County Commission | The Magazine April 2017 | Page 32

NEWS YOU CAN USE
Ellis steps from the courthouse to the Statehouse
A
fter a decade’s service on the
Shelby County Commission,
Corley Ellis knows exactly what he is
proudest of – but he is quick to give
credit to others, including the county’s
professional staff.
“In the Great Recession, we
fared very well. We laid off very few
people,” Ellis recalled, noting that
commissioners worked well together
and shared a conservative attitude
on finances. “I’m proud of how we
overcame that adversity – and how
well prepared we were for it.”
Ellis joined the commission in
2006, shortly before the financial
crunch. He pointed out that the county
was already running like a machine at
that time. Elected officials had provided
strong and steady leadership, and
they had assembled an outstanding
group of staff leaders and professional
advisors – including his dad, Butch
Ellis, at county attorney.
“I’d put them against any
Fortune 500 company in the country,”
Hon. Corley Ellis
District 41, Alabama House
of Representatives
Elected to the Legislature:
October 2016 (special election)
Legislative Committee Appointments:
Financial Services,
Shelby County Legislation,
Local Legislation
County commission service:
Represented Shelby County’s
District 1, 2006-2016
Home: Columbiana
Professional: Real estate broker
& investor, Ellis Properties Inc.
Family: Wife, Julie,
and five-year-old son, Jamison
Corley said. “They are great people
to work with.”
However, these days his official
duties typically take him not to the
courthouse in Columbiana but to the
Statehouse in Montgomery.
Last October, Ellis was elected
to fill a midterm vacancy in the
Alabama House of Representatives.
Republican Mike Hill had represented
District 41 for 30 years, and Gov.
Robert Bentley appointed Hill to his
cabinet as superintendent of the
banking department.
Over the years, Hill had frequently
supported county government on
legislative issues and sponsored
bills on ACCA’s behalf. Corley brings
another strong county connection
to the district located entirely within
Shelby County.
In the Legislature, the unofficial
County Caucus is composed of
legislators who have served as
commissioners. Corley’s election
brings the caucus up to 13 members.
If you throw in the
municipalities of Calera and
Chelsea, his House district is
“almost identical” to his former
commission district, Ellis said.
Officially, he took the oath of
office right away, but his family
joined him in Montgomery for a
ceremonial swearing in on the
House floor. Ellis said it was a
With House members and a packed
gallery looking on, Speaker Mac
McCutcheon (left) administered the
oath of office to Rep. Corley Ellis on the
first day of the 2017 Regular Session.
His five-year-old son, Jamison, took
responsibility for holding the Bible.
Also present for the special moment
were his wife, Julie, and parents,
Photo credit: Dionne Whetstone, Alabama House of Representatives
32 | COUNTY COMMISSION
Diane and Butch Ellis.