By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—Between January, 2012, and September, 2014, Speaker Mike Hubbard received $12,000.00 a month in compensation from the Southeast Alabama Gas District (SEAGD) for his economic development services.
In announcing Hubbard’s position, the company said, the “Board Retains Auburn Network and Mike Hubbard to help market [the] region to site selectors, prospective companies.”
Hubbard disclosed this contract to the Ethics Commission, who said of the arrangement, “The general prohibition continues to apply, in that the Speaker may not use his position or mantle of his office to assist him in obtaining consulting opportunities or providing benefits to his consulting business or his clients. Otherwise, other than this, we see no problems.”
Yet, Hubbard’s history has shown that he has used his position and the mantle of his office to assist his clients.
Hubbard, however, did not disclose his contract with SEAGD to his House and Senate colleagues, neither did he inform the Ethic’s Commission or other legislators that John Gregory (Greg) Henderson the CEO of SEAGD, who was his wife’s first cousin.
Hubbard’s wife, Susan Sorrells Hubbard, lists on her State ethics form that she is the daughter of Harold and Jeanette Sorrells. (see Susan Hubbard’s ethics form page1, page2, page3, page4)
Mrs. Hubbard’s father Harold Sorrells is the brother of Peggy Ann (Sorrells) Henderson. Peggy is married to John Jake Henderson.
Greg Henderson the head of SEAGD is the son of Peggy and Jake Henderson, making Greg Henderson and Susan Hubbard first cousins.
On many fronts it appears the Hubbards, Hendersons and Sorrels like to keep business in the family.
Susan Hubbard’s father was not only Chairman of the Alabama Trucking Association, but he was also the a member and Chairman of the Alabama Ethics Commission.
During the 2013 Legislative session, Speaker Hubbard made sure his father-in-law received an accommodation from the State for his “outstanding service.”
