Murray’s post to be filled by Ivey

RUSSELLVILLE — A vacancyleftontheFranklin County Commission after the death of District 1 commissioner Michael Lewis Murray will be filled via appointment by Gov. Kay Ivey.

Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, said Ivey will appoint someone to fill Murray’s vacant position because the vacancy occurred so early in his term.

“The governor will make an appointment, but with it being an early vacancy, the appointment is only until the next election,” Brasfield explained.

That would be in May 2026, he said when the District 1 commission position will be on the primary election ballot. A commissioner will be elected for the final two years of the term, which ends in November 2028.

In the 2028 election, the position will once again be up for a vote for a full fouryear term.

Brassfield said the timing of Ivey’s appointment, as well as how the appointee will be chosen, is at the discretion of the governor’s office.

Murray, 52, died May 4. He was sworn into his position as District 1 commissioner in November 2024.

Murray was one of three new commissioners for Franklin County in 2024.

Greg Hovater (District 2) and Tracie Clark (District 4) were the other two.

District 1 is on the east side of Franklin County up to the Lawrence County lines.

Franklin County Commission Chairman Barry Moore said that Murray’s vacant position is something “that will be addressed later.”