TimesDaily.com | Some November races set; others waiting on runoffs

Some November Races Set; Others Waiting on Runoffs
By Mary Sell and Bernie Delinski | TimesDaily.com | March 15, 2012

In a busy election year that still has Aug. 28 municipal elections and the Nov. 6 general election ahead, some Democratic voters in Lauderdale and Franklin counties aren't quite able to put Tuesday's primaries in the rearview mirror.

Those voters will return to the polls April 24 to settle two Lauderdale commission runoffs and one in Franklin County.

The incumbents nearly escaped runoffs in the Lauderdale races. In District 1, Rhea Tays Fulmer faces Joe Frank Fowler, with the winner facing Republican Roger Garner on Nov. 6.

Fulmer accumulated 46.9 percent of the votes, Fowler received 27.9 percent and Dan Beavers had 25.2 percent in the three-candidate race.

On the Republican side, Garner picked up nearly 62 percent of the vote in defeating B.J. Tully.

In District 2, Fay Parker squares off against Keith Collier Jr. in April. Parker had 47.4 percent of the votes, Collier 33.9 percent and Ronnie L. Brown 18.7 percent.

The runoff winner faces Republican Joe Hackworth in November. Hackworth had no Republican opposition.

In the Franklin Commission race, William Bishop faces Billy Wilson. Bishop accumulated 40 percent of the votes, while Wilson had 30.3 percent and Chris Fretwell 29.7 percent.

The Franklin seat was left open when Democratic incumbent Stratt Byars ran for probate judge. He was defeated by Connie Green.

Political experts, pointing to the number of GOP ballots cast locally, say a comfortable lead Tuesday does not necessarily mean it will be the same in April's runoff. They say many of those who voted in the Republican primary could vote in the Democratic runoff.

As for state races, Alabama voters have about eight months before the general election. But for some candidates — or supporters of a constitutional referendum — the stumping already has begun.

Lucy Baxley, president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, wasn't on Tuesday's ballot. That's because she's the lone Democrat running for her office — and the only statewide-elected Democrat remaining in Alabama.

She said Tuesday she began her re-election campaign some time ago, but it will begin in earnest as soon as she knows who will be her opponent.

Baxley will have to wait until April 24 for that, as PSC Commissioner Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh received less than 50 percent of the votes in the Republican primary, putting her in a runoff against Chip Brown, who took about 26 percent of the vote.

Kathy Peterson finished third in the race.

The PSC regulates utility companies.

Baxley, a former state treasurer and lieutenant governor, said this campaign probably will be her last.

She said she isn't focused on keeping her job simply because she's the state's only Democrat in state office. She said she feels no pressure from the state party, and wants to keep her position because she likes it.

"I really want to win and have one more term in office, and after that, I'll have to step aside," Baxley said.

She is aware of the big target on her back.

"The Republican Party has stirred up everything they can about me so that Alabama will be Republican Alabama," she said.

But Baxley, who had a stroke in 2006, warned that her opponent shouldn't try to use her health against her during the upcoming campaign.

"Yes, I use a wheelchair, but that doesn't impede my decision-making process at the PSC," she said.

Alabama residents also will decide in November whether to extend the Forever Wild program.

Started in 1992 with a constitutional amendment, Forever Wild designates 10 percent of the investment income from the state oil and gas trust fund for the purchase of land for long-term public use.

It has acquired about 220,000 acres — including fragile marshes on the coast and the Walls of Jericho in north Alabama.

Collier Craft, of Alabamians For Forever Wild, said the program has been hugely successful, but the challenge in the coming months will be telling people why their support matters.

"They may not know that it is up for an extension," Craft said. "We have to educate the people in Alabama on how it benefits them and Alabama as a whole."

Craft said even with the 220,000 acres, Alabama lags behind other Southeastern states in the amount of wild space it has available for public use.

Alabama Farmers Federation officials, who supported the constitutional amendment 20 years ago, said it is not advocating for or against the extension, but is glad to see voters able to decide the issue. Paul Pinyan, the organization's executive director, pointed out that when the Forever Wild was created, the state was in a better budget situation and land was cheaper.

"That's been the real question this whole time — how much land is enough?" Pinyan said.

Roy Moore defeated incumbent Chuck Malone and Charlie Graddick to take the Republican nomination in the Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice race. He faces Pelham attorney Harry Lyon.

Lyon was the lone candidate for the Democratic nomination for chief justice and the only Democrat to qualify for a statewide judicial race.

Also looking ahead to November, Alabama's 4th Congressional District race will put Democrat state Rep. Daniel Boman, of Sulligent, against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, of Haleyville. The 4th District includes Colbert County for the first time.

In the 5th District, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks received 71 percent of the votes to soundly defeat challenger Parker Griffith, a former Democrat. Brooks faces Democrat Charlie Holley.

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