Gov. Asa Hutchinson has scheduled a special election on May 22, 2018, to fill the state House District 83 seat vacated by David L. Branscum.

The primary will be February 13 and a primary runoff, if necessary, on March 13.

Branscum vacated the seat to become the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development director in Arkansas.

Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election for House District 21. The seat is vacant due to the sudden passing of Rep. Jim Patterson earlier this October.

A special primary election will be held on January 9, 2018, and the special general election will be held on March 27, 2018, provided a runoff is not required.

If a runoff is required, the special runoff election will be held on March 27, 2018, and the special general election will be held on June 12, 2018.

Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election for Senate District 26. The vacancy is a result of state Sen. Quinton Ross accepting a contract to become the next president of Alabama State University.

The special election schedule coincides with the special election for House District 4. As a result, a special primary election will be held on December 12, 2017, and the special general election will be held on February 27, 2018, provided a runoff is not required.

If a runoff is required, the special primary election will be held on February 27, 2018, and the special general election will be held on May 15, 2018.

Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election for House District 4. The vacancy is a result of former state Rep. Mick Hammon’s mail fraud conviction.

A special primary election will be held on December 12, 2017, and the special general election will be held on February 27, 2018, provided a runoff is not required.

If a runoff is required, the special primary election will be held on February 27, 2018, and the special general election will be held on May 15, 2018.

Writing a monthly column doesn’t come easy for me…I want to find something to pique your interest but not make you fall asleep reading. I was kind of stuck waiting until the 11th hour to write the column when I thought I would see what I wrote in previous Septembers. (So now you will all know I am a technological pack rat and save everything I have written.)

In 2014—three years ago I still have seven (7) states to visit in this country. Now, I know those of you who follow me on Facebook cannot believe I have not been to all 50 states.  I had not completed it by 2014 and I am sorry to say I still have not reached the goal.

I really thought I could knock off South Dakota with Sen. Deb Peters at the NCSL Executive Committee meeting in October but it conflicts with a few other events that week and I cannot get there.  There is still a chance I can knock this off by taking a US vacation to see Mount Rushmore.

Back to the subject. I am now down to the Final Four!!!

• Alabama
• Montana
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

What are your outstanding ones? And, if any of you have Ohio on that list, you need to call me to attend any of a number sporting events—Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland CAVS, Akron Rubber Ducks, or a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I also have season tickets to the home games to Kent State University Golden Flashes. #flashesforever

I have a new goal and there is a new year coming up…Let’s do it!

Until next month, put your list together of states still left to see and hit the road.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

President and CEO
@elizabethbartz

Appointed U.S. Senator Luther Strange and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore will be going head-to-head on September 26 because neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round of the Republican primary election.

President Trump and establishment Republicans have lined up behind Strange, but Moore has wide appeal among religious conservatives across the Yellowhammer State.

The winner of the runoff election will face Democrat Doug Jones, a former U.S. Attorney who coasted to victory in the first round, on December 12.

Gov. Kay Ivey banned lobbyists from executive branch appointments in an executive order dated July 13, 2017.

The order states public officials or public employees of the executive branch are prohibited from appointing a registered lobbyist to any executive agency. Any lobbyist currently serving in a position within the executive branch may finish their current term.

The press release and executive order can be found on the Governors website.

The Alabama Ethics Commission declined to vote on an advisory opinion recommending site consultants for companies considering moving to Alabama to register as lobbyists.

Economic development officials opposed the opinion because it could hurt business recruiting efforts.

There was no formal vote on the motion to approve the advisory opinion for lack of a second.

The Legislature adjourned sine die late Friday, May 19, 2017.

Bills to block removal of Confederate monuments and allow certified midwives to deliver babies in the home both passed.

Lawmakers failed to pass the prison bill and Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to revisit the issue in a special session.

According to the memorandum filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, the Alabama Ethics Commission has agreed existing Alabama law permits lobbyists to satisfy the ethics training requirement if they participate in live training sessions on their computer, even if not physically present.

Additionally, reasonable accommodations will be made for those persons with a legitimate conflict during the time and date that live streaming is made available.

The commission will begin live streaming by May of 2017.

The commission has yet to publicly release a statement.

Gov. Kay Ivey moved the U.S. Senate seat special election from November 6, 2018, to December 12, 2017. The special election is needed to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by U.S. Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions.

Former Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Luther Strange to fill the vacancy and scheduled the election for 2018, allowing Strange to serve as an incumbent for 22 months.

Ivey changed the date of the election to better follow Alabama law, which clearly states a special election may only be delayed until the next regular election if the senate vacancy occurred within four months of the next regular election.

The special primary will now be held on August 15, 2017, with a special runoff on September 26, 2017. The special general is scheduled for December 12, 2017.

On April 10, 2017, Gov. Robert Bentley resigned as the 53rd governor of Alabama.

The resignation follows the Alabama Ethics Commission finding probable cause he violated state ethics laws.

Kay Ivey was sworn in as the 54th governor of Alabama immediately following Bentley’s resignation. Ivey is the second woman to serve as governor of Alabama.

The Alabama Ethics Commission found probable cause to believe Gov. Robert Bentley committed violations of both the Alabama Ethics Act and the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

The investigation is related to Bentley’s relationship with Rebekah Mason, a former political adviser.

The matter has been referred to the Montgomery County District Attorney for further review and potential prosecution.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced a special election will be held on April 18, 2017, for state Senate District 32.

Sen. Judson Hill resigned from the seat to run in the special election for the Sixth Congressional District, scheduled for the same day, to replace Rep. Tom Price.

If necessary, a runoff election will be held on May 16. Candidate qualifying runs for three days, beginning February 22, 2017.