For whatever reason, liberals in Alabama have chosen who controls the children's section book collections in public libraries as a hill to die on, and they have an ally in AL(dot)com, an outlet owned by Alabama Media Group, a subsidiary of New York billionaires Donald and Samuel Newhouse’s Advance Publications.
In a May 1 dispatch written by Williesha Morris, an AL(dot)com headline declares "Shelby County library board to be appointed by state GOP."
Morris' piece notes that HB89 revamps how the North Shelby County Library's board is selected, which is through appointing authority granted by the legislature to the library district's legislative delegation.
The all-Republican delegation, reflecting decades of Shelby County voting patterns, includes State Reps. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs), Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills) and State Senators Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) and Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook).
In the unlikely event that DuBose, Mooney, Carns, Waggoner, Roberts or any other future Republican officeholder in that library district's delegation were to lose to a Democrat opponent in the general election, that Democrat would participate in the library board appointment process.
However, Morris' piece and a later tweet imply the Alabama Republican Party and Shelby County Republican Party have appointing authority.
The North Shelby County Library became the subject of headlines when its board determined it would keep a Pride Month book display against the wishes of residents in the district, claiming such a move would be akin to "censorship."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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