Byrne announces statewide leadership team

By Jennifer J. Foster

Published: September 21, 2009

Thanks to the technical skills of the Opelika-Auburn News’ resident computer whiz, my blog has a new category for press releases.

Our first such entry comes from Alabama Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne, who announcing his statewide leadership team last week.

One note: Auburn/Opelika connections are all over this announcement. Jimmy Rane is, of course, a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees; Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller sits on Byrne’s steering committee; state finance committee member Dan Broughton lives in Opelika; and Oline Price, who will chair Byrne’s effort in Lee County, is also Lee County’s Revenue Commissioner.

Conservative reformer Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne, who, as former chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system has been credited with cleaning up an entrenched culture of institutional corruption inside the postsecondary system, today announced a distinguished group of Alabama business, civic and community leaders who have committed their support to him and will serve, under the leadership of Campaign Chairman Jimmy Rane, as key advisers to the Byrne for Alabama 2010 campaign.

Making today’s announcement, Byrne said, “It is truly an honor and a distinct privilege to announce the tremendous group of leaders who have generously offered their support and considerable time, talents and resources to this campaign and to our goal of moving Alabama forward on the strength of proven, experienced and uncompromising leadership.

“The men and women who have agreed to lead our campaign as members of our State Steering Committee, State Finance Committee and as leaders in their counties truly represent the best and brightest in Alabama,“ Byrne added. “Their dedicated support is tremendously energizing; each of them has a long-time and proven commitment to building a better Alabama; and their support will be critical to our campaign as we mobilize our grassroots effort and take our call for serious ethics reform, meaningful education improvement and new job creation through vigorous economic development to Alabamians all across the state in the coming weeks and months.“

An enthusiastic Rane also weighed in on the impressive leadership team during a festive event celebrating the Grand Opening of Byrne for Alabama State Campaign Headquarters in Montgomery.  “The proven leaders and respected citizens represented on the Byrne for Alabama 2010 leadership team are indicative of the strong support Bradley Byrne has already earned from one end of Alabama to the other,“ Rane told a cheering crowd of supporters. “I look forward with great enthusiasm to working with this winning team of committed Alabamians to make sure Bradley Byrne is elected the next governor of this great state and has the opportunity to continue his successful record as an inspiring leader and tireless reformer.“

To read the rest of the release and see the names of the others who will coordinate Byrne’s campaign throughout the state, click here.