Greene County Democrat

Tag: Lorenzo French

  • EDITORIAL

    Please be sure to vote in city
    elections
    Next Tuesday, August 26th.

    Next Tuesday is an important day for all the municipalities of Greene County. On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the residents of Eutaw, Forkland, Boligee and Union have city elections to elect a Mayor and City Council members.
    This is your chance to vote for your local officials. This is your chance to influence the policies and future direction of your local communities. This is your chance to democratically participate to vote for those who will operate your city, set your water, sewer and garbage bills, zone areas you live in for future development, provide more recreation and activities for youth, respond to natural disasters like tornados, hurricanes, flood and other things.
    Instead of sitting on your couch and complaining about those in politics, here is your chance to go and vote and decide who will be making the decisions and spending tax monies, closest to you, for the next four years.
    The Publishers of the Greene County Democrat, who live in Eutaw, have been talking to the candidates, reviewing their positions on issues and problems of concern. We make the following recommendations:
    For Mayor of Eutaw, we support the current mayor, LATASHA JOHNSON for re-election. There are three candidates in this race, the current Mayor, Latasha Johnson, has done a good job in her four years as mayor, we think she should continue and will do more for the residents of Eutaw in the coming four years. Mayor Johnson was able to develop a budgeting process for city revenues and expenses, had a clean audit in fiscal year 2023-24, raised over $9 million dollars, in grants, that did not require matching, to improve and update the Water and Sewer System for Eutaw and Boligee.
    Mayor Johnson was able to complete the Streetscape project to beautify the sidewalks on the outside of the Courthouse Square. One of her opponents, on the County Commission, voted against providing its share of the matching funds for this project. Mayor Johnson had to borrow funds to complete the project.
    In District 1, we support challenger KE’UNDRA COX, who will bring a youth perspective to the City Council, coupled with six years of leadership training in the Air Force.
    In District 2, the incumbent JONATHAN WOODRUFF, should be re-elected for a full term. We do not agree with him all the time but at least he studies the materials and generally takes a responsible position on the issues.
    In District 3, the incumbent TRACIE HUNTER is unopposed and will be re-elected.
    In District 4, we endorse LORENZO FRENCH for this position because of his experience and knowledge of city facilities from running the Robert H. Young Community Center and trying to provide more recreational opportunities for young people.
    In District 5, we endorse CARRIE LOGAN, based on her experience and dedication with the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce. We also feel that there should be some representation for white residences of the city, on the City Council, which Ms. Logan will provide. Her opponent Suzette Powell did a good job in her appointed time on the City Council, but we feel Ms. Logan’s election will be in the best long-term interest of the city.

