Governor Bob Riley was sworn into office for a second term as Alabama’s chief executive in January 2007, following a successful first term marked by great progress for the state. During those first four years, Governor Riley made good on promises to improve education, put Alabama’s economy on the right track and restore honesty to the Governor’s Office. The people overwhelmingly endorsed the Governor’s actions and his vision for a second term. They re-elected him with 58% of the vote, making him only the third sitting Alabama governor to win re-election in modern times.

Bob Riley was born and raised in the small Clay County town of Ashland, where his family has lived on ranches and farms for six generations. After graduating from the University of Alabama at age 20 with a degree in business administration, he returned to his hometown, married his high school sweetheart, Patsy Adams, and began a 30-year career in the private sector in which he ran several successful businesses and a cattle farm. On their ranch in Ashland, Bob and Patsy Riley raised a family of four children: Rob, Jenice, Minda and Krisalyn. Continue »

Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State of Alabama on November 7, 2006. Jim Folsom, Jr. was born May 14, 1949, the oldest son of Governor James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, Sr. (one of the first Southern governors to support civil rights and integration) and Jamelle Folsom. Jim Jr. was raised in Montgomery and Cullman with his eight brothers and sisters. Governor Folsom graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1974, having paid his way by working at the yarn mill and post office. Following graduation, Folsom worked with the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations and Reynolds Metals. In 1978, Folsom was elected to the Public Service Commission, where he served two terms. In 1986 and 1990, he was elected Lt. Governor, each time with overwhelming majorities. As Lt. Governor, Folsom demonstrated an ability to bring people together, building diverse coalitions to get things done. As a result, many effective and ground-breaking pieces of legislation were adopted during his tenure. In April 1993, hours after his predecessor was removed from office, Jim Folsom, Jr. was sworn in as Alabama's 50th Governor. Lauded for creating Alabama's most diverse cabinet and staff by appointing many women and African-Americans to key posts statewide, Governor Folsom also directed that the Confederate flag be moved from the Capitol dome to war memorials. Continue »

Representative Phil Williams was elected in a special election in 2009 to represent House District 6 in Madison County. He was born and raised on a small farm in Alabama, graduated from The University of Alabama in Huntsville with a degree in International Business, and speaks fluent French.

Representative Mike Ball was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children - Chris, Cara, and Mandy, and a grandson, Jacob. Mike received his A.S. in Criminal Justice from Jefferson State Junior College and his B.S. in Political Science from Athens State University. He is a member of Asbury Methodist United Methodist Church in Madison.

Mike served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1973 to 1977 and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. In 1978, he became an Alabama State Trooper, and served 8 years in the Highway Patrol Division. In 1986, he was assigned to serve in the Major Crimes Unit of the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. In addition to his investigative duties, Mike also served as a Hostage Negotiator. He retired from the Alabama Department of Public Safety on January 1, 2003. After his retirement from the Department of Public Safety, Mike and his son Chris have operated the family business, Ball Roofing.

Mike also enjoys singing and playing mandolin with The Madison Mountaintop Band. A student of several musical instruments, he particularly enjoys improvisation with other "shade tree" musicians.

Representative Laura Hall was elected in 1993. She was born on January 25, 1943, received her B.S. from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina, and M.A. from Ohio State University. She currently works as an Administrator at Calhoun Community College. She and her husband, John, are the parents of a daughter, Janeka, and the grandparents of Darren, Breana, and Mia. Representative Hall is a past Member of the Board of Directors for the Constitution Hall Village, and is currently a member of the Madison County Democratic Women, the Madison County Women's Political Caucus, serves on the Advisory Board of Directors for the AID Action Coalition, and the Central, North Alabama Health Center.

Representative Howard Sanderford was first elected in 1989.

He received his B.S. Degree in Accounting from Mississippi State University. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Representative Sanderford was an executive with IBM and is now President of Computer Leasing Company, Inc.

He and his wife, Dot, are the parents of three adult daughters, and are active members of First Baptist Church of Huntsville.

Representative Sanderford has served as past President of the Huntsville Rotary Club, past Chairman of the Madison County Republican Executive Committee, past Co-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Free Enterprise Committee, past Vice President of the Metropolitan YMCA Board, and was a member of the Alabama Commission on Aerospace Sciences and the Alabama Management Improvement Program.

He is currently a board member of the Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Volunteers of America of North Alabama, YMCA, Alabama Men’s Hall of Fame, and Alabama Board of Medical Scholarship Awards.

He is a member of the Judiciary Committee, Boards and Commissions (Vice Chair), Madison County Legislation, Sunset Committee (Co-Chair), Joint Legislative State Parks Committee, and Joint Legislative Medal of Honor Committee (Chair). Representative Sanderford is also a member of these National/Regional Committees: Southern Legislative Committee (Executive Committee) and the Energy Council.

