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Senate confirmations committee approves multiple nominees to state boards
Summary
The Senate confirmations committee approved nominees to several state boards, including education, banking, plumbing and workforce panels, mostly by unanimous or near-unanimous voice or roll-call votes; one vote included an abstention where a senator recused.
The Senate confirmations committee approved a slate of nominees to state boards and commissions during a session that largely moved items en masse, the committee chair said.
The approvals covered nominees to the Alabama State course of study (social studies), the University of North Alabama board of trustees, the Alabama State Board of Banking, the Alabama Plumbers and Gasfitters Examining Board and the Alabama Workforce Board. Committee votes were taken by voice and roll call; most measures passed unanimously or by large margins. One vote on banking nominees recorded 14 ayes and one abstention after a senator recused himself because of a workplace connection.
Mac Malden and Jason Eppinger were confirmed to the Alabama State Board of Banking. Mac Malden introduced himself as a banker with Bank Independent in North Alabama. Jason Eppinger identified himself as the president and CEO of Alamerica Bank in Birmingham and said he has about 24 years in the banking industry. The committee recorded the banking confirmations as approved with 14 ayes and one abstention; the transcript shows a senator recused because he works for a bank affiliated with one of the nominees.
The committee also approved Bryant McFarland to a position related to the Alabama State course of study for social studies; the committee recorded 15 yeas and 0 nays on that motion. The University of North Alabama board of trustees nominee Senseria Anne Berry was approved by the committee on a voice/roll call with 15 yays, 0 nays.
Three nominees — Paul Antoine, Marvin Miller and Vincent Brown — were approved to the Alabama Plumbers and Gasfitters Examining Board. Each introduced themselves briefly; Antoine said he began plumbing work in 1973 and later served as a plumbing and fuel gas inspector for Mobile County, and Miller said he teaches plumbing and gas code and works at UAB Hospital. The committee approved those three nominees en masse with 15 yeas and 0 nays.
The committee confirmed two nominees to the Alabama Workforce Board, including Carlos Aleman, who introduced himself as CEO of the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama and a Homewood city councilor; the workforce confirmations passed 15 yays, 0 nays.
Throughout the meeting senators offered brief remarks praising nominees’ qualifications. Committee business concluded with the chair adjourning the confirmations portion of the session and a reminder about an immediate follow-up meeting in an adjacent room.
Votes at a glance - Alabama State course of study (social studies): Bryant McFarland — approved, 15 yea, 0 nay. - University of North Alabama board of trustees: Senseria Anne Berry — approved, 15 yea, 0 nay. - Alabama State Board of Banking: Mac Malden and Jason Eppinger — approved, 14 yea, 1 abstention (one senator recused); motion moved by Senator Smitherman and seconded by Senator Carnley, per the transcript. - Alabama Plumbers and Gasfitters Examining Board: Paul Antoine, Marvin Miller, Vincent Brown — approved en masse, 15 yea, 0 nay. - Alabama Workforce Board: Greg Schuman and Carlos Aleman — approved en masse, 15 yea, 0 nay.
The transcript records senators calling the roll with individual ‘aye’ responses for many names; where roll-call names were read the record shows verbal assent from members. The committee did not take separate, contested votes on individual nominees in the transcript provided.
