lottery campaign, to elect Bob Riley and to prevent the Alabama Poarch Indians from getting a class 3 gambling license.
- Major contributions from government contractors for steering large contracts to them.
- PAC transfers without no accountability.
Why does Newhouse Publications print half truths about political figures and run front page articles to calm and deceive citizens so that the largest illegal operations in the history of the United States can conduct illegal activities.
“A NEW ELITE GROUP HAS ORGANIZED WITHIN THE GOP”
Tell me why these elite Federal government officials have been allowed to evolve in congress to a number that they are destroying our county. They block impeachments of those who have committed treason and they block bills that would eliminate wrong doings. They interfere when they are on committees and insist on directing large contacts to substandard and even sham government contractors. It is at a point where congress can’t conduct business.
Tell me why top state and federal officials who are members of this elite group have a greater alliance to the body of this group than they do to the constitution of the United States?
[...] Thicket is a new and good-looking magazine “that celebrates the good of Alabama: our people, our places, our history, and most importantly, our future.” It’s second issue will be on newstands next week. I mention it not only because I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue with its Bob Riley cover story and much more, but also because this new issue will be publishing the Political Parlor’s list of the 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians. [...]
[...] The Washington Post yesterday calls Alabama’s John Anzalone “the best pollster you’ve never heard of,” saying his Democratic survey research firm is “among the hottest in the nation.” Readers here have heard of him; the Parlor recently named him on our list of most influential, non-elected Alabamians. [...]
>>Three women and two black men. And 37 white men.
I had no idea who was what…..
…which is where I thought we all wanted to get to.