Former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley 

As Robert Bentley became another former governor in Alabama, local lawmakers began looking forward to a more productive work environment in the Legislature.

“I think the resignation was long overdue and it’s certainly another black eye on the state of Alabama,” state Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, said. “You will see a re-invigoration of the Senate and a strong push to solve some issues that we’re facing with Gov. (Kay) Ivey. I’ve worked with her on many issues. She has a level head and I think she will be able to bring the state of Alabama back together.”

Bussman said if Bentley had refused to step down the legislative session would have halted as impeachment proceedings expanded. If the House had voted to impeach Bentley, the issue would have moved to the Senate as a jury.

“I had avoided as much as possible from reading the report that was issued last week because I knew I would be serving as a juror in the Senate,” Bussman said. “I’m optimistic we can put this behind us.”

Bussman said he believed Bentley was a good person who made poor choices sometimes during his reign as governor.

The tipping point for the governor, according to Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, came Friday.

“That’s when (House Speaker) Mac McCutcheon told the governor point-blank that the House would vote to impeach him,” Henry said. “That’s when I understand that negotiations began from the governor to leave office.”

Many state House of Representatives members were infuriated when Bentley appointed former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to the vacant U.S. Senate seat that was held by Jeff Sessions, who accepted the post of U.S. Attorney General from President Donald Trump.

Local House members said Strange, while serving as state attorney general, distinctly asked that any impeachment movement within the House cease while his office conducted an investigation of the former governor. Months later Strange appeared on a list of people Bentley was considering for the U.S. Senate seat.

When Strange was granted the appointment, local House members Corey Harbison, R-Good Hope, and Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, began calling for the governor’s resignation. Bentley later appointed a new attorney general, Steve Marshall, who recused himself from the investigation of Bentley. After that, the investigation appeared to pick up steam, culminating in a scathing report Friday detailing Bentley’s actions and texts to former adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason.

“He needed to resign,” Shedd said. “The distraction has had an impact on government and eroded the confidence of people. House Speaker McCutcheon has done an excellent job in holding everyone together. With new leadership we feel we can accomplish a lot more.”

“I think we are all sad that actions of former Governor Bentley reached the level of impeachment or resignation. I take no pleasure in the situation, however I think it is best for our state,” Shedd added. “As I said more than two months ago, I became convinced the governor leaving office was necessary. It is time now for us to move on. The message to our citizens and the whole world is corruption will no longer be tolerated in Alabama. Future governors hopefully will not allow a ‘Governor behind the curtain’ whether it be an individual, a group or lobbyists. I look forward to working with Gov. Kay Ivey. I think people will be pleased with her steady leadership during this difficult time. Most importantly, we can restore the public’ trust.”

Harbison also said he believes a lot more will be accomplished with Ivey taking over as governor.

“A lot has been on the back burner because of all the concern over the last many months,” Harbison said. “I think people just wanted him out of office. All along he was where he was, not because of the affair, but because of what he had been doing to cover up.”