  • Eutaw Chamber of Commerce holds Political Forum for Municipal Candidates

    Special to the Democrat by John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    The Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce held a Political Forum on Saturday, August 2nd, on the lawn of the old Greene County Courthouse in Eutaw. The forum was for candidates running in the August 26, 2026’s Eutaw Municipal elections. Over a hundred people turned out to hear the candidate’s views and answers to questions posed by the voters.
    All three candidates for Mayor of Eutaw, incumbent Latasha Johnson, Corey Cockrell and Tyrone Atkins were present. Most of the candidates for Eutaw City Council in Districts 1 to 5 were also in attendance to give their platform and views.
    Mayor Latasha Johnson, in her opening comments said, “ I love the City of Eutaw, and I have lived here all of my life. I have worked as Mayor for unity and progress. When I came into office in November 2022, the city’s finances were in bad shape. With help from a financial advisor, we developed a budget and began regular annual audits. We borrowed $500,000 for needed vehicles and equipment. That loan will be paid in full in September and we can borrow funds again for equipment and road maintenance which are needed.”
    Johnson, continued, “ We have received $9 million in state and Federal grants, with no matching requirements, based on our audits and financial system, to upgrade our water and sewer system, along with Boligee. We also received grant funding from the state to re-pave Highway 14 coming into the city and for the TAP- Streetscape project for sidewalks around the old Courthouse Square.”
    Corey Cockrell, who is currently a County Commissioner for District 3, said “I am the best candidate for Mayor based on my work on the County Commission and in community.” Cockrell, who is also a full time teacher and head football coach at Eutaw High School, passed out a sheet showing $19 million in road work projects the Commission got funded during his tenure on the County Commission.
    Cockrell said he was hardworking holding community events and cock-outs in the community to listen to the voters. He said, ‘I will promote jobs and housing for people in the city; and I will correct the financial problems of the city by getting more grants and revenues.”
    Tyrone Atkins, the third candidate for Mayor said, “ Not much has changed in Eutaw since 1995. Too many empty storefronts downtown. The city officials are not dealing with the everyday problems of people in finding jobs, shopping at one grocery store with high prices and lacking recreation for the children and young people. That is why young people are leaving Eutaw, as soon as they graduate high school and not coming back.”
    There was also a spirited debate among the candidates for Eutaw City Council positions. Tracey Hunter, incumbent candidate in District 3, is unopposed. She spoke briefly about her intentions to continue serving and developing more programs for youth in the community.
    Two candidates for District 1, Ke’Undra Cox and incumbent Valarie Watkins, both spoke and answered questions. Watkins said, “I am not going to make a lot of promises. I am running on my platform of honesty, integrity and transparency. I have helped to deal with an abandoned house on Roebuck and other places around the city. I have pushed for speed bumps for the safety of children in the neighborhoods. I want to cure some of the financial problems of the city. We have too many people paying their water bills late. We have too many city workers for our budget.”
    Cox said, “ I have returned to Eutaw after six years in the Air Force learning leadership skills. I am one of the youngest people running and I want to bring the perspective of young people to the Council. We have the potential to do better, and I want to help the city to serve young people so they will not move away but stay here to live and work.”
    In District 2, incumbent Jonathan Woodruff Jr. and Maurice Walton were present, Charles Naylor, Jr. was in the hospital and could not attend. Woodruff said, “ I will continue to work to improve infrastructure. I will work with a servant spirit and represent my district as well as the entire city. I will work to keep us within our financial commitments in the budget. Walton said, “I will work as a team member with the other council members and the mayor to make Eutaw a better city for all of its citizens. I will work to expand recreational opportunities for youth, beatification and improvement of our city, and recruiting new businesses and jobs.”
    In District 4, incumbent Larrie Coleman was not present because of a previous commitment. Sarah D. Brewer stated, “ I want to improve the infrastructure – too many potholes and exposed culverts; we need to fix the water system – water pressure is low, and the quality of water is often undrinkable. We need to be transparent with the finances, have regular audits and cooperation among the mayor and the council members.” In answer to questions on her vision for the city, she said, “ Build it and they will come, referring to infrastructure development.”
    Lorenzo French, another candidate for District 4, said” I will work to restore trust and accountability in the city council. I will work for more civic engagement by all people. Having worked at the Robert H. Young Community Center, I know the needs for more activities for our youth. You must love the place you live in – and I love Eutaw.”
    In District 5, the incumbent Suzette Powell, was absent due to a prior family commitment with her grandchildren. Carrie Logan, the only White candidate for City Council, and other candidate for District 5, said, “I have lived in Eutaw for the past thirty years and have volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce, my church, the Garden Club and others to improve the image of the city. We must improve our infrastructure and work with other governmental agencies, such as the County Commission and Industrial Development Authority to make things better for all.”
    The election is less than three weeks away, on Tuesday, August 26,2025. If a runoff is needed, in races where one candidate does not get a majority (50% or more) of the vote, it will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd. The last day to register to vote for the August 26th election is August 19, 2025. Absentee voting is going on now until August 19, 2025, to get a mail ballot or walk-in to vote. For more information, contact the city election managers, at City Hall, phone 205-372-4212.

  • Greene County celebrates 55th ‘Freedom Day’ to commemorate Special Election of July 29, 1969, when Black people took control of the County Commission and School Board

    Mrs. Ida Bonner awarded the Coretta Scott King Freedom Award by Elder Spiver Gordon; Spiver Gordon presents plaque to Bill Edwards; Spiver Gordon presents plaque to Mr. Tony Clayton District Attorney of Port Allen, LA; Mr. Morris Hardy awarded the Dr. MLK Jr. Freedom Award by Elder Spiver Gordon.

    On Sunday evening, in the William M. Branch Courthouse, about 100 people from Greene County celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Special Election in 1969, when Black people were elected to control the County Commission and School Board in the county. Greene County was the first county in Alabama where Black people were able to control the county government.

    The U. S. Supreme Court ordered the 1969 Special Election, because local white officials had deliberately left the mostly Black candidates of the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) off the November 1968 ballot. The decision was made in US Supreme Court case no. 647, Hadnott vs. Amos, 394 US 358 (1969).

    In the election of November 1970, Judge William M. Branch was elected the first Black Probate Judge in Alabama and America. Thomas Gilmore was elected Sheriff and over the next few years, Blacks were elected to all political positions in the county.

