Senate confirmations committee forwards 15 appointees for full Senate consideration

The Alabama Senate Confirmations Committee on Wednesday reported favorably on 15 appointees to state boards and commissions and forwarded the nominations to the full Senate for consideration.

The committee approved nominees to four groups: the (named in the record as) Alabama Fam Trust board of trustees; the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees; the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees; and the Alabama Securities Commission. Committee votes on the items were unanimous in committee, and several appointees were invited to the Senate gallery for the floor session where confirmations will be finalized.

The committee heard three nominees for the first group—Adrian Brown, Kim Davis and Thera Herring—who attended with Leslie Byers, identified in the record as the organization’s executive director. With no questions from committee members, Senator Sessions moved to give a favorable report; Senator Jones seconded. The clerk established a roll call and the committee recorded a 9-0 vote in favor. The chair said the nominations would be placed “in the basket” and invited the nominees to the Senate gallery for the full-Senate confirmation at approximately 3:45 p.m.

The committee then considered seven nominees to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees: James Jantz, Meredith Hamilton, Robert Jenkins, Michael Wyndham, Bill Lewis, Chandra Stewart and Catherine Atkins. The committee record notes scheduling conflicts for several nominees and that Nick Lauckus was present as a representative. Senator Sessions moved the favorable report; Senator Singleton seconded. The committee recorded nine yeas and zero nays.

Next, the committee took up four reappointments to the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees—Levelyn Rohn, Goodrich Rogers, Valerie Gray and J. E. B. Shell. Valerie Gray introduced herself on the record as a “proud resident of Senate District 13, Congressional District 3” and said she was “seeking reappointment to the Alabama Community College System” and that she is a “retired economic developer.” Senator Price moved a favorable report, seconded by Senator Sessions; the committee voted 9-0 in favor.

Finally, the committee considered Hope Marshall for the Alabama Securities Commission. Amanda Sen and Beau Brown appeared from the commission on Marshall’s behalf. Senator Jones moved a favorable report, seconded by Senator Carnley; the committee recorded a 9-0 vote.

All four sets of nominees were approved by the confirmations committee and forwarded to the full Senate for final confirmation. The committee adjourned with no further business recorded.

Notes: The transcript identifies the first group as the “Alabama fam Trust board of trustees.” The record circulated at the meeting used that phrasing; the committee’s action and the list of nominees are reflected here exactly as presented during the meeting.