Posted by Who are Alabama’s most statesmanlike legislators?
I put that question to a broad range of politicos who have first hand experience with our state legislature – including Senators, Representatives, lobbyists, and other Montgomery insiders. While they were free to interpret “statesmanlike” as they wished, I suggested that it is marked by class, dignity, and a willingness to put good public policy above partisan politics.
Most enthusiastically participated, though many contributors echoed the sentiment of one legislator who told me, “Please keep my reply anonymous. I have to work with the others [that are not on his list].”
A legislator who previewed this list told me, “Probably as good a list as you can come up with. Like all humans, each have great strong points and some weaknesses. Thank you for taking time to point out there are a few good ones up here on Goat Hill.”
Many contributors did not offer comments, but I included some remarks from those who did.
On with the list…
House Dems
1. Jeff McLaughlin (Guntersville)
Republican legislator: One name always comes to mind for me: Rep. Jeff McLaughlin of Marshall County. He always takes on really tough issues and sometimes they are not even that popular but he does command the respect from both sides of the aisle for his ability to master the ins and outs of every legislative issue. You can tell when he goes to the microphone that you are about to deal with a very serious issue and you had better be ready! Also, although we are from different parties he is personally one of the easiest people to get along with in the House. That is one attribute that to me makes someone stand above the rest
Senate insider: McLaughlin is a super-smart, good, honest person. Kinda like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He’s good hearted, a lawyer’s lawyer, and open to everybody. I could see him in Congress.
Republican legislator: McLaughlin is probably one of the most sincere, honest, intelligent men I know. Has a servant’s heart. He is just real. No BS or pretentiousness, and no being hypocritical. He is just a wonderful human being. I love him to death even if he is a ‘liberal Harvard Lawyer Democrat.’
Lobbyist: McLaughlin takes no PAC money. Although he leans to the left, he is very independent. Smart. Makes his own decisions. Won his special election without the backing of the Democratic Party.
Democratic legislator: McLaughlin is dedicated, smart and aside from his Mr. Smith Goes to Washington appearance is as tough as they come. Best known for sponsoring a bill to ban on Pac to Pac transfers
Lobbyist who was slow to respond: I’ve not really ignored your question – just having a hard time thinking of someone other than Jeff McLaughlin. There are probably others who fit the criteria you’ve identified, but they seem to escape me. McLaughlin, by far, is the most “statesmanlike legislator” in my opinion.
2. Seth Hammett (Andalusia)
GOP Legislator: Hammett keeps his cool unlike anyone you have seen despite the fact that he is having to make the House run smoothly while three different political caucuses try to one up the other one. It is like herding cats but you never see him get upset or get into any kind of political confrontation over it. He also has the ability to get along real well with people from both parties on a personal level.
Lobbyist: I think Seth Hammett is a quality act.
Democratic Legislator: The Speaker of the House is constantly keeping the House that has underlying partisan feelings boiling at its highest level in memory calm. He tries to be fair to all…. frustrating both his own caucus and the minority. A gentlemen and a voice of reason.
GOPer: Seth Hammett is often stuck between a rock & a hard place. There’s always someone bitchin’ (me, included) about some decision he’s made, but that comes from both D’s & R’s.
Lobbyist: Hammett is well respected. Keeps the House running smoothly.
3. (tie) Marcel Black (Tuscumbia)
Democratic legislative employee: I think he’s phenomenal. Would be a good Senator .
Republican legislator: Does a great job running a difficult committee (Judiciary). He’s fair, not easily ruffled, and handles difficult legislation.
3. (tie) James Buskey (Mobile)
Rep. Barry Mask (R – Wetumpka): I think Rep. James Buskey (D) Mobile, is a statesman. While our political cores are different, I think he is very sincere his beliefs and he is also respectful when debating. I have never sensed in him a tendency for foolishness or demagoguery. He is very thoughtful and he deliberates on an issue. He is very interested in how the issue or bill under consideration will affect the common man or woman .I like that. His most statesmanlike quality is that he will come to you way in advance of your bill being voted on and let you know if he has a problem with it, and under what amendment he would support it. Most other legislators just ambush you on the floor. His ‘‘word” is strong and because of that, so is he.
GOP Legislator: I know James Buskey might be a bit of a surprise pick, but he fits the criteria perfect. Mr. Buskey doesn’t worry about being noticed & doesn’t have an ego to feed. He is easy to underestimate. Unlike Johnson, he doesn’t pass much legislation, but nobody in the House can block a bill like Mr. Buskey. It seems a bit ironic that my top statesman pick for the majority party is a blocker while my minority party choice is a passer. My wife describes Mr. Buskey as a true southern gentleman.
