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1999-2003 Governor Don Siegelman is noted for his work in improving education, children’s services, economic development and promoting anticrime initiatives including drunk driving and domestic violence prevention. Governor Siegelman is committed to changing education in Alabama for the better and changing education forever. Siegelman’s first act as governor was to sign an executive order to eliminate portable classrooms in public schools and to build safe new classrooms for school children. He also signed a bill into law to raise teacher salaries to the national average and removed tenure for principals. He has implemented the nationally recognized Alabama Reading Initiative in 429 schools and has provided rewards for schools that meet and exceed Alabama’s standards for education. The Fordham Foundation has recognized Alabama for being among the top five states in the nation with academic and accountability standards. Governor Siegelman proved his commitment to children by appointing the state’s first children’s commissioner and children’s cabinet. Additionally, the governor created the Office of School Readiness to begin providing early learning opportunities to four-year olds throughout the state. Governor Siegelman believes in making Alabama’s homes, streets and schools safer, and has signed a number of domestic violence bills into law including one making domestic violence a crime in Alabama. Siegelman has continued to push for tougher DUI laws including increasing penalties for adults driving drunk with a child in the car. Since becoming governor, Siegelman has expanded industry across the state by announcing the location of businesses including Honda, Navistar, Fiat and Boeing and expansion of Mercedes in Alabama. Siegelman was also instrumental in enacting tort reform, including caps on punitive damages and established a task force charged with developing the State’s first long-term strategic plan for economic growth. Governor Siegelman was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1946. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1968, Georgetown University School of Law in 1972 and studied International Law at Oxford University in Oxford, England from 1972 to 1973. He and his wife Lori lived in Montgomery with their two children, Dana and Joseph.
In October and December 2005 Don Siegleman and HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy were indicted on charges of racketeering, bribery, extortion, mail fraud and conspiracy. Tried in Federal court in 2006, both men were found guilty of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud. On June 28, 2007, Siegelman and Scrushy were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to lengthy prison terms. Siegelman was sentenced to seven years, four months in prison, three years on probation, restitution of $181,325, a $50,000 fine and 500 hours of community service. The judge sentenced Scrushy to six years, 10 months in prison, three years of probation, 500 hours of community service, a $150,000 fine and $267,000 in restitution.
Return to Alabama History On-Line Return to Alabama Constitutional Officers |
| Updated: July 3, 2007 |
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Alabama Department of Archives & History 624 Washington Avenue Montgomery, Alabama 36130-0100 Phone: (334) 353-4636 E-Mail:Mark.Palmer@archives.alabama.gov |
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