Sen. Chris Elliott

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Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, will serve as chairman of the newly created County and Municipal Government committee in Alabama's Senate.

Elliott, who represents District 32, which covers much of Baldwin County from Spanish Fort to Perdido Beach, served last session on the Governmental Affairs Committee. Officials decided to split that committee in two since legislators there had to review nearly two-thirds of the bills that came before the legislature.

The new committee will review all bills that deal with issues that impact counties and municipalities. In Alabama, that is potentially a lot of bills since the state is home to 464 municipalities and 67 counties. Elliott said the topics will range from revenue commission to dealing with the sheriff's office and everything in-between.

"They'll be plenty to deal with and it meshes nicely with the House committee called county and municipal government," he said.

The new committee is composed largely of legislators who are former mayors, county commissioners and city councilors, Elliott said. As a former Baldwin County Commissioner himself, Elliott said the local issues are close to his heart.

"The interplay of county and city government is something I am intimately familiar with," he said. "It is something I have a passion for."

Elliott will also serve as vice chair of the State Government Committee which addresses bills that impact state-wide issues.

This year four Baldwin County legislators hold chairmanships in both the House and the Senate. Until now only Sen. Greg Albritton, of District 22 and Rep. Alan Baker were tapped as committee chairs. Elliott said the increased visibility is good for Baldwin County concerns.

"It's good that we're starting to see Baldwin County with more committee chairmanships," Elliott said. "That is very helpful in being able to leverage our interests and concerns."