House GOP
1. (tie) Ron Johnson (Sylacauga)
Republican legislator: Ron Johnson is not very impressive at first glance, but he probably moves more legislation than anyone in the legislature. As a member of the minority party, that’s very impressive. He knows his material, and if you ask him a question you can count on the truth.
Democrat: He has passed a lot of bills. He’s very effective, gets a lot of things done. I bet he passes as many bills as anybody if not more. Involved in a lot of health care issues. Low key, but super effective.
Democratic legislator: Ron Johnson is my colleague and friend who gets up, goes to work and gets the job done with little fanfare. He doesn’t engage in partisan tactics. Handles bills and passes them regularly. Respected on both sides of the aisle.
1. (tie) Mike Hill (Columbiana)
Democrat: Hill has the ability to work across the aisle to get things done. He’s not petty. A very positive person who elevates other people.
Lobbyist: Rep. Mike Hill is liked by all. He was elected as a Democrat and later switched to the Republican Party. Works well with others.
3. (tie) Greg Canfield Columbiana
Republican legislator: Greg Canfield is only in his first term, but he is one of the most impressive thinkers I’ve been around. Maybe with Canfield I’m looking ahead a bit, but this guy has earned a lot of respect in a short time.
Republican legislator: Greg Canfield is going to be a good one. He’s fair, and he caught on fast as any freshman I have seen.
3. (tie) Cam Ward (Alabaster)
Lobbyist: Rep. Cam Ward is a close second [to Jeff McLaughlin]. Conservative, but will stand up to his own party. Willing to compromise and can’t stand petty party bickering. Handles lots of legislation with lots of success. Will work across party lines.
Frankly, there was little enthusiasm for the idea of selecting the most statesmanlike Senator. I got replies like, “This is a tough one and I almost didn’t even submit any names. It will be tough to find a true statesman in the Alabama State Senate.” and “The Senate is difficult because they break into partisan fighting all the time.” Another gave me some names for the House and said, “I’ll have to give the Senate some thought,” but I never heard back.
That said, these names were mentioned a little more than any others.
Senate Dems (alphabetical order)
Quinton Ross (Montgomery)
Lobbyist: He’s not bi-partisan, but maintains some statesman like qualities.
Hank Sanders (Selma)
Legislative employee: Sanders is the moral conscience of the Senate. He’s self-evaluating. He’s fair, not greedy. You don’t have to watch your back with him. He always has the bigger picture.
Senate GOP (alphabetical order)
Del Marsh (Anniston)
Senate insider: Marsh tries to find common ground. He does not necessarily fall on partisan lines. He doesn’t want something to fail for the sake of failing. Marsh wants things to succeed.
Arthur Orr (Decatur)
GOP legislator: Arthur Orr is not as strong on knowledge of process, but he’s a quick study.
Democrat: He’s learning. Good-hearted.
Special mention goes to former House Rules Chair Jack Venable. Though he is deceased and no longer serving, some contributors went out of their way to mention that the Tallassee Democrat exemplified statesmanship.
I appreciate all elected officials and policy makers who work for the betterment of Alabama with class and dignity.
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2010 Senate Elections
2010 House Elections
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Gee Im shocked Lowell and Bishop werent on that list Danny. Im absolutely shocked!
well if its any consolation to you mine didn’t make it either…I don’t see any on it that i have a problem with so its a good list as far as i’m concerned….
CC Dollar, HAS failed the attendance requirement and was therefor not included.
I would imagine anytime she was out it was for a damn good reason…do you have her attendance record by chance?? I’m sure i could get it cleared up for you…all anyone has to do is ask her…
Hammett is sop good at running thee House in a smooth and orderly way that it can’t pas ecthics reform or ban pac to pac transfers or take the sales tax off of groceries, but it can create a boxing comm. He holds the record as the first speaker to have a bank account in the Cannary Islands
CC, it is no surprise that the Dem leadership has placed her on the most important senate committees yet she is not in Republican leadership.
Smith is on:
Rules
FTE
Confirmations
Ag
Commerce
Banking
GA
and others.
It is common knowledge that she rarely appears in committee meetings and therefor gives Dems a de facto extra vote on each of these committees.
Regarding Representative Buskey:
In the interest of full disclosure, I’m very partisan about the issue of Alabama becoming the 25th Initiative and Referendum (I&R) state.
