HUNTSVILLE — As Alabama heads into an election year, former State Rep. Mike Ball says voters should look beyond campaign rhetoric and pay close attention to how their elected officials conduct themselves when politics and governing collide.
Ball, who represented Madison County’s House District 10 for two decades, said election-year legislative sessions can be productive, but the nature and pace of the work are often influenced by the political calendar.
“Politics is not about issues, certainly not campaigns,” Ball said. “It’s about emotion. Statesmen calm fears. Politicians often stoke them.”
According to Ball, incumbents facing challengers are often mindful of avoiding controversial votes while their opponents are free to campaign back home. That reality can influence how lawmakers approach the session.
“It’s smart to try to avoid controversy,” Ball said. “Get in and get out and get the election over.”
Ball said while most legislators genuinely want to do good, the constant pull of election cycles can limit long-term thinking.
“Most of the people in politics want to do good. They try to do good,” Ball said. “But when you’re always trying to please people and manage elections at the same time, that’s when things get messy.”
He urged voters to watch for leaders who prioritize service over sound bites and who seek to steady public discourse rather than inflame it. Ball now says he is not affiliated with any political party.
After leaving office in 2022, Ball reflected on his time in public service through his memoir, “Picking, Politicking, and Pontificating (While Faithfully Fighting Corruption)“. The book combines his personal story with an insider’s look at Alabama politics, including how the state transitioned to a Republican supermajority and the ethical challenges that marked the mid-2010s.
Ball said his background in law enforcement shaped how he viewed politics, often approaching legislative conflicts through an investigative lens.
“Normal people don’t get to see what’s really going on,” he said. “I felt a responsibility to explain what I was seeing and how it affected the truth and justice.”
Despite his criticisms, Ball said he remains grateful for the opportunity to serve and believes the public should not lose faith entirely in those who choose public office.
“One of the biggest secrets is that most people in politics are not as bad as they’re painted to be,” he said. “They want to do good. But politics is an ugly game, and it can bring out the worst in some of the best people.”
Ball, who lives in Madison with his wife Karen, said his hope for voters this election year is simple: Look for leaders who act as servants first and politicians second.
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