MONTGOMERY- Shelby County resident and Republican Corley Ellis was officially sworn in to the Alabama House of Representatives District 41 on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Ellis was sworn in by Alabama Speaker of the House, Mac McCutcheon.

Ellis previously served on the Shelby County Commission for 10 years before he was appointed to the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. He will serve on the Financial Services Committee and the Local Legislation Committee.

“This was a humbling experience. I have enjoyed serving the people of Shelby County on the County Commission, and I am excited to be able to continue that service in Montgomery,” Ellis said. “I’m looking forward to getting my feet wet and learning about the process.

Ellis said this is his first term in the Alabama House of Representatives, and he intends to spend it focusing on budgeting, prison reform and Medicaid funding. He said he is concerned that the cost of Medicaid is exceeding its budget.

“We have a lot of issues facing our state, and I look forward to jumping in and being part of the solutions,” Ellis said. “My opinion is that we have to attack the problem from the expense side. We have to get a handle on where the money is going.”

Ellis’s term in the Alabama House of Representatives will last until 2018. He is currently serving the remainder of former representative Mike Hill’s term. Hill vacated his seat after he was appointed as the Superintendent of the Alabama State Banking Department on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.

Ellis’s wife, son and parents attended the ceremony. He currently resides in Columbiana with his wife, Julie, and son, Jamison, and is the owner of Ellis Properties.