    The program was sponsored by the Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement under the direction of Spiver W. Gordon, President. Gordon has been celebrating Freedom Day in Greene County for many years to remind people of the importance of using their voting rights to push for more justice, equity and progress in the county.

    The theme of the program was ‘Rejoicing about the Past – Causality in looking to the Future”. There were two main speakers: Bill Edwards, who now lives in Oregon, but was active with NDPA, Miles College, FOGCE Federal Credit Union and Community Service Programs of West Alabama in the 1965-1985; and Tony Clayton, District Attorney of West Baton Rouge, Iberville. and Pointe Coupee Parishes in Louisiana.

    After a spirited devotional, Mayor Latasha Johnson of Eutaw, Alabama, gave greetings and keys to the city to the two guest speakers. Lorenzo French, Chair of the Democratic Executive Committee, in his occasion for the meeting, lamented that most of the Black elected officials in Greene County were not present for Freedom Day. “Where are the Probate Judge, Circuit Clerk, Revenue Commissioner, Sheriff, Mayors and Council members of Union, Forkland and Boligee?” asked French.

    Several persons gave special commendations for Bill Edwards in his work as Director of Community Service Programs of West Alabama. District 1 Commissioner, Garria Spencer, who was chair of the CSP-WA Board lauded Bill’s work with the anti-poverty agency. Ms. Sandra Fair who worked with Bill thanked him. Judge John H. England thanked Bill for his work in building new houses and replacing the shotgun shacks in Belchers and Barr’s Quarters in Tuscaloosa.

    Rev. Wendell Paris spoke on the importance of voting in all elections, especially the election coming up on November 5, 2024. John Cashin, son of his namesake from Huntsville, Alabama, who headed the NDPA and was instrumental in the lawsuit that created the special election on July 29, 1969, spoke on the importance of the NDPA, as a grassroots response to the racist regular Democratic Party of Alabama, which was controlled by George Wallace.

    Three speakers commented on looking to the future, including Rev. Kenneth Popleon of Plaquemine, Louisiana; Arthur Crawford, Probate Judge of Hale County and Carol P. Zippert, former school board chair. Zippert asked, “Where are the youth leaders, people between 18 – 40 years old, today? We must reach out to them. Fifty-five years ago, Judge Branch, Gilmore and most of the other leaders were young people under 30. It is frightening that this whole generation is missing.”

    Spiver Gordon introduced Tony Clayton, the District Attorney of three parishes in Louisiana. Clayton said he owed his election to places like Greene County which rose up for Black people and electing Black people to office in the1960’s, when it wasn’t easy. He said Jesse Jackson, Obama and now Kamala Harris owe their political future to what Greene County people did fifty-five years ago.

    After the speaking, Spiver Gordon presented awards to many of the speakers, participants and ‘foot-soldiers’ of Greene County-who contributed their time, skills and money to the civil rights movement in the Alabama Black Belt.

  • Eutaw City Council raises pay for police department

    At its regular meeting on March 12, 2024, the Eutaw City Council agreed to a budget adjustment to increase the pay of police officers based on their years of experience working with the city.

    This action was in response to a concern raised by Police Chief Tommy Johnson that four officers had left the staff since the beginning of the calendar year because they received offers of higher pay from neighboring police departments.

    “Our starting salary of $15.00 an hour was too low to attract or keep trained officers,” said Chief Johnson. The mayor also indicated that the police department was currently paying overtime pay rates to officers to cover all required shifts.

    Council members, Jonathan Woodruff and Tracey Hunter, who are members of the Council Finance Committee, proposed an adjustment to the budget, which would raise the base pay, for police officers who completed training to $17.00 an hour ($35,360 annually), with one to five years’ experience. The salary for officers with 6 to 10 years’ experience would be increased to $18.00 an hour ($37,440 annually). For officers with more than 10 years, the pay rate was increased to $19.00 an hour ($39,520 annually)

    The Chief of Police will continue to receive $65,000 annually The Assistant Chief was raised to $22.00 an hour or $45,760 annually. There may be some other adjustments based on years of service. There were no cadets budgeted for this fiscal year, which created the budgetary savings to allow the increased salaries, within the current budget for this fiscal year.

    Chief Johnson said he would be able to recruit new replacement officers at the new pay rate but still urged further increases to allow for retention of capable and experienced personnel.

    The Council tabled action on setting rates for rental of the R. H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver School) since City Attorney, Zane Willingham, who helped draft the rates, was away attending a conference for municipal attorneys.

