Steve Pelham

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Steve Pelham
Basic facts
Organization:	Auburn University
Role:	Vice President for Economic Development and Chief of Staff to Auburn University President Steven Leath
Location:	Alabama
Affiliation:	Republican
Prior Experience •Chief of staff, Kay Ivey gubernatorial administration, 2017-2019 •Terry Everett staff •USDA rural development state director for Alabama •Chief of staff, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey

Steve Pelham is the former chief of staff for Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) from 2017 to 2019. He left the position in February 2019 to work as vice president for economic development and chief of staff to Auburn University President Steven Leath. Pelham also worked as Ivey’s chief of staff when she was elected lieutenant governor of Alabama in 2011.

Prior to working in Ivey's administration, Pelham was the state director for Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) and was state director for the USDA's rural development program during the George W. Bush (R) administration.

Career

Terry Everett staffer

From 1992 to 2000, Pelham worked as the state director and campaign manager for Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.).

USDA rural development state director

From 2001 to 2009, Pelham served as the Alabama state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development program. The program gave grants to assist communities in Alabama in job training and development in rural areas. He also spent time as the USDA's director of legislative and public affairs. While directing the USDA's activities in Alabama, Pelham was in charge of managing the rural development office's Guaranteed Rural Housing loan program. In 2003, he commented on that program, saying, "Our Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program provides individuals and families in rural areas the opportunity for homeownership at affordable rates and terms. We are very pleased with the amount of guaranteed loan funds available to us this fiscal year, and I encourage lenders to utilize these dollars. With lenders and USDA Rural Development working together, more rural Alabamians will be able to achieve their dream of homeownership."

Kay Ivey chief of staff

Pelham became chief of staff to then-Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) in January 2011. When he was hired, Pelham described the administration's focus, saying, "Our immediate goal is to carry out her pledge to organize a cost-effective and efficient office responsive to the people." When Gov. Robert Bentley (R-Ala.) resigned in 2017, Ivey announced that Pelham would serve the same role in her gubernatorial staff. Upon announcing Pelham's position and hiring of Eileen Jones as press secretary, Ivey said, "Government transparency and efficiency start with a trustworthy team. Steve Pelham and Eileen Jones fully fit this bill."

Pelham left the position in February 2019 to work as vice president for economic development and chief of staff to Auburn University President Steven Leath.

Chief of staff

See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff

In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Steve Pelham as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.

The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):

• Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
• Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
• Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
• Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.

In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Steve Pelham'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Steve Pelham - Google News

See also

• Kay Ivey