Much of the focus this election season has been on the presidential race or Alabama’s U.S. Senate contest. But voters will also see six statewide constitutional amendments on the ballot. The language of these amendments can be pretty convoluted. Each year the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama offers analysis of the amendments. Senior research associate Thomas Spencer broke them down. Read more.
Candidates in contested races are profiled. List will be updated with information on uncontested candidates. President and Vice President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Kamala D. Harris Democrat Donald J. Trump Michael R. Pence Republican Jo Jorgensen Jeremy “Spike” Cohen Independent United States Senator Doug Jones Democrat Tommy Tuberville
So you want to be a poll watcher. It isn’t as easy as dropping into a polling place and plunking yourself down to observe the proceedings. First, in Alabama, you need to be appointed as a poll watcher for a specific party and a specific precinct. So two or three poll workers at each site is usually the limit. Poll workers also aren’t allowed to attempt to influence voters. In other words, teams of Trump supporters cannot independently call themselves “poll watchers” and stay to make sure nothing they think might be untoward is happening, as the president has urged them to do. But supporting a particular candidate does not disqualify someone from becoming a legal poll watcher, either. Read more. More stories from BirminghamWatch’s 2020 Voter Guide
Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer Division of Jefferson County Delor Baumann Republican Residence: Hueytown Political experience: Mayor of Hueytown, 2004-2016, defeated for re-election in 2016 runoff. Professional experience: Previously managed Baumann Coatings in Bessemer, 15 years. Civic experience: Member, Grace Lutheran Church; member, Hueytown Lions Club; member, Hueytown High School Quarterback Club; member, Hueytown Beautification Board.
Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer Division of Jefferson County Eric S. Burks Democrat Residence: Hoover Political experience: First campaign for elected office; unopposed in Democratic primary. Professional experience: Chief deputy of Tax Collector’s Office for more than 10 years; over 35 years of managerial and leadership positions in engineering, business development, and state and local government.
Jefferson County Deputy Treasurer, Bessemer Division John Stephens Republican Residence: Bessemer Political experience: First campaign for elected office; unopposed in GOP primary. Professional experience: Owner, Unclaimed Storage, Bessemer. Civic experience: Member, Canaan Baptist Church. Education: Bachelor’s in business administration, Samford University. Main issues: “The government exists to serve the people. As a small business owner,
Jefferson County Deputy Treasurer, Bessemer Sherry McClain Democrat Age: age 58 Residence: Brighton Political Experience: Jefferson County deputy treasurer, 2013-present; member, State Democratic Executive Committee, Jefferson County Federation of Democratic Women, Jefferson County Democratic Conference, Alabama New South Coalition and Jefferson County New Citizen’s Coalition. Professional Experience: Jefferson County deputy treasurer, 2013-present; director of community
State Board of Education, District 3 Stephanie Bell Republican Age: 63 Residence: Montgomery Political experience: District 3 Alabama State Board of Education member, 1994-present; ran unsuccessfully for U.S. House of Representatives District 2, 2010. Professional experience: Reporter, Montgomery Advertiser and Alabama Journal, covering governmental affairs; teacher, English as a second language, Taichung YMCA, Taiwan. As
State Board of Education, District 3 Jarralynne Agee Democrat Age: 51 Residence: Shelby County Political experience: Ran for this District 3 school board position in 2016, losing to incumbent Stephanie Bell. Member, Alabama Democratic Executive Committee and Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee. Professional experience: Provost/vice president, Miles College, 2020-present; executive director/liaison for grants and charitable
