Elections on the horizon

Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, October 23, 2013

There’s a lot on the horizon for the upcoming 2014 election year, Probate Judge Jim Perdue said this week as he addressed the Luverne Rotary Club.

Perdue, who is running for secretary of state, discussed the current elections going on due to lawmakers resigning their seats.

“This is different than other years due to the number of special elections going on,” he said.

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One of those special elections is a U.S. House of Representative seat for the first congressional district. Jo Bonner held the seat from 2003-2013 before resigning.

“Nine people ran for the seat,” Perdue said. “It’s a huge gerrymandered district. Bradley Byrne and Dean Young are the finalists in a Nov. 5 run off.”

In Alabama House District 104, Jim Barton resigned his seat and a special election is under way and Margie Wilcox and Susan Hightower will face off in a Dec. 3 runoff.

In House District 74, Jay Love resigned his seat, as well. Three people – Charlotte Meadow, Heather Sellers and Dimitri Polizos are running for that seat.

Also in House District 31, Barry Mask resigned his seat. Four Republican candidates are seeking that seat – Frank Bertarelli, Jimmy Collier, Michael Griggs and Mike Holmes.

The winners of these races will fill the unexpired terms of the predecessors meaning that these seats will be up once again in 2014.

Perdue, who is Crenshaw County’s chief election official, discussed how turnout is considered good if 50 percent of registered voters turn out, and said that for the congressional seat only about 12 percent turned out.

Perdue reminded folks that Crenshaw County would make a move from the 30th Senate District to the 25th Senate District, which is currently held by Sen. Dick Brewbaker.

“All House and Senate seats are up for election,” he said.

Additionally, the governor’s seat, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, attorney general, treasurer, auditor, public service commissioner, some state board of education seats and various court seats.

U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representative seats will also be up for election.

Locally, the sheriff’s seat is up for election; revenue commissioner; county commission seats; and some school board seats and various others.

The primary will be held June 3 and the general election will be Nov. 4.