Republican Primary Runoff on July 15th

The Alabama Republican Primary Runoff will be held this Tuesday, July 15th.  Here is a copy of the Madison County sample ballot.  I didn’t endorse any candidates before the primary.  I was a guest on a radio program that morning discussing the races and did not feel it would be appropriate.  This time I have no reason to not offer up my preferred candidates.

AL-05 Congressional Race

The big race on the ballot is for the 5th district congressional seat Republican nomination.  Wayne Parker nearly won the primary outright in a field of six contenders, but came up 1% of the vote shy of doing so.  He will almost certainly defeat Cheryl Baswell Guthrie in the runoff.  Wayne is clearly the better of the two Republicans and has secured endorsements from two of his primary opponents: Angelo Mancuso and George Barry.

I recommend Wayne Parker.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

I’ll just say that I’m not a big fan of voting for judges.  I don’t consider myself skilled at assessing their qualifications.  Both Beth Kellum and Lucie McLemore seem capable of doing a fine job in this capacity.  That said, I’m voting for Beth Kellum.

Public Service Commission President

This has been a rather strange race.  Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, who won the most votes in the three-way primary, is certainly a faithful member of the Republican party and has made that quite clear in all her advertising.  She has also curiously run ads boasting that she is pro-life (this is Alabama, after all), which has no significance in this race since last I checked Alabama Power and other entities she would oversee don’t perform abortions.  Matt Chancey came in second in the primary and it seems that most of the criticism about him has come as a result of his more conservative religious beliefs and some of his wife’s thoughts on women’s roles.  Cavanaugh’s party ties will help in the runoff when only the faithful come out to vote.  But, I do think that Matt has better ideas on how to keep our utility rates low by encouraging things like expanding nuclear power.

I recommend Matt Chancey.

Madison County Tax Collector

This race pits Angela Stafford against Cory Brown.  Stafford has worked for the Tax Collector’s office for nearly a decade and has offered up some good ideas for improving operations there.  But Brown has proposed a better idea: consolidating the offices of the Tax Collector and Tax Assessor into a single Revenue Commissioner office like other parts of the state.  That will save us, the taxpayers, serious money.

I recommend Cory Brown.

(Full disclosure: I believe strongly enough in Brown that I will be working my polling place for him on Tuesday.)

Reactionary Update:

AL-05 Congressional Race

I went to middle school with Wayne Parker, played on the same basketball team at the YMCA with him, have a Parker yard sign and bumper sticker.  Note that at times I’ve been positively impressed by Cheryl, plus I like ads featuring monkeys (okay, chimpanzees).

I’m voting for Wayne Parker.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

Beth Kellum was kind enough to speak with me for almost 30 minutes after one of her speeches. I’m certain that she knows the job of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Note that Lucie McLemore has a judge’s demeanor (which is a good thing for a judge – thoughtful and reserved). 

I’m voting for Beth Kellum.

Public Service Commission President

The PSC Presidency seems to me to be more of an administrative job, with some PR.  IMO Twinkle knows State Government well enough to perform the job; note that I expect great things from Matt Chancey (run for and win an office).

I’m voting for Twinkle Cavanaugh.

Madison County Tax Collector

I like the idea of efficient Government and I think that combining the Tax Collector and Tax Assessor offices is a good plan.  I’ve met Cory Brown, and aside from appreciating his gardening knowledge (he used to host the Saturday morning WVNN garden show), I like his energy and ideas. I have a Brown yard sign, plus I will also be working polling places on Tuesday. Note that Angela Stafford is competent and would be a good choice.

I’m voting for Cory Brown.