WHO’S WHO AMONG ADVISERS, CABINET MEMBERS

MONTGOMERY – Republican Gov.-elect Bob Riley so far has picked 14 white men, two black men, two white women and one black woman to become his top advisers and leaders of major state agencies.

Riley will be sworn in Monday, and most of his Cabinet appointees start work this week.

Some of Riley’s appointees are retired corporate leaders. Riley, 58, is a businessman, too, owning a Clay County cattle farm and a trucking business. He has said he’s a millionaire.

Some are old friends or former campaign workers.

Riley has yet to appoint people to lead departments overseeing children’s affairs, state troopers, prisons, Medicaid, labor and human resources. The governor-elect said he hopes to fill at least some of those posts by Thursday, but he wants to make sure he gets the best people possible.

Some state department heads, such as the state health officer and personnel director, are appointed by boards rather than the governor. A board also hires the human resources commissioner, but the governor chairs that board and traditionally has a big say in who the commissioner will be.

Here are biographical sketches of Riley’s appointees so far:

Press secretary David Azbell Salary: $73,000. Born: Dec. 17, 1968. Hometown: Montgomery. Education: Studied political science and journalism, University of Alabama, 1987-91, did not graduate. Professional experience: Press secretary for Riley’s campaign, 2002; deputy secretary of state, 1999-2002; deputy press secretary for Gov. Fob James, 1997-99; personal aide and spokesman for former Gov. George Wallace, 1995-97. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Emergency management director Bruce Baughman Salary: $76,336. [He will be paid at a rate of $140,000 a year by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the next eight months, until he retires from federal service.] Born: July 22, 1948. Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.; lived many years in Mississippi, now in northern Virginia. Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., 1971; master’s in education, Mississippi State University, 1978; graduated from a program for senior executives, Harvard University. Professional experience: Stepping down as director of FEMA’s Office of National Preparedness; worked for FEMA, 1979-present; worked for emergency management agency in Mississippi, 1975-79; Marine artillery officer, 1971-75. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Insurance commissioner Walter Bell Salary: $76,336. Born: Oct. 1, 1943. Hometown: Mobile. Education: Bachelor’s degree in general studies, concentration in finance, Spring Hill College, Mobile, 1983. Professional experience: Worked for The MONY Group, a life insurance company based in New York City, 1983-2002, including as national director of emerging markets and vice president for diversity marketing; previously worked in retail banking with First National Bank of Mobile; holds a partnership interest in a Mobile minor league baseball team. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Head of the Alabama National Guard C. Mark Bowen Salary: $76,336. Born: Feb. 21, 1940. Hometown: Lives on a 300-acre cattle farm near Barfield. Education: Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Auburn University, 1964; graduated, Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, 1985. Professional experience: Served 44 years in Alabama’s Army National Guard, retired as a major general in 167th Logistical Support Command, 2000; owned Lineville Clinic Pharmacy and Wadley Clinic Pharmacy for about 30 years, sold three years ago. Political experience: Eight years on the Clay County school board, is resigning to work for Riley.

Revenue commissioner Dwight Carlisle Jr. Salary: $76,336. Born: Nov. 7, 1935. Hometown: Alexander City. Education: Bachelor’s degree in textile engineering, Auburn University, 1958. Professional experience: Retired from Russell Corp. as chief executive officer, 1991; had worked at Russell since the 1950s. Political experience: Has not held public office. Head of senior services Irene Collins Salary: $76,336. Born: July 2, 1942. Hometown: Birmingham; lives near Columbiana. Education: Bachelor’s degree in health services administration, LaSalle University in Mandeville, La., 2002. Professional experience: Executive director of the Jefferson County Council of Aging, 1996-present; previously owned a travel agency and bridal salon in Birmingham. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Director of economic and community affairs John Harrison Salary: $76,336. Born: Dec. 27, 1944. Hometown: Grew up in Selma; has lived in Luverne for 30 years. Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, Troy State University, 1967; Louisiana State University’s Graduate School of Banking of the South, 1988. Professional experience: President and chief executive officer of First Citizens Bank in Luverne, 1983-last week; member of the bank’s board of directors; owner and president of Crenshaw Land and Timber Co. Political experience: Elected mayor of Luverne 1988, re-elected 1992, 1996 and 2000. Plans to resign before taking his new job.