    At its prior meeting on February 27, 2024, the Council voted to change the check signers on all city accounts in Merchants and Farmers Bank. There will be two signatories, on each check, of three signers: Council members: Tracey Hunter and Jonathan Woodruff and Chief Clerk, SheKelvia Spencer. This action removed Mayor Latasha Johnson, as a check signer.

    The Mayor indicated some displeasure and disagreement with being removed from check signing but said she would abide by the Council’s decision, if they made sure to sign checks on a timely basis as needed.
    The Mayor said, “No money is missing, nothing is hidden, no money has been mis-spent. We have an audit that shows that we are financially stable and following our budget. In the past, we did not have our finances in good condition, but now under my leadership we do. There is no reason to remove me as a check signer.”

    In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved a resolution to allow the mayor to seek bids to renovate the restrooms at City Hall.

    • Approved a retail liquor license for Madi Food Mart, which plans to re-open a closed convenience store on Greensboro Avenue in Eutaw.

    • Approved travel for several city officials to attend upcoming conferences and training.

    • Received financial reports from Ralph Liverman, Fiscal Adviser, on bank accounts and loan balances. This included a report that 29 monthly payments had been made on the City’s four-year, equipment loan of $500,370, with 19 payments totaling $206,198 remaining to be paid. This monthly expenditure is included in the budget.

    • Received a report from the Chamber of Commerce that they received a $5,000 grant for a mural to be painted on the wall of a building in downtown Eutaw.

    • Approved payment of bills.

    The meeting ended with a discussion of the need to keep the streets of Eutaw clean and that some people were dumping trash and other waste materials at the side of the road and in ditches in the city. The mayor stated that she would work with residents and businesses to keep the areas around their homes and workspaces clean. Lorenzo French suggested involving young people in the clean-up efforts, so they would help maintain the clean streets and areas of the city.

  • Eutaw City Council learns that city is losing police officers due to low pay

    At its regular meeting on February 13, 2024, the Eutaw City Council learned from Chief of Police Tommy Johnson that three police officers had left the staff to take jobs at other law enforcement agencies, due to low pay.
    Currently Eutaw police officers have a starting pay of $15.00 an hour which the officers said is not sufficient for their essential and needed services. This wage is comparable to many fast-food workers in the area, who do not have the same risks and danger faced by police officers.

    Chief Johnson said that four additional officers may leave and that the current staffing pattern requires extensive overtime pay because there are not enough officers to cover all shifts.

    The Eutaw City Council, at this meeting, approved an amended policy on the use of city vehicles which allows police officers to drive cars home, beyond the police jurisdiction, but not for personal use beyond the roundtrip to work. This will also allow the police, who live out of town, to respond to emergencies more quickly. An earlier version of the policy required parking of all city vehicles including police cars. Chief Johnson and some police officers objected to the original policy and the effort to control and reduce a small benefit to police officers, which may have contributed to some officers leaving the staff.

    Council members concerned about the reduced number of police officers, agreed to a Council Work Session on Thursday, February 22, 2024, to review the police budget and possibly adjust pay rates to improve recruitment and retention of police officers.

    The Council considered a fee schedule for the rental and use of the Robert H. Young Community Center (formerly the Carver School) which the city purchased from the Board of Education. The proposal suggested $300 for a four hour basic rental of the gymnasium, and increments for additional hours, also if funds are raised and further if alcohol is served at the function. The facility has been used for funerals, by 501c3 non-profit organizations and others who may not be able to afford these rates. The Council tabled the rental fee schedule for further discussion at the upcoming work session.

    The Council approved salary raises for two of three city employees, who were recently promoted: Broderick Lewis as General Superintendent at $18/hour; and Marcus Burton, Water and Sewer Supervisor at $17/hour; Paul Jones raise is pending based on resolution of a problem with his driver’s license.

    In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved the low bid of $1,074,075.09, of Cornerstone Civil Contractors, for the Eutaw Courthouse Streetscape Project and sent the information forward to the Alabama Department of Transportation and Goodwyn, Mills and Caywood, project engineer, for contract award and initiation of construction.

    • Approved Ordinance No 2024-20-06 #6 regulating grass and weed nuisances, accumulation of rubbish, abandoned and inoperable vehicles, abandoned/dilapidated structures, and other nuisances. This ordinance simplifies the process for dealing with these nuisances and eye soars in the city.