He and his wife, Leslie, have five children: Anna, Alan-Michael, Jeremy, Whitney and Morgan, and are the grandparents of Kellen, Aiden, and Aubrey.

Representative Hinshaw received his A.S. Degree from John C. Calhoun College and Athens State University. He currently works as a Workforce Development Program Director.

He is a past member of the Madison County Mental Health Board and past vice president of the Northeast Huntsville Civic Association. Representative Hinshaw is a member of the Alabama New South Coalition and Alabama Democratic Conference.

In addition to his Standing Committee assignments, Representative Hinshaw also serves on the Joint Legislative Highway Committee representing the Fifth Congressional District.

Representative Butch Taylor is serving his first term in the Alabama House of Representatives. He was elected to the House District 22 seat in a special election held on March 6, 2007.

He is retired from the Madison County Board of Education where he served as a teacher and coach for 31 years.

Representative Taylor and his wife, Ann, live in New Hope. He is stepfather to Shellie Richardson and Sherrie Morrison. He is also the father of one son, Jake.

He has eight step-grandchildren, a grandson and granddaughter

Representative Mac McCutcheon was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2006 and serves the communities of Madison City, Capshaw, Monrovia and East Limestone. He is a native of Madison County, Alabama.

He has a A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Calhoun Community College and a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Trinity University. Representative McCutcheon has been a farmer and worked 25 years with the Huntsville Police Department and the City of Huntsville Municipal Court System. His career in law enforcement includes Police Officer, Police Trainer, Investigator/Major Crimes, Hostage Negotiator and Probation Officer.

Additionally, he is a member of College Park Church of God.

He is a member of the American Legion, Fraternal Order of Police, Alabama Peace Officers, North Alabama Emmaus Community, Tennessee Valley Smallmouth Bass Club and City of Madison Chamber of Commerce.

Representative McCutcheon and his wife Debbie are the parents of two children. They have a granddaughter and a grandson. He enjoys fishing, boating and spending time with his family..

Senator Butler, born April 9, 1944, in Huntsville, Alabama, is serving his fourth term in the Senate after serving from 1982-1994 in the House of Representatives. He received his degrees from the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Senator Butler and his wife, Karen, are the parents of two children: Robin and Jill. He is a Pharmacist/Health Underwriter, Baptist, Democrat, and is a member of the Optimist, the Alabama Pharmaceutical Association, and the North Alabama Health Underwriters Association. Senator Butler enjoys golf, hiking, and white water rafting.

Senator Arthur Orr was elected to the Alabama Senate, November 7, 2006. He was born in 1964, at Decatur. Senator Orr received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was a partner in one of the oldest and largest North Alabama law firms and is now General Counsel for Cook's Pest Control, Inc. Senator Orr is married to the former Amy Wallace Bethshares of Decatur. They are members of First Bible Church in Decatur and have one son, Jack.

A former U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, Senator Orr also served as a new country developer (Bangladesh) and staff attorney for Habitat for Humanity International in the Asia/Pacific area for years. He has been active in the Decatur-Morgan County area serving as Chairman of the Calhoun College Foundation, Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Community Foundation, President of the Decatur Rotary Club, Chairman of the Volunteer Center, President of Main Street Decatur, Chairman of the City Beautification Board, President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He helped start the Community Free Clinic for the working poor and serves on its board as well as several other non-profit boards throughout his district.

Senator Paul Sanford was elected to the Senate, June 9, 2009, to fill the unexpired term of former Senator Parker Griffith, who resigned from the Senate upon being elected to Congress.

Senator Barron is serving his seventh term in the Senate. In 1983, he became the only successful write-in candidate in the history of the Alabama Legislature. He was born on April 22, 1942, in Jackson County and received his B.S. degree in Pharmacy from Auburn University. Senator Barron has four children and five grandchildren. Senator Barron is a businessman, a Democrat, a Baptist, and is a former member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees. He lists hunting, golf, and tennis as his hobbies. Senator Barron served terms as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, 1999-2006. The newly-comprised Senate shall elect its President Pro Tempore during the 2007 Organizational Session, or if called into a prior Special Session.

Senator Mitchem is serving his eighth term in the Senate after serving one term in the House of Representatives. Born in Oconee County, Georgia on May 18, 1938, he is the owner of Hinton Mitchem Tractor Co., Inc. He received his B.S. degree in Education from the University of Georgia. Senator Mitchem is the father of three children: Todd, Tonya, and Derrick. He is a Democrat, a Presbyterian, and a Rotarian. He enjoys golf and traveling in his spare time. Senator Mitchem was elected President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate on January 9, 2007, and resigned that position on February 5, 2009.