Governor Ivey Dismisses Majority of Alabama Public Television Board

Gov. Kay Ivey dismissed five of the seven members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC) on Friday evening, clearing the way for new leadership for Alabama Public Television (APT). The removed commissioners are Pete Conroy, Ferris Stephens, Les Barnett, Bebe Williams, and William Green. Commissioners Tijuanna Adetunji and Logan Glass remain on the board, according to information from the state.

Gina Maiola, Governor Ivey’s communications director, explained the decision in an email Saturday morning, stating that Governor Ivey "believed it was time for the Alabama Educational Commission to have a fresh start." The announcement of the dismissals came just days after a survey commissioned by the board itself showed strong public support for APT continuing its long-standing relationship with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

The dismissals stem from an ongoing debate within the AETC regarding APT’s affiliation with PBS. Last October, Commissioners Stephens and Barnett, identified as conservative members of the board, initiated discussions about the possibility of disaffiliating from PBS. Barnett publicly criticized PBS, accusing it of being "anathema" to President Donald Trump. He further stated that PBS had "made themselves the enemy" of his position and that he did not "follow the philosophy of feeding the beast."

This proposal to end the PBS affiliation sparked significant public backlash, particularly from donors to APT. In response to the outcry, the AETC board ultimately voted the following month to maintain PBS programming, keeping the station connected to its national programming partner. Governor Ivey had also weighed in on the matter last November, urging the governing board of APT to pause its decision-making process and suggesting they survey public attitudes before taking a definitive step on disaffiliation.

The Governor's authority to make these removals comes from HB 220, a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, a Republican from Mobile. Governor Ivey signed this bill into law in April, and it officially took effect on October 1. This legislation grants the Governor the power to remove members from boards over which she holds appointing authority.

The dismissed commissioners also held positions on the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority. Wayne Reid, APT Executive Director, confirmed in a Friday night text message that the incoming commissioners will also replace the removed members on the foundation board. New appointments to the AETC have already been made available on the APT website.

Pete Conroy, one of the dismissed commissioners, who had served on the board since 2018, confirmed in an interview Friday night that he received a letter earlier in the day announcing his dismissal. Despite his removal, Conroy expressed optimism for the future of APT’s governing board, indicating that a new board was the "ultimate goal" for the station. He also stated his willingness to continue serving APT "in whatever way I can." Conroy specifically mentioned one new appointee from the Huntsville area, describing him as a "scientist" and "well respected," which contributed to his optimism. A message seeking comment was left with William Green, another dismissed commissioner, on Friday night.

APT Executive Director Wayne Reid also provided a brief statement via text message on Friday night. Reid indicated that the station would issue a full statement regarding the removals on Monday. He conveyed that Alabama Public Television anticipates welcoming the new commissioners and plans to work with the Commission to continue building on APT’s "longstanding service to the state."

The survey process itself, which ultimately affirmed public support for PBS, involved several steps and changes. In April, the AETC voted to conduct a survey of Alabamians' attitudes toward APT’s programming. Initially, the contract for this survey was to be with McLaughlin & Associates, a national survey company known for its work with Republican candidates, including former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt.

However, the contract with McLaughlin & Associates fell through in late August. Subsequently, in a specially called September meeting for the AETFA, members voted to engage Cygna, another polling firm. Cygna primarily works with Republican candidates, notably having worked on U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s gubernatorial campaign.

Conroy, in his interview, criticized some of the actions taken by the board regarding the survey and the broader process. He emphasized the importance of public input, stating, "I think we always need to listen to the people." Conroy concluded that "ultimately, it was the weird survey" that helped guide the commission, emphasizing that listening to people "will remind you what path you need to stay on." The outcome of this survey, showing support for PBS, directly preceded the Governor’s decision to replace a majority of the commission.