Sen. Jabo Waggoner | Chairman | Senate Rules Committee 

The longest serving Republican in the Alabama Senate has been a player in state politics since the mid-60s. He’s currently serving his 6th term in the Alabama Senate.

His position as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee gives him a lot of discretion over what bills actually make it to the floor for a vote. While most of what happens at the mic in the legislature is inconsequential, when Waggoner says, “Madam president, I have a report from the Committee on Rules,” everyone stops to listen. He’s also the one who delivers cloture petitions, the mechanism the majority uses to end filibusters.

The corner office he occupies on the 7th floor of the state house is frequented by a steady flow of lobbyists, business leaders and other senators hoping to win Waggoner’s support for their bills. The only member of the senate that he shows deference to on legislation is the Pro Tem. That makes gaining Waggoner’s support nearly an imperative. If he wants to kill your bill, you’ve got a real problem on your hands.

Outside of the State House, Waggoner has relationships at the highest level of the Birmingham business community. Any time there’s polling conducted in any part of the Birmingham metro area, he frequently ranks as one of the most popular elected officials in that part of the state. He’s also probably involved in more charitable endeavors than any other elected official in the state.

If you want to bring attention to your cause — whether it’s a charity, business or piece of legislation — it’s smart to try to get Jabo Waggoner involved.