An obscure Montgomery nonprofit funded by state lawmakers, political action committees (PACs) and at least one congressman is paying for redistricting in Alabama.
Citizens for Fair Representation, founded in November 2020 by three political consultants, raised approximately $109,000 from state legislators and PACS from December 2020 to January 2022.
“It was a 501(c)4 used to pay redistricting expenses is the best I can think of,” Joint Redistricting Committee Co-Chair State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) told 1819 News on Friday .
Joint Redistricting Committee Co-Chairman Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) said “no idea” when asked about the nonprofit and what redistricting expenses it funds.
The legislature convened in 2021 to redraw its state legislative and congressional district lines in a process known as redistricting. The US Supreme Court recently rejected the congressional map in its 5-4 Allen v. Milligan, and the Legislature is about to go into a special session on July 17 to consider new congressional maps.
The legislature redraws district lines every ten years after the last to adjust for population changes in the latest census numbers. The way state congressional or legislative districts are drawn can affect whether a candidate or elected official is eligible in a district.
According to a document obtained by 1819 News, a consultant helping Republican leaders in 2021 contracted with Citizens for Fair Representation to analyze the U.S. Census and other data relevant to redistricting.
“(The consultant) will meet with office holders to discuss population changes or changes in their districts. Each district will be analyzed to see if it has gained or lost population to determine how the election lines should be adjusted. district to restore the district to its current status. required population size The consultant will work with the Redistricting Committee, the Speakers of the House and Senate, Legislative Leadership, and the Committee’s Legal Counsel to draw districts that meet the constitutional and statutory requirements and meet the state’s goals of improving the representation of all Alabama citizens,” the document says. “Citizens for Fair Representation, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. It will contract with the consultant helping Republican leaders redraw the designated number of congressional districts, eight school board districts, 35 Senate and 105 House districts for the state of Alabama based on the 2020 census. It will remove the burden on taxpayers and raise funds necessary to cover the cost of the consultant. No part of the funds raised will generate financial benefit or gain from no public official or public employee and no funds shall be used to influence the outcome of any election or candidate.”
Citizens for Fair Representation was formed by Elizabeth Williams, Ashley Newman and Bradley Cox, according to a filing with the Office of the Secretary of State. Cox did not return a request for comment about the organization Friday.
According to Open Secrets, US Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) made a donation through his campaign to Citizens for Fair Representation in January 2021.
“Members of Congress obviously have a vested interest in how district lines are drawn and whether it will divide communities into their districts. Federal Election Commission rules allow campaign funds to be used in the redistricting process districts. This is to provide resources to give lawmakers multiple options to redraw the lines as needed each decade,” an Aderholt campaign spokesman told 1819 News on Friday.
Another key figure in Alabama’s redistricting process is longtime political consultant Randy Hinaman, who has acknowledged being compensated by Citizens for Fair Representation.
In a transcript of a video deposition included in a 2021 filing in the United States District Court for Northern AlabamaHinaman said he had been hired by the nonprofit to “draw four maps, of Congress, the State Senate, the State House and the State Board of Education.” .
When asked why a 501(c)(4) organization unlike the state of Alabama, Hinaman said legislative leadership had created it “for the purpose of drawing districts,” including the 2011 and that he had continued it in 2021.
According to records with the Alabama Secretary of State, current and former state legislators, including past and present members of legislative leadership, and PACs who donated to Citizens for Fair Representation include:
State Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) – $5,000
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) – $2,500
State Rep. Corley Ellis (R-Columbiana) – $500
State Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) – $27,000
State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) – $5,000
Former state Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) – $5,000
State Rep. Wesley Kitchens (R-Guntersville) – $500
Former state Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette) – $500
State Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City) – $500
State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) – $5,000
State Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) – $5,000
State Sen. Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) – $5,000
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) – $5,000
Maynard, Cooper and Gale PAC: $5,000
Tucker PAC: $2,500
Adams and Reese Alabama PAC: $2,500
State Sen. Randy Price (R-Opelika) – $5,000
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) – $2,500
Alabama House Majority PAC: $2,500
State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) – $500
State Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) – $2,000
State Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden) – $1,000
State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) – $1,000
State Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) – $250
State Rep. Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden) – $500
State Rep. Randy Wood (R-Anniston) – $500
State Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile) – $500
State Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) – $500
State Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley) – $1,000
Former state Sen. Jimmy Holley (R-Elba) – $5,000
Former Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) – $5,000
Former state Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) – $5,000
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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