Rainsville man will lead Republican’s team pre-transition
By DAVID CLEMONS, Correspondent
The election for governor is still four months away, but Republican nominee Tommy Tuberville has all but claimed victory by appointing a transition team.
Tuberville’s campaign announced the “Golden Age Action Team,” which he said would set up “a beachhead for the official transition in November.” It includes two men with ties to the area.
A former Auburn football coach, Tuberville has served as a senator since 2021. He won the seat by defeating incumbent Doug Jones, who is now the Democratic nominee for governor. The men will face off in the Nov. 3 general election.
Jordan Doufexis, a native of Rainsville, leads the team in its review of state agencies and development of personnel, spending and policy priorities. Doufexis previously was chief of staff of Tuberville’s Senate office and has been involved in the campaign for governor.
“Coach has given us a clear assignment: Find the waste, expose the duplication, and build a government that doesn’t waste a single cent that comes in from the Alabama taxpayers,” Doufexis said in a statement.
“We are not coming to Montgomery to maintain the status quo. We’re going to ask the hard questions, make the tough recommendations, and give Coach a plan to clean up the place.”
The team also includes Bruce Culpepper of Guntersville, a retired president and country chair of Shell Oil Co.
“This is a team of heavy hitters, and each and every member is an Alabamian with deep roots in our state,” Tuberville said.
“Most importantly, there are no lobbyists, legislators or former elected officials involved with this. Instead, the team is made up of successful Alabamians who have led major companies, built businesses, reformed government, managed large organizations and prosecuted cases at the highest levels. They know how to make hard decisions and cut through the bull.
“We’re going to streamline our state government and sell Alabama’s values, beauty and Southern grit to the world.”
Tuberville said he isn’t waiting for the election to consider policy changes. Alabama will be getting a new governor either way in 2027 as Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, is term-limited.
“We’re going to snap the ball when the whistle blows. That’s why we started preparing in 2025,” Tuberville said.
“Most politicians wait until they win to start figuring out how to deliver on what they promised. We’re not going to spend our first year holding meetings and making excuses.
“We’re going to walk in prepared and ready to win on day one.”
Other team members include Jonathan Gray of Fairhope, president of Strategy Public Relations; Gibson Vance of Montgomery, principal of the Beasley Allen law firm; Reid Dove of Dothan, chairman of AAA Cooper Transportation; Jim McLane of Birmingham, the founder and owner of NaphCare correctional healthcare company; Chad Witcher of Cullman, co-founder of Synergi Partners, a tax incentives firm; Loree Skelton of Hoover, a healthcare attorney; and Kyle Burt of Vance, president of KyKenKee industrial wood products company.
