Next Tuesday, March 5th, voters throughout Alabama will have a chance to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary to choose candidates for offices from President, Congress and down the ballot to local offices.
There is also one Statewide Amendment on both party ballots, which would allow the Alabama Legislature to pass local legislation and Constitutional Amendments before approving an annual budget. The current legislative rules often result in limitations and problems passing local legislation at the very end of the session, after the budget has been passed. Most statewide political organizations are supporting a “yes” vote on this Statewide Amendment No. 1.
In the Democratic Primary, voters will have a choice for President between incumbent Joseph R. Biden Jr., Dean Phillips and Uncommitted.
Further down the ballot they will have a choice of voting for up to nine persons to serve as delegates for Biden and two for Uncommitted. The names of nine persons: Helenor Bell, Linda Coleman-Bell, Christopher John England, Rolanda Hollis, Kevin Lawrence, Robert L. Stewart, Albert Turner Jr., Sheila Tyson and Warren ‘Billy’ Young, are listed as delegates for Biden from our Congressional District.
Also in the Democratic Primary, voters will choose a candidate for U. S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District, between seven term incumbent, Terri A Sewell, and Chris Davis, a Birmingham attorney and political staffer.
On the Democratic ballot there is a local contest for Circuit Court Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit, including Greene, Sumter, and Marengo counties, between current District Attorney Gregory S. Griggers and Robert “Rob” J. Lee, a Eutaw attorney. These two White lawyers are vying to fill the seat of Circuit Judge Eddie Hardaway, an African American, who is term limited by age. There were no Black lawyers living in the rural district, who qualified to run.
Black voters in the three Black Belt counties have a difficult choice between two white candidates, to choose “the lesser of two evils”. Neither of the candidates have a strong record of supporting Black people and issues of concern to Black people.
On the Republican ballot, there are seven choices for President, including Donald J. Trump, Nikki Haley, Uncommitted and others who have already suspended their campaigns.
Republicans will choose between Christian Horn and Robin Litaker for the candidate to run for 7th District Congressperson against incumbent Terri Sewell, who is likely to win the Democratic nomination to run for an eight term.
Republicans will also choose between Sarah Stewart and Bryan Taylor for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court; Chad Hanson and Stephen Davis Parker for Court of Civil Appeals; Rich Anderson and Thomas Govan for Court of Criminal Appeals; and Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and Robert L. McCollum, for President of the Public Service Commission.
The Co-Publishers of the Greene County Democrat are urging all registered voters to vote in the March 5th Democratic or Republican primaries. We must vote, in every election, to keep renewing and supporting democracy in our nation.