Spencer Collier
| Robert Bentley Ethics Investigation Robert Bentley • Rebekah Mason • Spencer Collier • Ed Henry • ACEGOV |
| Spencer Collier | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Montgomery, Ala. |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Education: | Troy University |
Spencer Collier was the secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, a state agency that works to "consolidate a number of law enforcement and public safety entities."[1] Collier was fired from his position on March 22, 2016.[2]
Previously, Collier worked as the director of homeland security under Governor Robert Bentley (R) and was an Alabama State Trooper. From 2002 to 2011, Collier was a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives, representing the 105th District from 2002 to 2011.[3]
Career
Law enforcement and legislative career
After graduating from Troy University, Spencer Collier began working in law enforcement as police officer in Prichard, Alabama, and then as an Alabama State Trooper. He stayed in state law enforcement for 10 years, eventually working in highway patrol and the administrative division of the Department of Public Safety.[4]
After leaving the Department of Public Safety, Collier briefly worked as a legal investigator for Cunningham Bounds, LLC.[4] He was then elected as the Republican representative for Mobile County in the Alabama House of Representatives.[5] While in the state legislature, Collier served on the following committees:
- Agriculture and Forestry Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Mobile County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on Petroleum and Waterways (Ranking Minority Member)
Collier also worked with the city of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, to coordinate "disaster and economic recovery efforts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill" in 2010.[3]
Alabama Department of Homeland Security
After two terms in the legislature, Collier was appointed the state's homeland security director by Governor Robert Bentley in 2011. In a news release on the hiring, Bentley said, "At this time in our nation’s history, the security of our citizens is our first responsibility. ... With Spencer Collier’s experience and exemplary background, the safety and security of Alabamians will be in good hands."[3] Prior to his appointment, AL.com said Collier had "the safest GOP seat in the Alabama House of Representatives" for the 2011 election cycle.[6]
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)
In 2013, the Alabama State Legislature passed a bill that consolidated law enforcement ad public safety agencies. The bill, signed by Governor Bentley, was part of a larger "effort to make government more efficient," according to AL.com. This effort also involved creating a new agency and cabinet position:[7]
| “ | The public safety consolidation bill would put a number of agencies and law enforcement entities under a new Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, which would include the Department of Public Safety and the State Bureau of Investigations. It would create the position of Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, a cabinet post to be filled by the governor.[8] | ” |
On April 5, 2013, after signing the bills into law, Governor Bentley named Collier to the cabinet position as the Secretary of Law Enforcement.[1] As secretary, Collier oversaw twelve state law enforcement agencies, including homeland security and public safety.[9]
Termination
On March 22, 2016, Collier was terminated from his position by Gov. Robert Bentley.[2]
Alabama House of Representatives
Issue positions
Collier did not provide answers to the Alabama State Legislative Election 2006 National Political Awareness Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected.[10]
Elections
2010
Collier won re-election to the 105th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition.[11]
2006
On November 7, 2006, Collier was re-elected to the 105th District Seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, running unopposed in the general election.[12]
Collier raised $131,647 for his campaign.[13]
Campaign donors
2006
In 2006, Collier collected $131,647 in donations.
