State finance director to step down; Gov. Kay Ivey names replacement

Rep. Bill Poole/Source: Governor’s Office

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Gov. Kay Ivey has announced that State Finance Director Bill Poole will depart at the end of the week after 16 years of state service.

Gov. Ivey has named Doryan Carlton as Poole’s replacement.

“Whether it was in the Alabama House of Representatives shepherding the Education Trust Fund or in my Administration leading the Department of Finance, Bill has been an outstanding public servant,” Gov. Ivey said. “He has helped our state make headway in many arenas, including transportation infrastructure, economic development, education and innovation. Alabama has improved in virtually every financial and economic metric, and I am beyond grateful to Bill for his service over these last five years. As I often say, Alabama’s best days are still ahead, and I know we can look forward to more good work from Bill.”

Poole has served as the state’s chief financial officer and chief executive officer of the Department of Finance since Governor Ivey appointed him in 2021. In that time, his office worked with the governor to prepare budgets totaling more than $75 billion in state funds.

“Serving the state of Alabama has been among the greatest privileges of my professional life, and I believe the work and accomplishments of Governor Ivey and her Administration to better the state of Alabama for its citizens are unparalleled. It has been an honor to serve on her team as she works hard every day to make Alabama’s future even stronger,” Poole said. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me and for the opportunity to work alongside Governor Ivey, legislative leadership, talented public servants, policymakers, educators, business leaders and community leaders on issues that I believe will benefit Alabama for years to come. I have been fortunate during my time in public service to have the opportunity to form authentic and impactful relationships with individuals and organizations across Alabama and the nation. Though some of my titles will soon change, those relationships and my interest in helping to continue to improve Alabama’s future will remain consistent.”

Poole helped steward more than $7 billion in public bond financing and strategic debt restructuring, routinely outperforming market peers. In 2022, The Bond Buyer honored the state and Poole with its Innovate Deal of the Year award. Most recently, Director Poole successfully led the effort to secure the historic financing of the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Poole also participated in the planning and development work for the new Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences which Governor Ivey championed. He administered the successful distribution of more than $2 billion in unprecedented Covid-19 relief funds from the federal government. He led the formation of Innovate Alabama, among other priority tasks.

Doryan Carlton – Photo from Governor’s Office

Gov. Ivey says she is confident Doryan Carlton’s expertise with the state’s budgets will be instrumental in the final months of the Ivey administration. Carlton comes to the role after serving as the State Budget Officer in the Executive Budget Office.

“For years, Doryan has done good work on our state’s budgets within the Executive Budget Office. Thanks in part to her leadership, Alabama has not once declared proration during my Administration,” Gov. Ivey said. “Many giants have come before us at the Department of Finance, and I know Doryan will be a giant in her own right. She is someone who works diligently behind the scenes with an acute attention to detail that will serve our state well.”

Since Governor Ivey took office in 2017, she has worked closely with the Legislature to maintain fiscally conservative budgets. Carlton has certainly been a part of executing that mission. As the governor stated, Alabama has not once declared proration during her term. The state has paid off debts, while making generational investments. From the governor’s education savings account program, the CHOOSE Act, to the successful Turnaround Schools initiative to teacher pay raises, Carlton has been involved with Governor Ivey on numerous education priorities. Carlton’s expertise was utilized when the governor pushed for increased correctional officer pay and for investments in the state’s forensic laboratories, among several other initiatives.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to Governor Ivey for placing her trust in me and giving me the opportunity to serve as Finance Director. Having spent the vast majority of my career with the Finance Department, this appointment is especially meaningful to me,” said Carlton. “I look forward to building on the Department’s strong foundation, working collaboratively with our talented staff and dedicated professionals across state government, and continuing our commitment to responsible stewardship of the state’s financial resources. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to serve in this role and to give back to an organization and a state that mean so much to me.”

Director Poole will serve through Friday, October 2. Carlton will take the helm immediately following.

— Information from the Office of Governor Kay Ivey