Gov. Ivey names first ever female Alabama Chief of Staff

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced on Nov. 15 that she was naming Liz Filmore as her new chief of staff.

Filmore will be the first female chief of staff for any Alabama governor in the state’s history. Filmore will be replacing Jo Bonner, who was named the new president of the University of South Alabama last week.

“Loyalty and integrity are two of the most important qualifications needed to be an effective chief of staff,” Ivey said. “Liz possesses both of these qualifications and more. I am proud she has agreed to take on the critical responsibilities that accompany this position.”

Filmore has been an advisor to Ivey since 2013 and was recently named her Deputy Chief of Staff. Before that, she served as Public and Constituent Affairs Director for Ivey from 2015 until 2017 and was a legislative assistant to Sen. Clyde Chambliss in 2015.

Filmore served as campaign coordinator for Ivey during her campaign for Lt. Governor in 2013 and was also a legislative intern in the Alabama Legislature before that.

Filmore is a Montgomery native and graduated from Troy University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Filmore’s husband, William, is a Daleville native and currently serves as Ivey’s Director of Legislative Affairs. He also graduated from Troy. Her mother-in-law Angelia Filmore is the Daleville City Clerk and her father-in-law Bill Filmore is a circuit judge in Dale and Geneva Counties.

Ivey said that Bonner will stay on the staff through the end of 2021 to help with the transition.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of really smart, talented young leaders throughout the years, but Liz Filmore is the best of the best,” Bonner said. “Gov. Ivey couldn’t have found a brighter or more dedicated person to lead her team than Liz.”