Below are Collier's top five campaign contributors in the 2006 election:[14]
| Contributor | 2006 total |
|---|---|
| AL Farmers Federation | $11,788 |
| Business Council of Alabama | $7,500 |
| AL State Trooper Assoc | $7,000 |
| AL Trial Lawyers Assoc | $5,500 |
| AL Assoc of Realtors | $4,500 |
Noteworthy events
Robert Bentley ethics investigation
On March 22, 2016, Collier was terminated from his position by Gov. Robert Bentley.[2] Collier had previously been placed on medical leave for three months when he was scheduled to undergo back surgery in February 2016, appointing Stan Stabler as acting secretary in Collier's absence.[15]
While Collier was on leave, Stabler "ordered an internal review of the agency’s operations, policies and procedures," according to WHNT in Huntsville, Alabama. In a press release, Stabler said, "The Integrity Unit review found a number of concerns including the possible misuse of state funds. Findings of the review have been submitted to the Alabama Attorney General`s Office for further action."[16] Citing the report on March 22, Bentley terminated Collier as secretary, saying, "After an internal review, the ALEA Integrity Unit found a number of issues, including possible misuse of state funds. I am disappointed to learn these facts, and today, I relieved Spencer Collier of his duties as ALEA Secretary."[2]
Collier told the Montgomery Advertiser that his termination was retaliation for his refusal to cover up an alleged affair between Bentley and his advisor Rebekah Mason. In regards to the alleged missing funds from ALEA, Collier said, "You can turn ALEA upside down and there won’t be missing funds there. I’ll be happy to cooperate with any investigation into that."[17] In an interview with Alabama Political Reporter, Collier said, "This is not retaliation for what I did. This is a desperate attempt by a desperate couple to discredit me because of what I know."[18]
Wrongful termination lawsuit
Collier filed a civil suit against Bentley on April 19, 2016, alleging wrongful termination. According to Bentley, Collier was fired after giving a statement to Attorney General Luther Strange (R) regarding the corruption charges pending against House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R) after Bentley had ordered him not to. In the lawsuit, Collier claims that as head of the ALEA, he was legally obligated to cooperate with any ongoing criminal investigations and further claims his termination was an attempt to undermine Collier's credibility because Bentley and Mason "feared he would reveal information showing [they] had committed crimes."[19]
"Mr. Collier was terminated of his duties at ALEA for cause," Bentley responded.[19]
A hearing for the lawsuit was initially set for July 26, 2016, but was rescheduled for August 18, 2016. Prior to the hearing, Mason's attorney filed a motion to stay in order for Mason to avoid incriminating herself in light of potential criminal investigations. Similarly, Bentley's attorney filed a motion to stay citing the sovereign immunity clause in the Alabama Constitution, which protects state officials against lawsuits for official acts. Montgomery Circuit Judge Eugene Reese issued a stay at the hearing, which halted the discovery process against Mason and Bentley.[20][21]
Bentley resignation
Bentley went on to face ethics investigations by the Alabama State Ethics Commission, the House Judiciary Committee, and the Alabama attorney general into allegations that he had misused state funds to cover up an affair with Mason. The House Judiciary Committee began impeachment proceedings against Bentley on April 10, 2017. He resigned from office as part of a plea deal later that afternoon.[22]
See also
- Robert Bentley ethics investigation, 2016-2017
- Alabama State Legislature
- Alabama House of Representatives
- Alabama House Committees
- Alabama state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AL.com, "Gov. Robert Bentley names Spencer Collier to new post of Secretary of Law Enforcement," April 5, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 WHNT, "Gov. Bentley terminates ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier," March 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 AL.com, "Irvington's Spencer Collier to become Alabama's third homeland security director," December 23, 2010
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, "Spencer Collier," archived January 6, 2016
- ↑ Montgomery Advertiser, "Gov. Bentley fires ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier," March 23, 2016
- ↑ AL.com, "Political Skinny: Spencer Collier GOP's likeliest House member to return, says poll," February 22, 2010
- ↑ AL.com, "Bill to consolidate Alabama law enforcement agencies headed to governor," March 12, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, "About ALEA," accessed April 7, 2016
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Issue Positions," accessed November 19, 2014
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed July 8, 2015
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Official 2006 election results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Alabama House spending, 2006," November 4, 2006
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 Campaign contributions," accessed November 19, 2014
- ↑ WHNT, "Gov. Bentley places law enforcement secretary on medical leave," February 17, 2016
- ↑ WHNT, "ALEA says report found possible misuse of state funds, won’t release report," March 22, 2016
- ↑ Montgomery Advertiser, "Collier accuses Bentley of affair, misuse of state resources," March 24, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Political Reporter, "ALEA Chief Says It’s About the Law, Not Affairs and Affidavits," March 23, 2016
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 WCVB5, Gov. Robert Bentley sued by Alabama's ex-top cop." April 20, 2016
- ↑ WKRG, "Gov. Bentley Asking For Lawsuit To Be Held After Scandal," June 29, 2016
- ↑ Opelika-Auburn News, "Discovery process against Bentley and Mason halted in former ALEA head’s lawsuit," August 18, 2016
- ↑ AL.com, "Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley resigns amid sex scandal," April 10, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Alabama House District 105 2002–2011 |
Succeeded by David Sessions |
