By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
The Madison County Commission is formally calling on Kay Ivey to appoint the county’s next commission chairman from its current members following the retirement announcement of Chairman Mac McCutcheon.
McCutcheon announced in December that he will retire effective March 1, 2026, creating a vacancy that state law requires the governor to fill through appointment.
In a resolution unanimously approved at a recent meeting, commissioners asked the governor to give “necessary, careful and proper consideration” to selecting a currently serving commissioner. The resolution was transmitted by County Attorney Jeff Rich to members of the county’s legislative delegation.
The vote included McCutcheon and Commissioners Tom Brandon, Steve Haraway, Craig Hill, Phil Vandiver, Phil Riddick and Violet Edwards.
According to the governor’s office, an appointment will be made once the vacancy officially occurs. “She hopes to be able to appoint a replacement as soon as possible after he leaves office,” spokesperson Gina Maiola said.
In its resolution, the commission emphasized that current members collectively bring more than 60 years of experience and argued that Madison County’s rapid growth demands seasoned leadership. Officials pointed to major ongoing initiatives such as road and bridge construction, development of a new courthouse and administration building, water resource planning, inmate housing and community facility projects.
Commissioners said these priorities would be best served by someone already engaged in the work, noting the importance of continuity, institutional knowledge and maintaining stability for taxpayers.
McCutcheon, a former Alabama House of Representatives Speaker and longtime Huntsville Police Department officer, was appointed chairman in 2023 after Dale Strong was elected to Congress. He later won a full term in 2024.
While the commission has expressed its preference, political observers say the governor is not bound by the resolution. Reports suggest state leaders and legislators may also weigh in as the decision approaches.
Governor Ivey has not announced a timeline for selecting McCutcheon’s successor.