    • Received a report from Logan Land Company that land owned by the City of Eutaw on County Road 53, also known as Lock 7 road, which is zoned M-1, for light industry is worth $10,000 to $15,000 per acre for sale in 4-to-5-acre parcels. A church group had indicated an interest in purchasing some of the city’s land in this location, which prompted the city to seek an estimated commercial value for the property.

    • Received notice from Mayor Johnson that the City of Eutaw had submitted documents to be included in the RAISE Grant, a program by Auburn University to build sidewalks and crosswalks on Greensboro Avenue, Hwy 14 to Highway 43, reaching to the Carver Circle community and public housing units.

    • Approved a proposal from Lorenzo French, PARA Director for a one-week Boys and Girls Basketball Camp at the Robert H. Young Community Center in June 2024.

    • Approved payment of bills for the past month.

  • Alabama New South Alliance and Alabama Democratic Conference urge straight Democratic vote on Nov. 8

    Yolanda Flowers -Governor

    Will Boyd – US Senator
    Wendell Major- Attorney General

    Pamela J. Laffitte- Secretary of State
    Curtis Travis- State Representative
    Anita L. Kelly- Alabama Supreme Court

    Yvette M. Richardson State Board of Education District No # 4

    Bobby Singleton – State Senator

    By: John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    In Greene County, and many places across the state, the Alabama New South Alliance (ANSA) and the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) are urging voters to vote a straight Democratic Party ticket in the November 8th General Election.

    The state’s two major Black and progressive voter organizations are encouraging voters to color in the oval next to the Democratic Party, at the top of the ballot, and vote for all the statewide and local candidates on the Democratic Party slate.

    Some of the candidates you will be voting for if you follow this advice are pictured in this article. “Many people do not know that we have Black candidates concerned about all the people running for statewide offices in Alabama,” said Lorenzo French, Chair of the Greene County Democratic Executive Committee.

    Yolanda Flowers is running for Governor against incumbent Kay Ivey.
    Flowers, a retired educator, has a platform of more equitable policies in education, criminal justice, and healthcare than the current Governor. “All you need to know is that Flowers supports Medicaid Expansion and will sign for it as soon as she is in office,” said French.

    In the U. S. Senate race, Dr Will Boyd is supported over Katie Britt for the seat being vacated by the retirement of Senator Richard Shelby. Boyd supports overturning the filibuster to allow for passage of voting rights, reproductive health care, and progressive economic policies in the Senate.
    Boyd and other statewide candidates will be in Greene County at the Renaissance Theater on Thursday, November 3rd, to rally for a strong voter turnout next Tuesday.

    Other statewide candidates endorsed by ANSA and ADC include: Terri Sewell for U. S. House of Representatives, Wendell Majors for Attorney General, Pamela Laffite for Secretary of State, Anita L. Kelly for Supreme Court Justice, Place 5, Wendell Majors for Attorney General and Yvette M. Richardson for State School Board, District 4.

    Also endorsed are Bobby Singleton, State Senate District 24 and Curtis Travis, State Representative District 72.

    In Greene County, all local Democratic candidates for local office, chosen in the May primary, are endorsed for the November 8th General Election, including: Joe Benison for Sheriff, Greg Griggers for District Attorney, Ronald Kent Smith for Coroner; Garria Spencer, District 1, Tennyson Smith, District 2, Corey Cockrell District 3, Allen Turner District 4 and Roshanda Sommerville District 5 -Greene County Commission; Robert Davis, District 1 and Brandon Merriweather, District 2 for Greene County Board of Education.

    Amendments

    Also on the November 8th ballot is one referendum and ten amendments to be voted on by voters statewide. ANSA has given the following recommendations on the Amendments.

    First, there is a referendum on the recompilation and removal of racist language from the Alabama Constitution. ANSA suggests voting “YES” on this proposal.

    On the Amendments, ANSA suggests voting “NO” on Numbers 1, 3 and 4 and “YES” on the others: 2, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9 and 10.

    Amendment 1, is based on Anaiah’s Law and would allow judges in Alabama to restrict bail for persons charged with felony crimes, including:
    Murder (other than capital murder), kidnapping, rape, sodomy, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, and robbery, all in the 1st degree, as well as aggravated child abuse, sexual torture, and terrorism.
    ANSA feels this would limit the power of judges to use their discretion in setting bail, based on the specific circumstances of the case. ANSA recommends a “NO” vote because too many Back people are in jail now, with high bail requirements they cannot meet. Some have been incarcerated for years, without trail, because they cannot meet bail.

