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| Oxford Civic Center polling location on Tuesday |
More than 16,000 Calhoun County voters endured June heat, humidity and a rainy afternoon on Tuesday to go to polling places for the 2014 primary elections. Ballots were fed into new voting machines countywide where a handful of voters experienced more headaches over changes in polling places rather than a new voter ID law that went into effect this year.
Roughly a quarter of registered voters in the county took part in the party elections, with runoffs expected next month for state and local offices leading up to the November election.
Of the 16,000 voters on Tuesday that decided the final representative for each political party in national, state and local elections, only 2,400 of them voted as a Democrat. The remaining 13,694 cast Republican primary ballots.
Some of the races were exclusive to one ticket or the other, meaning there will be no final vote for those offices in November. Tuesday's mostly party-sanctioned elections have already decided these races, including two of five county commission seats and the position of county sheriff.
Democratic runoff expected for Commission District 1 between Wilson, Montgomery
The three-way race for Calhoun County Commission District 1, which covers Anniston, Hobson City, and parts of Oxford, was exclusive to the Democratic ticket and may head to a runoff election next month. Eric W. Stringer recorded nearly 20 percent of the vote, potentially sending incumbent Fred Wilson and businessman James Montgomery, Sr. into a July 15 runoff election. Nearly 1,400 ballots were cast in that race, where Wilson was only able to secure 48 percent of voters.
Low turnout results in narrow win for Copland, will face Brown in November
An extremely tight race was the decision for a Democratic challenger to House District 40 incumbent K.L. Brown, who did not see a fellow party challenger. Only 500 or so ballots were cast in the two-way race where Ted Copland edged Lindsay Ford by only 77 votes. Securing almost 58 percent of Democrats in an Alabama House of Representatives District that covers nearly the entire county, Copland will face Brown for the seat in November.
An extremely tight race was the decision for a Democratic challenger to House District 40 incumbent K.L. Brown, who did not see a fellow party challenger. Only 500 or so ballots were cast in the two-way race where Ted Copland edged Lindsay Ford by only 77 votes. Securing almost 58 percent of Democrats in an Alabama House of Representatives District that covers nearly the entire county, Copland will face Brown for the seat in November.
Patterson secures win in 5-way GOP Commission District 5 race
Commission District 5 was one of two county-wide races exclusive to the GOP ballot. Five candidates brought out nearly 2,900 voters in Jacksonville, Piedmont, and other areas in northeast Calhoun County. Lee Patterson managed to secure 52 percent of the vote--or 1,500 ballots with his name specifically marked--for the local win.
Anniston attorney Miller-Lacher unseats Circuit Judge
A third GOP-exclusive race that did not see a Democratic challenger nor Democratic voters was the vote for Circuit Judge, where Brenda Stedham fell to Peggy Miller-Lacher by more than 1,700 votes in two counties. That race, too, saw roughly 13,000 voters in Calhoun County give Miller-Lacher the roughly 5 percent of votes needed to unseat Stedham--again, numbers nearing 80 percent of Democratic and Republican voters combined.
Sheriff Amerson on his way to serve 5th term
Another county-wide GOP race included the early win for the Democrat-turned-Republican Sheriff Larry Amerson, who was first elected back in 1994. Nearly 8,500 votes in a race were more than enough for Amerson to cruise to an early victory over Heflin police officer Ross McGlaughn. More than 13,000 people turned out for that single primary race--equivalent in numbers to 82 percent of Democratic and Republican voters combined that went to the polls on Tuesday. Democrat Thomas Long will challenge Amerson in November.
Some statewide runoff elections will occur on the GOP ticket next month, including Public Service Commission Place 2 between Chris "Chip" Beeker, Jr. and Terry Dunn, and State Auditor between Jim Zeigler and Dale Peterson.
-MDS
