Bob Riley

From dKosopedia

Category: Alabama Republicans

Alabama Governor Bob Riley (born October 3, 1944), is a member of the Republican Party. Riley was sworn into office as Alabama's 52nd chief executive on Jan. 20, 2003, having defeated the Democratic incumbent, Don Siegelman, by one of the narrowest margins in Alabama history. He was easily re-elected in 2006, defeating Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley.

Prior to being elected governor, Riley served in the U.S. House of Representatives for six years, from 1997 to 2003.

He was born and raised in Ashland, where his family has lived on ranches and farms for six generations.

For more than 30 years, Governor Riley ran a number of successful businesses including a trucking company, a car dealership, a real estate company, a grocery store and a small pharmacy. He's also been a cattleman for the last 25 years.

Gov. Riley is married to the former Patsy Adams, also from Ashland. The couple has five children and four grandchildren. [1]

In a CNN.com article dated December 26, 2005 and entitled, Alabama governor's race a must-see event, the following was reported:

Riley, 61, is trying to reverse a recent trend by Alabama voters, who have defeated incumbent governors in 1994, 1998 and 2002. <p>He barely edged Siegelman in 2002 and took office when state government was facing its biggest budget deficit since the Depression. Then he angered many in his GOP base by proposing the biggest tax increase in state history, which voters rejected 2-to-1. <p>But Riley has slowly rebuilt his standing as the economy rebounded, and he appeared authoritative and organized in response to Hurricane Katrina. "He recovered and showed himself a leader, particularly during Katrina," said Byrdie Larkin, a political scientist at Alabama State University. [2] </blockquote> On January 10, 2006 Riley in his 4th state of the state address said “Alabama is working. Tonight we have the most dynamic, the competitive job-creating economy in the history of the state.” The governor went on to propose a legislative agenda highlighted by a $1 billion increase in education spending, tax cuts and pay raises for teachers and state employees. Riley has a BA from the University of Alabama recieved in 1965.

External Links

• Office of Governor Bob Riley (State of Alabama)
• State of the State: Riley says Alabama is stronger than ever By John Davis and Sebastian Kitchen (Montgomery Advertiser, 1-11-06)