    ANSA urges a “NO” vote on Amendments 3, because it requires the Governor to notify the families of victims before commuting the sentences of offenders; and Amendment 4, because it would not allow changes in election
    Laws within six months of an election, which limits changes required by emergencies like the recent pandemic.

    ANSC urges a “YES” vote on Amendment 2 which would allow use of public funds from county and city government toward broadband; Amendment 5, which deals with “orphans’ business”, and I obsolete language; Amendment 6, would allow cities and towns that collect a special property tax to pay bonds or other debt service on public capital improvements.

    Amendment 7 would clarify the authority of counties, cities, and towns to use public funds for economic development purposes. Amendments 8 and 9, apply locally to Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Jefferson Counties for dealing with utility systems; Amendment 10, is a companion to the proposed recompiled Alabama Constitution of 2022. It would allow future amendments to the Alabama Constitution to be properly placed in the Constitution.

     

  • Greene Co. Democratic Executive Committee
    holds political forum

    Jimmie Benison
    Beverly “Bev” Spencer
    Hank McWhorter

    The Greene County Executive Committee held a political forum on Thursday, April 7, 2022 in the gymnasium of the Robert H. Young Community Center (old Carver School). The forum was open to all candidates in the Democratic primary election on May 24, 2022 for local offices in Greene County. The candidates were given three minutes to  introduce themselves and an additional ten minutes for questions.

    Lorenzo French, Chair of the Greene County Democratic Executive Committee explained the purpose of the forum was to allow candidates to explain their platforms and reasons for running, as well as to answer questions from voters. French asked the audience to take note of those candidates who did not appear and ask them to be more accountable to the voters of Greene County.

    The hotly contested race for Sheriff of Greene County drew the most attention. Three of the four candidates were present, only the incumbent sheriff, Jonathan “Joe” Benison, was not present and did not speak to his accomplishments in office or answer voter’s questions.

    Jimmie Benison, candidate for sheriff explained his long career in law enforcement, including military service, previously working as a Greene County deputy sheriff and currently working for a Mental Health Law Enforcement program in Tuscaloosa.

    Jimmie Benison said, “I will be a fulltime sheriff dedicated to law enforcement and safety. I will stand for transparency, accountability, dependability and honesty in my role as sheriff. I will appoint a panel, similar to the “racing commission” that we had to operate, regulate and monitor greyhound dog racing, to operate electronic bingo in the county.”

    In answering questions, Benison said, “I am unfamiliar with the current rules that are being used by the sheriff to operate bingo but I feel that the panel I create will develop rules to make more funds available to Greene County government and agencies.”

    In answer to a question about reducing crime, he said, “I am in favor of more after school programs and activities for youth; I plan to revitalize the junior deputies program we had in the past, which will help to bridge the gap between the community and the police.”

    Hank McWhorter, another candidate for sheriff, said that he had 35 years of law enforcement experience, including ten years of service with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

    “Based on the funds coming through Greene County’s electronic bingo establishments, we should have the best roads, best services, best hospital, best ambulance service, best education, a high school football stadium, and best recreational services of any county in Alabama. The money is there but it is not staying in the county to help people here. I will work to fix this.”

    McWhorter suggested that Greene County residents get the public documents from IRS on the bingo charities, their 990 disclosure forms and others, to see what they are doing and how much they are paying their staff and what they are giving to Greene County. He also said there are bingo controlled “political action committees” (PAC’s), like Citizens for Lawful Government, which are trying to buy the election for the incumbent sheriff.

    In a separate interview with this reporter, McWhorter said he feared for his life and that of his family because he was revealing the truth about the corruption of bingo in Greene County.

    Beverly “Bev” Spencer, the third candidate for sheriff, challenging the incumbent said, “I was born in Greene County, lived here all of my life and plan to die here. I have no law enforcement experience but I have common sense and I know what the sheriff is supposed to do.”

    “Greene County is not getting its fair share of bingo funds. I estimate $300 to $400 million dollars annually is flowing through bingo and Greene County gets $6 or $7 million a year out of this. We should be getting at least 10% or $30 million which could be used to help Greene County,” said Spencer.

    “I will create an 8-member committee, 3 whites and 5 Blacks, to regulate and supervise bingo in Greene County; I will be the ninth vote to break a tie. This committee will change the rules and see if we can get every single person in Greene County a small check from bingo funds as well as fund the charities, agencies and government services,” said Spencer.

