Off The Record: The latest rumors and rumblings in North Alabama
Ainsworth vs. Ivey
The beef between Gov. Kay Ivey and Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is nothing new. But this week, Ainsworth relit the fuse at Ivey’s expense by quickly stepping in for her after she snubbed the Alabama Federation of Republican Women over their skepticism of a vindictive push to reform the State Board of Veterans Affairs. In fact, Ainsworth has been on a hot streak, because he and others know how vulnerable the governor and her staff have become on the issue. After he came out in opposition this month to the initial proposal to clear the slate of board members, the Alabama Senate effectively eliminated that portion of the bill, and it’s on track to be advanced by the Alabama House next week. As state lawmakers are left holding the bag on a personal vendetta that has lasted just a bit too long, Ainsworth wisely capitalized and distanced himself from the issue as he continues to mount his own bid for governor in 2026.
The faintest of whispers
Could a metropolitan government be coming to Huntsville and the metro? Considered the third form of local government in the United States, Nashville is a shining example of a consolidated government between county and city. There are whispers of a push for something similar between Huntsville and the surrounding communities could be coming. You might remember a similar idea that cropped up about 30 or so years ago when Madison was having water issues (remember the water police?) and Big Brother Huntsville could expand its services to help its neighbor to the west. However, it didn’t get much farther than the chit-chat phase as Madison resisted.
Chambers gets down to chambering
Madison and Huntsville business leaders joined together this week to travel to Montgomery and push their agendas to Alabama’s lawmakers. The trip was jointly organized by the Huntsville Madison County and the Madison chambers of commerce. A smattering of local elected officials joined the business leaders including Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison County Chairman Mac McCutcheon. Insider buzz on the trip focused on the upcoming City of Madison elections when the mayor position as well as all seven council seats will be on the ballot. Speculation swirled that more council candidates will soon be joining several competitive races and a major announcement in the mayor’s race is just around the corner. Finley has announced he will not seek another term but news on possible candidates for the August election has been oddly quiet. According to several sources on the trip, that silence will end soon.
If you build it …
The saga of expanding Toyota Field may be coming to a close. It seems that the City of Madison is close to nixing a $30 million reno that could generate millions in tax revenue in favor of two lower-cost options. Ballcorps, the Rocket City Trash Pandas ownership group, said it would pay for the $30 million plan which would have a four-story building, more seating, a restaurant and party deck in left field (where the elevator structure is) and more parking. But the organization won’t pick up the tab for two lesser-cost “make-do fixes” to make the 5-year-old ballpark Major League Baseball compliant. Mayor Paul Finley is pitching the lower-cost options. Whatever option is chosen, the reno has an MLB-set deadline of April 2026.