That said, in the 2006 legislative session Representative Mike Ball’s Initiative and Referendum bill, then called HB 325, made a bit of history by becoming the first I&R bill to ever be debated on the floor of either chamber of Alabama’s legislature. When it was debated in the HOR, according to the Birmingham News, one of those who spoke against the bill was Representative Buskey who reportedly said that people should run for the Legislature if they want to pass laws. “If people want to legislate, let them run,’” he said. As I said, I’m partisan, but that statement by Buskey seems a bit…..(what’s a good word?) condescending, or pompous, to me.
During that debate, the newspaper also quoted another representative who is now a candidate for governor in the 2010 elections, Representative Robert Bentley, who said, “We have a representative republic and not a direct democracy.” That’s true, but so do the 24 states that have an I&R procedure that voters can use when necessary.
Considering our legislature’s repeated failures to pass real reform and accountability measures such as a good ethics law with teeth in it, a ban on PAC-TO-PAC transfers which hide the laundering of money going to candidates and office holders, and other bills that I’m sure you can think of, it seems the time is past due when it’s desirable if not necessary for us to have I&R so voters can do for the state what the legislature refuses to do.
get over it CC, HAS is done come 2010….and for good reason.
good reason, 2010..whats that, listening to the people in southeast alabama?? she not done and you’ll find that out…who do you think will run against her?? i already know..do you??
Spill it CC, who is running against her?
she is lucky mike schmitz decided to run for mayor and not against her – she would have been done. some folks in geneva county may vote for her but in houston county they will not. there are about 3 people i have heard so far that want to run in the gop primary. HAS will likely not be allowed to run as a GOPer any more as she broke party by laws. we will see.
Hank Sanders? Seriously?
I agree with OC. I don’t think Hank Sanders and “statesman” have ever been used in the same sentence before. If Hank is a star in the Senate, then the rest of the bunch must be a sorry lot.
Mike Hill, Cam Ward, Marcel Black, Frank McDaniel in the House.
Ted Little, Del Marsh, and Bobby Denton in the Senate. My criteria:
represent their constituencies well (what they are elected for) but not
at the expense of the rest of the state. Each of these guys are willing
to listen to both sides of any issue and are willing to tell you if they are
for you or against you and why.
If I had a vote for Speaker, I’d vote for Mike Hill.
I could not agree with you more William. Everyone on that list are first class individuals. Mr. Hill, Ward, Black and McDaniel always seem to rise above the rest when it comes to making tough choices over partisan idealogues. Any of those would make a great speaker!
The list is glaringly missing the name of Ted Little. Senator Little is an independent voice, not tied to his caucus, and instead devoted to the representation of his constituency. He is also a faithful steward of our state tax dollars. He was one of the only Senators to refuse his raise this year, when the state was in fiscal trouble and so many people were out of work. He has also in the past refused his pay when the Senate had to be called into special session because of its ineffectiveness in the regular session. He has had the highest vote percentage in the Senate at 98% showing that he does not skip out on tough votes. I know him personally and he is a good and honest man, and an exception to what is too often the rule.
“I know him personally” That explains your post. “not tied to his caucus” BS he is at every caucus meeting and does what he is told. Do you really think he wanted to vote for Smitherman for Pro Tem? Will that help him get votes at home? He is a nice man but not a statesman.Face it there are NO statesmen in the senate.
I’d say that there are several statesmen in the senate, but harri anne’s not one of them. Cc, your drunk if you think she has a lot of support in the wiregrass. Even those who originally backed her for congress have bailed. Danny, sanders? Really? Sure, if you are on the side of militant folks who get family members to head up “foundations” and “non-profits” that are funded by the state. Sanders may “work into the night” but he is certainly not a statesman.
Dylan and others,
I confess that Sanders being on the list raised my eyebrows a bit also. The Senate has not distinguished itself in recent years, and many respondents simply didn’t offer any names. Those who did offered pretty tepid comments, if they offered any.
What Senate Democrat would you put on the list ahead of Sanders?
Jimmy Holley has been both a dem and Rep. I guess we could say he agrees with both sides !!!
Bobby Denton & Ted Little would be appropriate Democratic picks. They are both fair in their approach to the other side, but more importantly, have represented their districts well.
I would put Hinton Mitchem ahead of Hank (work into the night) Sanders.
Denton would be a better choice than hank for sure. Side note, Zeb’s in court this morning.