May 19th Primaries, Part 4: Local Candidates
May 19th Primaries, Part 4: Local Candidates
"All politics is local" is a famous maxim coined by the late U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, signifying that a politician's success depends on addressing the direct, everyday concerns of their constituents rather than just national issues. It emphasizes that voters care most about local impact—jobs, schools, and infrastructure. The local candidates have that impact.
More than statewide candidates who depend on media advertising to introduce themselves and to make their campaign points, local candidates typically are more accessible. Their success often relies on personal, face-to-face interaction and understanding specific local needs.
Both parties spent a lot of time and resources in recruiting qualified candidates. Having a competitive primary gives the candidates more publicity and allows them to develop their campaign for the November general election should they be selected as their party's nominee.
The Democratic Party in Alabama put significant effort into recruiting candidates for as many races as possible this year and that effort seems to have paid off with more candidiates qualify, filling numerous ballot spots that in previous elections had remained vacant.
While all races are important and citizens are impacted by the winner, the local races are often the most competitive and have direct impact on the community.
Here is a county-by-county break down of the local races on Tuesday's primary ballot.
BIBB COUNTY
Democrat:
- State Representative, District 72 (Hale, portions of Greene, Marengo, Perry counties)
- Curtis L. Travis
- Michael Williams
Republican:
- Bibb County Commission District 2
- Charles Caddell (incumbent)
- Jarred Keith Kornegay
- Gary Uber
- Keith Watkins
- Bibb County Commission District 4
- Ty Corbell (incumbent)
- Corkey McFarland
- Bibb County Board of Education District 1
- Heath Johnson
- Candice Deerman Rice
- Bibb County Board of Education Superintendent
- Kevin Cotner (incumbent)
- Lane Watts Lightsey
- U.S. Representative, 6th Congressional District (Bibb County)
- Case Dixon
- Gary Palmer (incumbent)
FAYETTE COUNTY
Democrat:
- U.S. Representative, 4th congressional district (Fayette, east Tuscaloosa, Walker counties)
- Amanda N. Pusczek
- Shane Weaver
Republican:
- Fayette County Sheriff
- Roger Morrison
- Byron Yerby (incumbent)
- Fayette County Revenue Commissioner
- Carrie Edmonson
- Jeananne Edwards
- Jerry M. Nichols
- Fayette County Coroner
- Daniel Ewald III
- Timothy "TK" Kimbrell (incumbent)
- Fayette County Board of Education Superintendent
- Steve Herring
- Jeremy Madden
- Steve Sawyer
- U.S. Representative, 4th Congressional District (Fayette, east Tuscaloosa, Walker counties)
- Robert B. Aderholt (incumbent)
- Tommy Barnes
GREENE COUNTY
Democrat:
- Greene County Commission, District 1
- Michael Gaines
- Larry D. Smith
- Garria Spencer
- Greene County Commission, District 2
- Kelvin Scott
- Tennyson Smith
- Greene County Commission, District 3
- Trey Diveley
- Latasha Johnson
- William Mack III
- Jacqueline Stewart
- Greene County Commission, District 5
- Wesley Hodges
- Roshanda Summerville
- Greene County Board of Education, District 3
- Cheryl Morrow
- Veronica Bookie Richards
- Greene County Board of Education, District 4
- Leo Branch
- Wllie Ester Davis
- Greene County Board of Education, District 5
- Carrie Dancy
- Joe Webb
- District Court Judge Greene County, Place No. 1
- Tonjula Carey
- Robert J. Lee, Sr.
- Greene County Sheriff
- Joe Nathan Benison (incumbent)
- DeAngelo M. Hall
- Beverly Spencer
Republican: (No Republican qualified for a local race)
HALE COUNTY
Democrat:
- Hale County Commission, District 4
- Charles Patrick
- Patti Rhodes
- State Democrat Party executive Committee, District 72
- Ke'Undra Quintez Cox
- Johnathan Rossell
- Curtis L. Travis
Republican: (No Republican candidates qualified for a local race)
LAMAR COUNTY
Democrat: (No Democrat qualified for a local race)
Republican:
- United States Representative, Fourth Congressional District
- Robert Aderholt
- Tommy Barnes
- State Representative, District 17
- Michael beck
- Kevin Bradford
- Phil Seagraves
- Lamar County Coroner
- Allen V. Chandler
- Tommy Dunham
MARENGO COUNTY
Democrat:
- Marengo County Commission, District 3
- John Crawford, Jr.
