County Commission | The Magazine January 2020 | Page 32

NEWS YOU CAN USE
Smith joins ‘County Caucus’
I
n a special election late last year,
central Alabama voters sent
another member of the “County
Family” to the Alabama Legislature.
Rep. Van Smith had served on
the Autauga County Commission
for five years when he won election
to represent Autauga and Chilton
counties in the Alabama House of
Representatives. This puts him in a
select group of legislators who have
made the move from the courthouse
to the Statehouse, a group
unofficially and affectionately known
as the “County Caucus.”
“Some legislators just have a head
start when it comes to understanding
county issues, and it is a privilege to
continue relationships with senators
and representatives who have served
at the county level,” said Sonny
Brasfield, ACCA Executive Director.
A native of Chilton County,
Smith is a retired educator who
taught agriscience before moving
into school administration. He has
been a full-time farmer since 2013.
As the 2020 Regular Session
begins, there are 14 legislators
in the County Caucus — a pair
of members in the Senate and
an even dozen in the House of
Representatives. n
Rep. Van Smith
SENATE
Sen. Clyde Chambliss
J County Commission Service: Autauga
J Counties in Senate District: Autauga, Chilton, Coosa,
Elmore and Tallapoosa
J Legislative Leadership Duties: Chair, Senate Local
Legislation Committee, and Majority Floor Leader
Sen. Chris Elliott
J County Commission Service: Baldwin
J County in Senate District: Baldwin
J Legislative Leadership Duties: Vice Chair,
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rep. Jim Carns Rep. Joe Faust
Rep. Corley Ellis Rep. Berry Forte
J County Commission Service: Jefferson
J Counties in House District: Jefferson and Shelby
J Legislative Leadership Duties: Chair, House Commerce
and Small Business Committee
J County Commission Service: Shelby
J County in House District: Shelby
J Legislative Leadership Duties: Vice Chair, House
Insurance Committee
32 | JANUARY 2020
J County Commission Service: Baldwin
J County in House District: Baldwin
J Legislative Leadership Duties: Vice Chair, House
Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee
J County Commission Service: Barbour
J Counties in House District: Barbour, Bullock and Russell
J Legislative Leadership Duties: Ranking Minority
Member, House Economic Development and Tourism
Committee, and Ranking Minority Member, House
Commerce and Small Business Committee