About Jim Carns

Commissioner Jim Carns is a lifelong Jefferson County resident. He graduated from The University of Alabama with BS in Engineering. He and his wife Judy, have three children (Christa, Jase, and Matt) and five grandchildren.

Alabama House Representative

  • Represented South Jefferson and North Shelby counties from 1990 to 2006
  • Co-Chaired 18 member Jefferson County Legislative Delegation - elected by his peers three of his four legislative terms
  • Served as Chairman of the House Republican Caucus, serving as Minority Leader
  • Served as Chairman Industrial Development and Economic Growth
  • Served on Rules, and Ways and Means Committees
  • Operated with a no-nonsense approach to spending and a proven record of opposing new taxes
  • Lead both House and Senate in support of pro-business legislation
  • Drafted, sponsored, and passed welfare reform legislation in Alabama during his second term as Chairman of Alabama’s Welfare Reform Commission causing Alabama to be ranked in the top five states in implementing welfare reform
  • Remained steadfast in support of strong and effective Voter ID for Alabama by writing and sponsoring the bill that became law in 2003
  • Wrote and passed landmark drug intervention legislation requiring strong anti-drug education in every public school
  • Championed pro-family legislation, education issues, and tort reform
  • Passed landmark legislation that set up the Holocaust Commission

Jefferson County Commissioner

  • Elected to the Jefferson County Commission in 2006
  • Chairman of Environmental Services
  • Served as President Pro Tem from 2006-2008
  • Chairman of the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama Finance and Taxation Steering Committee
  • Working to solve the largest municipal financial challenge in U.S. history
  • Member of the National Conference of Republican County Officials