By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Summer may be nearing an end but the race for the ninth district seat in the Alabama Legislature is heating up.
Two candidates – including Hartselle’s current mayor – have thrown their hats into the ring against incumbent Rep. Ronald Grantland. Both contenders are running as Republicans, hoping to unseat the long-time Democratic representative.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley announced over the weekend he will run for Grantland’s post.
Tankersley said combating illegal immigration, encouraging economic development, promoting ethics in government and improving public school performance will be his top priorities. Tankersley said he’d also like to work to help the area recover from the recent economic crisis.
“Dealing with the tough economic times and tight state budgets will require creative ideas, difficult decision making and strong, conservative leadership, all of which I am prepared to provide,” Tankersley said.
Tankersley is a Hartselle native. He was first elected mayor in 2004 and reelected in 2008, making him the first mayor in almost 30 years to be elected to serve two consecutive terms.
Hartselle native Ed Henry is also seeking the District Nine spot. He said his interest in politics can be tracked back to 1998 when he and his family volunteers for Mike Ball’s campaign for the District Nine seat. He worked for Ball again in 2002 when he was elected to the District 10 seat and, in 2008, helped organize the Morgan County Chapter of HuckPac, a group working for Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
Henry said he wants to work on economic development, developing a stronger education system and creating stronger ethics laws.
Henry is currently employed with The Heart Center in Decatur as a Cardiac Imaging Specialist.
Both he and Tankersley attend Fairview Church of God.
District Nine includes portions of Morgan and Cullman counties. Grantland has represented the area since 1998 after serving on the Hartselle city council from 1992-96.