🏛️Kay Ivey Appoints Rex Vaughn II as Madison County Commission Chairman, Filling Leadership Vacancy in North Alabama

Ronald “Rex” Vaughn II to Succeed Mac McCutcheon Following Retirement; Appointment Effective Immediately

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced the appointment of Ronald “Rex” Vaughn II as chairman of the Madison County Commission, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of longtime public servant Mac McCutcheon.

The appointment, effective immediately, places a north Alabama businessman and agricultural leader at the helm of one of the state’s fastest-growing counties — home to Huntsville’s expanding aerospace, defense and technology sectors.

“A native of Madison County and longtime owner and operator of Vaughn Farms, Rex Vaughn is well known throughout north Alabama for his tireless advocacy of small business and farming,” Ivey said in a statement. “He has forged strong ties within the county and entire Tennessee Valley region, and I have no doubt he will serve the people well as the new chairman.”

Vaughn succeeds McCutcheon, whose public service career spans nearly four decades. McCutcheon served nearly 20 years as a Huntsville police officer, 16 years in the Alabama Legislature — including six years as Speaker of the House — and most recently three years as Madison County Commission chairman.

“I join the people of Madison County in honoring former Chairman Mac McCutcheon as he enters retirement,” Ivey said. “Mac leaves a proud legacy of selfless service to North Alabama.”

A Strategic Appointment in a High-Growth Region

Madison County has emerged as a focal point in Alabama’s economic strategy, driven by growth in aerospace, defense contracting, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. Leadership at the county level plays a critical role in infrastructure planning, workforce development, and regional economic competitiveness.

Vaughn, a graduate of Sparkman High School, earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Agriculture Education degrees from Auburn University in 1983 and 1985, respectively. He resides in Huntsville and brings decades of experience in agricultural operations and small-business management.

In accepting the appointment, Vaughn expressed gratitude to the governor and pledged continuity in leadership.

“I wish to thank Governor Ivey for granting me this opportunity,” Vaughn said. “I will most assuredly serve with the humility that I have always witnessed in my friend, Chairman Mac McCutcheon. The people of Madison County deserve no less.”

Policy and Political Implications

The transition comes at a time when north Alabama continues to experience rapid population growth, rising property values and expanding public infrastructure demands. The Madison County Commission oversees county budgets, road and bridge development, public services and regional planning — areas expected to remain central to local political debate in the coming years.

Ivey’s appointment reinforces a pattern of selecting leaders with strong local ties and private-sector backgrounds to guide county governance amid economic expansion.

With immediate effect, Vaughn assumes responsibility for steering one of Alabama’s most strategically significant counties through a period of sustained growth and heightened national attention.

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-- By James W. Thomas

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