    District Attorney Greg Griggers and his challenger Barrown Lankster, who has held the position in the past discussed their different approaches to the position of District Attorney for the 17th Judicial District, which includes Greene, Sumter and Marengo counties. Lankster said he would be more pro-active in working with educational programs for young people to prevent crime. Griggers touted various special courts he had created for mental health and juvenile crimes.

    The program lasted for over three hours from 5:00 PM to after 8:30 PM and also heard from candidates for County Commission and School Board. We will cover those races in the six weeks ahead until the May 24th. Primary.

    There was also a fiery keynote address by civil rights and voting rights activist Rev. Wendel Paris of Jackson, Mississippi. Paris is a native of Sumter County and played a major role in political activism in the Alabama Black Belt for many years. “All of us must vote in every election. We need to strive for 90% turnout in the Alabama Black Belt and we can win statewide elections. You must go out and vote because your vote can make a difference in your daily life, and if you don’t vote, please do not complain about the results,” said Paris.

  • Nov. 1 is deadline to apply for an Absentee Ballot for coming election

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 is the last date to apply for an Absentee Ballot in the upcoming November 6 General Election. You must apply by mail (alabamavotes.gov) or in person at the Circuit Clerk’s office to receive an Absentee Ballot. The Absentee Ballot must be returned in person or postmarked by November 5, 2018, the day before Election Day on November 6, 2018. If you know you will not be able to get to vote on November 6, 2018, you can walk into the Circuit Clerk’s office and vote absentee until November 1st. As of Tuesday, October 23, there have been 176 applications for absentee ballots in the coming election according to Mattie Atkins, Circuit Clerk and Absentee Elections manager. “ I expect we will have over 200 absentee ballots cast by the deadline. This is in line with our voting history over the past few elections in Greene County,” said Atkins. “There is no reason why everyone should not vote,” said Lorenzo French, Chair of the Greene County Democratic Executive Committee. “If you are registered in Greene County, but live away, or are attending school, or are sick and homebound, or work on a job which will not let you get back home in time to vote, you still have time to apply for and vote absentee,” said French. There are 7,090 people registered and qualified to vote in the November 6 election according to the Greene County Board of Registrars. In recent elections, 3,500 voters or around 50% turned out to vote, while Greene County had among the highest percentage turnouts in the state, we were far from a record-breaking performance. “This is a critical election in Alabama, all of the major offices in state government in Montgomery including Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, four Supreme court Justices, every state Senator and Representative in the Legislature, all of our Congress-persons and many local officials will be on the ballot,” said Senator Hank Sanders of Alabama. “We need the highest turnout that we can get. Every voter must be concerned and motivated to vote. During the Civil Rights Movement, people died and were beaten for working for the right to vote,” said Spiver W. Gordon, veteran activist. Among the five major reasons people gave for not voting and the responses follow.

    • MY VOTE DOESN’T MATTER. Not true. “One vote can make a difference,” says Common Cause, a grassroots organization whose mission is upholding the core values of American democracy. “Many voters, together deciding they will make a difference, can change an election.” The group notes that some local, state and presidential elections have been decided by only “a handful of votes.” Your vote is important for influencing public policy decisions. According to the 2015 report “Why Voting Matters,” voting “plays a significant role in the distribution of government resources as well as the size of government and who benefits from public policies.” The lower voter turnout of young, poor, minority or otherwise marginalized groups has a definite impact on how they’re represented in government.

    • I DON’T LIKE THE CANDIDATES AND HATE THE “LESSER OF TWO EVILS” STRATEGY. If you really didn’t want to vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump — they were the most unpopular presidential candidates in recent history — you could’ve instead voted for a third party, independent or write-in candidate. It’s important to also vote for the other candidates on your ballot, including those running for Congress and your state legislature. As noted above, your vote truly will influence these lawmakers.As for the lesser of two evils strategy, you should consider what’s at stake in this election — including important issues like gun control, climate change, affordable health care and much more — and vote to support what you believe in.

    • IT’S TOO RAINY/SNOWY/HOT/COLD OUTSIDE. Studies have found that Republicans usually win on rainy Election Days. “The traditional Democratic base tends to include lower-income people and the elderly,” explains Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University. “Both of those demographic groups have a hard time getting to the polls.” One way of avoiding having to venture out in inclement weather on Election Day is to apply for an absentee ballot. You can mail in your completed ballot.

    •IT TAKES TOO LONG. I HATE WAITING IN LINE. Voting takes less than 14 minutes on average, yet it can affect the next four or more years. To save time at your polling place, complete and bring your sample ballot with you. If possible, go when it’s not too busy — which is usually in the middle of either the morning or afternoon. Avoid going early in the morning or in the early evening, which are usually the busiest times.

