Party contests highlight primary race ballots

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Morgan County voters will be able to choose from among eight different ballots when they go to the polls to vote in the Democratic and Republican Primary Election Tuesday, June 6.
Voting precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"The ballot you use will depend on the district in which you live as well as your party preference," said Morgan County Probate Judge Bobby Day. "For example, if you live in Hartselle or Decatur you won't be able to vote for the Republican candidates for Morgan County Superintendent of Education.
"This is an election to decide party nominees for the General Election in November," he added. "When you arrive to vote a poll worker will ask you to indicate in which primary (Democratic or Republican) you prefer to vote. If you prefer not to vote in either primary you have the option of choosing a ballot that lists only the proposed statewide amendment Number One."
Amendment One proposes that no marriage license shall be issued in Alabama to parties of the same sex and that the state shall not recognize a marriage of parties of the same sex that occurred as a result of the law of any other jurisdiction.
Unopposed candidates in both parties are automatically qualified to compete in the Nov. 7 General Election but are not listed on the Primary Election ballots. Any primary race in which no candidate receives a majority vote will be subject to a runoff election on July 18.
The Republican Primary has nominations up for grabs in 10 local office races while the Democratic ballot lists competition in only three races.
Incumbent Sheriff Greg Bartlett is opposed by Morgan County District 3 Commissioner Stacy George in the Republican Primary. Charlie F. "Charlie B." Bryant and Tom Little are Democratic opponents.
Probate Judge Bobby Day, who is retiring, and former State Representative Doc Mancuso are seeking the Democratic nomination for State Senator District 3. Seeking the Republican Party nomination for the same office are Arthur Orr and Hubert M. Porter.
Seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Morgan County Circuit Judge. Place No. 2, are Catherine Phillips Halbrooks and Kevin Denver Teague. Seeking the Republican nomination for the same office are Charles Langham, Paul Matthews and Shelly Slate Waters.
The Republican Party ballot has competition in five other races.
Greg Cain and Tom Earwood are candidates for Morgan County Probate Judge.
Incumbent Jeff Clark and Dwight M. Jeff Jr. are seeking the nomination for Morgan County Commission, District 1.
Three candidates are in the running for Morgan County Commission, District No. 2. They are James Ray Bowling, Ken :Livingston and incumbent Richard Lyons.
Five candidates are seeking the Republican Party nomination for Morgan County Superintendent of Education. They are Bob Balch, Guy Bowling, Ronnie Moore, Vicki Pierce Smith and Bruce Sparkman.
Morgan County Board of Education, District 5, has two candidates. They are Jimmy Dobbs and Sam Heflin.
Democratic and Republican nominations for state offices are also up for grabs in the primaries.
Representing the Democrats in the race for Governor are seven candidates. According to the polls, Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley and former governor Don Siegelman are leading the pack. Other candidates are Joe Copeland, Harry Lyon, Katherine Mack, Nathan Mathis and James Potts.
Governor Bob Riley has the power of the incumbency going in his favor as he pursues a bid for re-election on the Republican ballot. He is opposed by Roy Moore, former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
Democrats Larry Darby and John Tyson Jr. are opponents in the race for Attorney General. Seeking the GOP nomination are Troy King and Mark Montiel.
Republican candidates for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are Drayton Nabers Jr. and Tom Parker.
Ben C. Hand and Champ Lyons Jr. are running for the Republican nomination for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place No. 1.
Republican candidates for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place No. 2, are Hank Fowler and Tom Woodall.
Seeking the GOP nod for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place No. 3, are Lyn Stuart and Alan Zeigler.
Three Republicans are running for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place No. 4. They are Tracy Gwyn Birdsong, Jean Brown and Glenn Murdock.
Running for the GOP nomination for Court of Civil Appeals Judge, Place No. 1, are Mark Anderson and Terry Moore.
Listed as Democratic candidates for Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place No. 2, are Jamie Durham and Claude E. Patton. Running for the same office as Republican candidates are Bill Shashy, Terri Willingham Thomas and Phillip Wood.
Four Republicans are seeking the nomination for Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place No. 3. They are Clay Crenshaw, Beth Kellum, Alva Lambert and Sam Welch.
Democrat Incumbent Nancy Worley is opposed by Ed Packard for Secretary of State.
Democratic candidates for State Treasurer are Steve Segrest and Keith Douglas Williams.
Seeking the Democratic nomination for State Auditor are Charley Baker, Janie Baker Clarke and Wayne Sowell.
Four candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for State Auditor. They are Wes Allen, Chess Bedsole, S. Samantha "Sam" Shaw and Tripp Skipper.
Republican candidates seeking nomination for Public Service Commission, Place No. 2, are John Amari, Perry O. Hopper Jr. and Jack Hornady.
Seeking the PSC post as Democratic candidates are Debbie Murphree and Susan Parker.
Republican candidates seeking nomination for Member, State Board of Education, District No. 6, are David Byers and Jonathan C. Putman.