When veteran state government reporter George Talbot asked 20 legislators in 2011 who they believed was the freshman with the brightest future, 19 of them said Bill Poole. He’s already proving them right.

Freshman legislators rarely get to be committee chairmen, much less chairman of arguably the most powerful committee in state government. In Poole’s role as the top Republican on the House Education Budget Committee, he has the daunting task of crafting the budget for the biggest pot of money in state government. By all accounts, he’s risen to the challenge.

Poole is well liked, but serious. One lobbyist told Yellowhammer this week that he believes Poole may be the most talented, competent legislator in the state. That’s high praise for any representative, much less one who hasn’t even completed his first term.

Poole will be a player to watch for years, if not decades to come. He’s continuing Tuscaloosa’s run as a rising power center in Alabama state government.