By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

Columbiana resident and former state Sen. Bill Armistead was elected Feb. 19 as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.

Armistead, 66, replaces state Rep. Mike Hubbard of Auburn, who is now the speaker of the House in the Republican-majority legislature.

Armistead was one of three Shelby County Republicans elected to leadership positions by the state’s Executive Committee during its meeting in Montgomery.

Wilsonville’s Mallory Jackson was re-elected as treasurer. Montevallo’s Matt Fridy was elected chairman for District 6.

“The election of Bill Armistead, Mallory Jackson and Matt Fridy further substantiates the considerable influence, relevance and impact of Shelby County on the Republican Party statewide,” said Freddy Ard, chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party. “I am pleased to have all three from our county who will serve in leadership on the steering committee, and each knows of my support as county chairman as they assume their respective roles.”

Hoover resident Paul Reynolds currently serves as the Republican National Committeeman for Alabama. Along with the three elected over the weekend, Shelby County has four members seated on the state party’s steering committee.

Ard is not on the steering committee but is chairman of the party’s Resolutions Committee.

Others members of the ALGOP Executive Committee from Shelby County who attended the meeting include Kathy Peterson, Charles Knight, state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, Paul Glass, state Sen. Cam Ward, Earl Cunningham, Marcelo Munoz, Andrew Plaster and Susan Todt.