June 8, 2006

Officials elected at Girls State

TROY – A new governor will be sworn in along with a new slate of state and county officials tonight at Troy University.

About 350 high school junior girls – all delegates to the 64th Annual Girls State – have elected their leaders for the next year.

The girls are attending the American Legion Auxiliary’s program that provides opportunities for Alabama’s students to participate in a hands-on citizenship training program that spans more than 50 years in the state, and 60 years nationally.

Elected to state offices were:

• Governor Bethany McAleer of Vestavia Hills
• Lieutenant Governor Candace Barnes of Monroeville
• Attorney General Jennifer Clegg of Hampton Cove
• Chief Justice Kristina Azar of Huntsville
• Secretary of State Brittney Kindall of Docena
• Treasurer Tiffany Dy of Clanton
• Commissioner of Agriculture Brittany Ballard of Brantley

During their week in Troy, the delegates organize cities, vote on officials, develop and pass legislation and hear from the state’s real-life elected officials. This year, 15 cities have been organized and each city elects a mayor and city council.

The winning candidates for state offices first won the support of their political party during primary elections on Wednesday. Whistle stop visits to the residents of the three counties at Girls State and campaign speeches preceded the general election on Thursday morning.

Judge Sue Bell Cobb will administer the Oath of Office to all newly elected state officials at the State Inauguration tonight. Captain Kelly Sams, Deputy Director of Mission Support at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Squadron Officer College, will provide the keynote address.

On June 9, the delegates will travel to the State Capitol, meeting with Gov. Bob Riley and conducting the assembly’s fifth legislative session in the House and Senate chambers.

A straw poll taken at Girls State for the real Alabama Governor’s election predicted re-election for Gov. Bob Riley, who received 188 votes. Democratic nominee Lucy Baxley received 107 votes.

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