New players

MONTGOMERY - The players within the Shoals legislative delegation have changed since the Legislature began its last regular session.

Two veteran lawmakers who represented Lauderdale County have left. The death of Nelson Starkey, D-Florence, and the retirement of Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, leave a noticeable void, at least in terms of experience.

It brings in question whether the county, and the Shoals as a whole, will suffer while two new legislators -- Tammy Irons, D-Florence, and Mike Curtis, D-Greenhill -- familiarize themselves with the process.

"We're both hard workers, so I don't think (newness) matters much,'' said Irons, who replaced Starkey. Irons won a special election last year and won the seat again in the November's general election.

Curtis, whose first legislative experience was last week during the special session, also sees the transition going smoothly

"She and I are going to be able to work well together,'' Curtis said.

Despite the changes, both Irons and Curtis happen to be Democrats, which could be beneficial for the northwest Alabama leadership over the next four years.

The House and Senate remain controlled by Democrats, which means the power structure in the Legislature over the next four years will remain as it has for the past eight years.

"There will be more of the same, the back and forth between the governor and the Senate,'' said Brad Moody, a political science professor at Auburn University Montgomery.

In the House, Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, basically kept the same chairmen of the powerful committees, except for Rep. Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill. Guin, the House majority leader, became chairman of the powerful Rules Committee after the death of its former chairman.

The two budget committees have the same chairmen, Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, of the education finance committee, and Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, of the House General Fund committee.

Although there's a new Senate president pro tem, Sen. Hinton Mitchem, D-Union Grove, the Senate still will be run by Mitchem and the same clique.

They are former Pro Tem Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, who is now the Rules Committee chairman, and Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little, D-Cullman.

Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, remains chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Fund Committee, and Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, stays chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.

In the Shoals, Sen. Bobby Denton, D-Muscle Shoals, and Bedford are part of the power clique because of their membership on budget committees.

Bedford is chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.

Denton, vice chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, is also a member of perhaps the Senate's most powerful committee, the agenda-setting Rules Committee.

Denton is also chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

"My impact will be representing the Shoals area, the six school systems and the university and the community college I represent,'' Denton said.

Although he's a beneficiary of Democrats winning the Senate power struggle, Denton said he's not sure he likes the partisan politics behind it all.

"It used to be based on personal relationships from the governor on down and through committees and positions of leadership,'' Denton said. "It's gotten more party oriented and political since I've been here.''

Denton said now that the organizational fight in the Senate has been settled, he believes Gov. Bob Riley should try to work with senators.

"I hope the administration will come forward a little more and try to reach out to both sides," Denton said. "They should try to be a mediator and bring the two sides together.''

Both Curtis and Irons said they don't expect needs of the Shoals to change from the previous legislative session when others sat in their House seats.

Both said, besides local issues, economic development is the most important issue for them over the next four years.

The Shoals' other House members, Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, Rep. Jody Letson, D-Hillsboro, and Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, all return.

Letson is on the House Government Appropriations Committee, and Morrow is chairman of the House Tourism and Travel Committee.

Black, D-Tuscumbia, as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, heads one of the Legislature's traditionally powerful committees. Irons was appointed to the Judiciary Committee, giving the Shoals two members.

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@aol.com.