    •I DON’T KNOW IF I’M REGISTERED. You can check online to see if you’re registered to vote at your current address. Go to a website like Vote.org and select your state to get started.

  • ANSA endorses local candidates in the Democratic primary set for June 5, 2018

    The Greene County Chapter of the Alabama New South Alliance (ANSA) met over the past weekend to screen and endorse candidates for the primary election to be held on June 5, 2018.
    Candidates for local offices made short presentations to the ANSA members and then answered questions from a screening committee and the general membership.
    For Probate Judge, ANSA endorsed Jeremy Rancher in a close contest with Rev. James Carter. Rev. John Kennard and Rashon Smith also appeared to be screened, however neither Rolanda M. Wedgeworth nor Grace Belton Stanford, who were invited, appeared before the group.
    For Circuit Clerk, ANSA endorsed Veronica Morton Jones over Debra Blackmon.
    For Sheriff, ANSA heard from Lorenzo French and Beverly Spencer, two of the four candidates and endorses Lorenzo French. Incumbent Sheriff Jonathan Benison and Jimmie L. Benison declined the invitation to appear before the group.
    For Coroner, ANSA chose to endorse Ronald K. Smith, incumbent Coroner, for the position over Finest Gandy Jr., his opponent.
    ANSA heard from most of the candidates for the Greene County Commission and endorsed the following:

    • Lester Brown –
    District 1
    • Tennyson Smith –
    District 2
    • Elzora Fluker –
    District 3
    • Allen Turner Jr. –
    District 4
    •Rashonda Summerville –
    District 5

    The ANSA members plan to work between now and the election to support this slate of local candidates. On April 21, ANSA will hold its statewide convention in Montgomery to screen and endorse candidates for statewide and multi-county districts to complete its slate of candidates for the June 5, 2018 primary election.

  • Absentee Ballots available now Tuesday, August 15, statewide primary elections scheduled for U. S. Senate seat

    _81877350_026263473-1“There is a major special statewide election coming up in Alabama in less than two weeks that most voters don’t know about”, said Lorenzo French, Chair of the Greene County Democratic Executive Committee.
    Every registered voter, in both parties – Democrat and Republican – can vote on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 – at your regular polling place, in the primary for the U. S. Senate seat vacated when Jeff Sessions resigned to become Attorney General. In most counties there will just be this one contest on the ballot.
    There is a crowded field of candidates in both parties to fill this position. Luther Strange, who was appointed to the position by former Governor Robert Bentley, leads the Republican field, which also includes former and disgraced Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore and Mo Brooks, Congressman representing the Huntsville area.
    In the Democratic primary there are six candidates. Former U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Doug Jones of Birmingham, leads the race. Jones is best known for prosecuting and winning the conviction of two of the bombers of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, who killed four innocent young girls on a Sunday morning in 1963. Jones has been endorsed by the Alabama New South Alliance, Alabama Democratic Conference and other labor and civic groups.
    If no candidate wins 50% plus one vote in this first primary, a second primary between the top two qualifiers will be held on September 26, 2017. If there is a second primary, Alabama law now requires you to vote in the same party you chose to vote in during the first primary. This was done to prevent crossover voting where voters from one party were trying to affect the choice of the other party to benefit their party’s candidate.The Special General Election for this United States Senate seat will be held on December 12, 2017. “Our voters must pay attention to these dates, or they will miss an important election,” said French.
    The last day to register to vote in this special election was Monday, July 31. Voter registration will re-open from August 16 to September 15, 2017 for voters to participate in the second primary.
    Absentee Ballots are available now from the Circuit Clerk’s office in the Courthouse. Persons who will be out of town, serving in the Armed Forces, attending college out of town or are sick and incapacitated may apply for an absentee ballot to vote. Thursday August 10, 2017 is the last day to apply for a regular absentee ballot.
    Absentee ballots must be returned by mail or in person by Monday, August 14, 2017. More information on absentee voting is available from the Circuit Clerk’s office or call 205/372-3598 or 372-6907.
    In its last session, the Alabama Legislature changed the conditions for convicted felons to restore their voting rights. The law has clarified which offenses involve moral turpitude and which do not.
    Persons convicted of crimes not involving moral turpitude, who have served their time and paid all costs and fines will have an easier process to restore their voting rights. Former felons needing assistance in restoring their voting rights may contact Lorenzo French at 334/872-1355