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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Clanton resident Renee Powers was selected to serve in three positions within the Republican party for the upcoming while attending the Republican National Convention Delegation Meeting on May 4 in Montgomery.

Powers currently serves as the Regional Chair with the Alabama Republican Party representing Congressional Districts 3, 6 and 7 that cover 31 counties, and she has volunteered within the Republican Party for 23 years serving in campaigns, policy issues and leadership.

The Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee prepared for the general election on Nov. 5 at the special meeting in Montgomery to elect its slate of delegates, alternate delegates, delegation chairman, national convention committee chairs and presidential electors. The Republican National Convention on July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is where the Republican presidential nominee will be officially selected by delegates from each state, and marks the end of the primary election period and the start of the general election season. Alabama has 50 delegates with three from each of the seven Congressional Districts, and 27 at-large delegates. Powers, Alabama Senator April Weaver and Freddy Ard of Alabaster were elected as the three delegates to represent Congressional District 6 at the RNC in July.

In the Republican Party, there are four national convention committees — Credentials, Permanent Organization, Platform and Rules and Order of Business. At the meeting, one man and one woman were elected for each of the four committees, and Powers was elected to the Rules and Order of Business Committee along with Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl.

“I was honored and humbled by the support of my colleagues,” Powers said. “I promise to represent and serve Alabama well.”

The Rules and Order of Business Committee’s business includes considering amendments to the Rules of the Republican Party that are used for the election and in government of the RNC, adding procedures of the RNC and the process for election, selection, allocation and binding of delegates to the next national convention.

Every four years, the State Executive Committee elects a group of electors whose only purpose is to elect the president and vice president called the Electoral College that has 538 electors across the country. Each state is assigned a number of electors that is equal to its Senate and House of Representatives seats, and Alabama has nine seats and is given nine electoral votes. Seven of the nine electors are elected by each of the Congressional District’s State Executive Committee members, and the other two are elected at-large by the entire State Executive Committee. Powers was selected as one of the at-large presidential electors during the process.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to represent Alabama in the Electoral College and to cast my vote for the next President and Vice President (of the United States),” Powers said.