Gov. Tuberville? Who’s got next in Madison? an Oats ovation and more in this week’s OTR

Off The Record: The latest rumors and rumblings in North Alabama

Gov. Tuberville?  

As we get closer to determining who our next President might be we are hearing more speculation on how that election result might impact politics in Alabama. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is known to be very close to former President Donald Trump so rumors of him possibly joining a Trump Cabinet have been running through the state for months. But lately a new rumor has popped up that if Trump is not successful, or if the right post in the Cabinet doesn’t materialize, Tuberville might jump into the 2026 governor’s race. Such an entry would certainly give pause to all other rumored candidates as Tuberville’s popularity with Alabama voters makes him all but unbeatable in the opinion of many political observers.

Madison’s next mayor

Mayor Paul Finley’s announcement had all eyes on Madison this week. Finley announced Tuesday he would not be seeking a fourth term. With an open mayor seat and numerous rumored council seats up for grabs in the next election, many are asking who’s next? We can report Finley’s press conference wasn’t even over before calls for City Council member Ranae Bartlett to run for mayor reached a fever pitch. Bartlett has not made an announcement at this time but the support for a run is certainly there.

Oats ovation

It was a hero’s welcome for Alabama men’s basketball Head Coach Nate Oats this week in the Rocket City. Ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 preseason men’s college basketball rankings, Alabama defeated Memphis in an exhibition game in front of a sellout crowd at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena on Monday night. The North Alabama crowd greeted the Oats and the team rather enthusiastically. “You would have thought Nick Saban was walking into the VBC,” according to one onlooker.

Presidential pizza

The award-winning Original Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar is celebrating the upcoming presidential election. Special pizza boxes featuring cartoon likenesses of the two presidential candidates are available for a limited time. Owner Joe Carlucci explains in a video that pizza lovers can order a red or blue pizza box. However, they don’t offer a blue box. “They are only in red because we are going red so you can’t get blue. You can dye it when you get home, it’s up to you,” he said.