- Terry Hinton, Sr.
- Marengo County Commission, District 5
- Patrick Champion
- Will Norris
- Marengo County Coroner
- Ernest Taylor, Jr.
- Dexter Turner
- Marengo County Revenue Commissioner
- Sharon Hilbish
- Falisa Moore
Republican: (No Republican qualified for local office).
PERRY COUNTY
Democrat:
- Perry County Commission, District 1
- Albert Turner, Jr.
- Donald J. Bennett
- Perry County Commission, District 2
- Tony Long
- Ernest L. Donaldson
- Perry County Democratic Executive Committee, District 1
- Carla J. Harris
- Carleton L. Hogue
- Cynthia Hogue
- Tommy Kennie
- Walta Mae Kennie
- Edd Miree
- Vinnie Royster
- Jocelyn Tubbs-Turner
- Perry County Board of Education, District 5
- Vera Davis
- Tiffanie Lewis
- Perry County Sheriff
- Roy Fikes
- Robert "Tony" Sykes
Republican:
- Perry County Commission, District 3
- Katie Crocker Burks
- Brett Harrison
PICKENS COUNTY
Democrat:
- Pickens County Commission, District 4
- Willie D. Colvin
- Al Wilkins
Republican:
- Pickens County District Court Judge
- John Morgan Owens
- John Russell
- Pickens County Commission, District 1
- Nancy Ray (incumbent)
- Lucas Roger Swedenburg
- Pickens County Commission, District 3
- Drew Elmore (incumbent)
- Rodney K. Homan
- Pickens County Commission, District 5
- Jody McGee (incumbent)
- Lloyd Shirley
SUMTER COUNTY
Democrat:
- Sumter County Commission, District 1
- Ron Hutchins
- Eddie Jenkins
- Sumter County Commission, District 4
- Tommie Armistead
- Jazmin "Jazz" Mitchell
- Sumter County Commission, Dstrict 5
- Lucius Black, Jr.
- Carolyn Daniels
- Archie "Shake" Hall, Jr.
- Demoes Jones
- District Court Judge, Sumter County, Place 1
- Tammy jackson Montgomery
- Brian Smith
- Sumter County Sheriff
- Damian L. Atkins
- Myron D. Carter
Republican:
- State Republican Executive Committee, Place 1
- Pierce Boyd
- Michelle Springer
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
Democrat:
- United States Representative, Fourth Congressional District
- Amanda N. Pusczek
- Shane Weaver
- State Representative, District 72
- Curtis L. Travis
- Michael Williams
- State Democratic Executive Committee (Female), District 70
- Malea Benjamin
- Amy Clayton
- Beverly K. Gordon
- Lisa M. Young
- State Democratic Party Executive Committee (Male), District 72
- Ke'Undra Quintez Cox
- Jonathan Rossell
- Curtis L. Travis
Republican:
- United States Representative, 4th Congressional District
- Robert Aderholt
- Tommy Barnes
- State Republican Executive Committee, Tuscaloosa County, Place 3
- Jackie Ray
- Dovel Rock
- State Republican Executive Committee, Tuscaloosa County, Place 7
- J.W. "Billy" McFarland, Jr.
- Lela Waters
WALKER COUNTY
Democrat:
- U.S. Representative, 4th congressional district (Fayette, east Tuscaloosa, Walker counties)
- Amanda N. Pusczek
- Shane Weaver
Republican:
- Walker County Sheriff
- Jason Akins
- Allen Estell
- J.C. Poe Jr.
- Nick Smith (incumbent)
- Walker County Board of Education Superintendent
- Dianne Williams
- Dennis R Willingham (incumbent)
- Walker County Coroner
- Danielle Calloway
- Trent McCluskey
(Saturday: May 19th Primaries, Part 5: The Federal Candidates)
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