Saturday February 23, 2019
The Alabama Republican Winter Conference was held this afternoon at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. Chairman Terry Lathan reported that 65% of all state partisan elected positions are now Republican. There are 463 members of the State GOP Executive Committee, 350 in attendance today.
Bibb County was well represented by members of the Bibb County State Executive Committee consisting of Business Owner Josh Lambert, Probate Judge Stephanie Kemmer, State Representative April Weaver, Retired Judge Jerry Pow (Bibb GOP Chairman), County Commissioner Keefe Burt, Chamber of Commerce Executive Valerie Cook and Alabama Power Executive Mike Oakley.
Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was on hand to speak to the conference.
During brief remarks to the audience gathered for the event, Sessions stressed advancing policies on immigration and America’s workers, especially those making less than $50,000 annually. During that address, Sessions received three standing ovations from those in attendance, suggesting he remains very much in favor with Alabama’s Republican hierarchy.
Immediately after Sessions addressed the crowd, former Alabama Republican Party chairman Edgar Welden honored Sessions and his wife by announcing they established an endowed scholarship in Jeff Sessions and his wife Mary Sessions’ name at Montgomery’s Huntingdon College, their alma mater.
On Friday evening the Alabama Republican Party hosted a dinner for 600 Republicans from around the state at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham. Attendees included federal, state and county elected officials.
The keynote speaker for the dinner was Colonel Mark Tillman. Col. Tillman served as the nation’s 12th Presidential Pilot as the commander of Air Force One under President George W. Bush for eight years.
He protected the president on September 11, 2001 by keeping him from harm’s way and connecting the flying Oval Office with first responders and national leaders during the 9/11 attacks. He commanded more than 200 Air Force One Presidential Missions and four war-zone trips.
State Representative April Weaver said about the meeting “I think the huge attendance at both the sold out Friday night Republican dinner and the Saturday morning State Executive Committee meeting this weekend shows just how important is to Alabamians that we preserve our conservative values. It’s great to see so many people from across the state that are dedicated to keeping the Republican Party strong.
Bibb Committee Representative Mike Oakley added “I am proud to represent Bibb County on the state executive committee. I’ve been on the committee for over 15 years and we are at the most critical time in our nations history. I am proud of Alabama taking the lead for conservative, limited government and the rule of law. “ Mike was able to attend with his wife Sharon Oakley and is pictured here with former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