Superintendent of banks Anthony Humphries Salary: $132,000. Born: May 13, 1955 Hometown: Louisville, Ky.; lives in Oxford. Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, Auburn University, 1977; Louisiana State University’s Graduate School of Banking of the South, 1988. Professional experience: President and co-owner of TRI Staffing Inc. since 2001; chief executive officer, SouthTrust Bank of Calhoun County, 1997-2001; worked at AmSouth Bank, 1983-97, including as commercial banking sales manager for northeast Alabama; worked in commercial loan department of what is now SouthTrust Bank, 1977-83. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Industrial relations director Phyllis Kennedy Salary: $105,000. Born: July 21, 1940. Hometown: Titus. Education: Bachelor’s degree in home economics, from what is now Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, 1962. Professional experience: Retired after nine years as Alabama state director of the National Federation of Inde pendent Business; previously NFIB’s Southeast regional public affairs coordinator in Atlanta; district director in Atlanta for former U.S. Rep. Elliott Levitas, D-Ga., 1981-84. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Governor’s legal adviser Troy King Salary: $88,000. Born: Aug. 22, 1968. Hometown: Elba; lives in Montgomery. Education: Bachelor’s degree in history and social science, Troy State University, 1990; law degree, University of Alabama, 1994. Professional experience: Assistant attorney general since 1999; assistant legal adviser, deputy legal adviser or deputy chief of staff for Gov. Fob James, 1995-99. Political experience: Lost Republican primary for secretary of state, 2002.

Conservation and natural resources commissioner Barnett Lawley Salary: $76,336. Born: Aug. 23, 1945. Hometown: Pell City. Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Auburn University, 1967. Professional experience: Retired president and former owner of M.B. Lawley Inc., gasoline and convenience store company; former president, Alabama Oilmen’s Association; served six years on the board of directors, Alabama Wildlife Federation; has been active in Ducks Unlimited and the National Turkey Federation. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Transportation director Joe McInnes Salary: $76,336. Born: March 7, 1943. Hometown: Wetumpka; lives in Montgomery. Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, University of Alabama, 1966; law degree, Jones Law School, 1974. Professional experience: Retired as executive vice president, chief administrative officer and corporate secretary of Blount International Inc. in Montgomery, 1999; chairman of Blount Cultural Park in Montgomery. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Finance director Drayton Nabers Jr. Salary: $76,336. Born: Dec. 2, 1940. Hometown: Birmingham. Education: Bachelor’s degree in religion and English, Princeton University, 1962; law degree, Yale University, 1965. Professional experience: Recently resigned as chairman, Protective Life Corp., to become finance director; worked at Protective Life starting in 1979 ; Cabaniss Johnston Gardner Dumas & O’Neal law firm, 1967-1979. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Legislative affairs director Quentin Riggins Salary: $76,336. Born: April 14, 1968. Hometown: Montgomery. Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing and distributive education, Auburn University, 1992. Professional experience: Legislative analyst, Alabama House Speaker Seth Hammett, 1999-last week; previously a legislative liaison for Gov. Fob James; sideline reporter, Auburn Network radio broadcasts football games, since 1991. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Chief of staff Toby Roth Salary: $98,000. Born: March 4, 1968. Hometown: Muskogee, Okla.; lives in Montgomery. Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, the University of Alabama, 1990; law degree, College of William and Mary, in 1993. Professional experience: Campaign manager for Riley, 2002; vice president for advancement, Business Council of Alabama, 2001-02; Alabama director of Citizens for a Sound Economy, a conservative national lobby, 1998-2001; manager of political affairs, BCA, 1996-98; finance director, Justice Harold See’s campaign, 1996; previously practiced law with Birmingham lawyer Ottie Akers. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Mental health and retardation commissioner Kathy Sawyer Salary: $122,446. Born: Jan. 20, 1954. Hometown: Montgomery. Education: Bachelor’s degree in social welfare, University of Alabama, 1975; master’s in social work, UA, 1976. Professional experience: Commissioner, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, since 1999; director of advocacy office for people served by the department, 1985-99; regional coordinator for communitybased programs for mentally retarded people in north Alabama, 1977-85; child protective services worker in Arizona, 1976-77. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Tourism and travel director Lee Sentell Salary: $76,336. Born: April 8, 1944. Hometown: Ashland. Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, Auburn University, 1967. Professional experience: Director of tourism, Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, since 1991; worked 10 years as marketing director, U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville; 12 years as reporter and editor, The Decatur Daily. Political experience: Has not held public office.

Senior adviser and counselor Dalton Smith Salary: $88,000. Born: July 30, 1965. Hometown: Birmingham. Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, Auburn University, 1987; law degree, University of Alabama, 1990. Professional experience: Bob Riley’s campaign policy director, 2002; partner, SVG Properties; policy analyst, Empower America, a conservative policy group, 1993-95; legislative assistant to then-U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin, 1991-93. Political experience: Has not held public office.

State development director Neal Wade Salary: $130,000. Born: Nov. 8, 1946. Hometown: Monroeville. Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, Samford University, 1969. Professional experience: Vice president for economic development, The St. Joe Co., a timber and real estate development company in Florida, since 2000; president, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, 1991-2000; corporate communications executive, Alabama Power Co., 1978-91. Political experience: Has not held public office.