By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
State Representative Phil Williams (R from Huntsville) will speak to the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans on Thursday, November 12th at their monthly meeting at Sidebar in the Lakeview District of Birmingham.
The social begins at 6:00 pm and the formal meeting kicks off at 6:30 pm.
Outgoing Chairman Jackie Curtiss said in a statement, “This month we have a very exciting speaker, Rep. Phil Williams (Madison/Limestone Counties). Rep. Williams, one of Alabama’s leading tax fighters, is seeking to oust Speaker Mike Hubbard from the state house’s top leadership post. He will share with us about his background, what led him to seek the speaker’s position, and his plans for reforming Alabama State House leadership.”
The Second term Representative from Huntsville gained statewide attention for his stand along with a small but growing band of fiscal conservatives within the GOP State House and Senate Caucuses. Williams said on the floor of the House “State Representative Phil Williams (R from Huntsville) said, “I am not totally an anti-tax guy. There are times where I would vote for tax increases.” “But we are just kicking the can down the road.” “Taxes are a necessary part of life and my family has paid a ton of them, but when we have an incredibly UNFAIR system of taxes in our state I will not vote to raise a few extra bucks to “pay the utility bills in the ivory towers of Montgomery”. So many of the political class do not even participate and work out “tax credits” for themselves. The Legislature knows this. In September 2012 we were told that if we could borrow the funds to deal with that years crisis we would make tax reform measures a priority so today’s crisis would not come. We did not, and here we are.”
The current Speaker of the Alabama House, Rep. Mike Hubbard (R from Auburn) is currently facing trial sometime next year for 23 counts of felony ethics law violations for his alleged inappropriate financial conduct as both the Speaker of the House and as Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. Some GOP legislators have told the ‘Alabama Political Reporter’ that Hubbard’s ongoing legal saga and the continuing questions about his personal ethics is hurting the Republican brand in Alabama.
The November GBYR meeting is also an election meeting for the state’s largest Young Republican Club. “At this meeting, we will hold our annual officer elections. If you are interested in running for a position or if you have any questions, please contact Jackie at[email protected]. Only paid members will be allowed to vote.”
The announced candidates are: Chairman – Justin Barkley; Vice Chairman – Haley Lucido; Secretary – Mary Meighan Warren; Treasurer – Caleb Parker; State Committeeman – Sean Grehalva; State Committeewoman – Anna Schmarkey; County Liaison – Zach Bowman; and Sergeant at Arms – Alex Cobb.
Chairman candidate Justin Barkley is also running for the State Board of Education against incumbent Stephanie Bell (R).
The annual dues to be a member of the GBYRs are $25 for individuals and $35 for married couples.
