Senate District 16 Jabo Waggoner Party: Republican Residence: Vestavia Hills Political experience: Elected to Alabama House of Representatives seat, 1966, 1974, 1978 and 1982; unsuccessful run for U.S. House District 6, 1984; elected to Alabama Senate District 16, 1990-present. Civic experience: Member of Homewood Church of Christ; serves on the following boards: Executive Committee of
Alabama Democrats are hoping to put at least a small dent in Republicans’ stronghold on all three branches of state government in the Nov. 6 general election. With continuation of the GOP’s grip on the executive, legislative and judicial branches all but assured, the Democrats’ best hope to win a statewide office seems to lie in the race for chief justice, where Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Bob Vance faces Republican Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker. “Other than that race, I don’t see anything happening for Democrats,” said Larry Powell, a longtime political consultant and professor of communication studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. That was before Vance began an aggressive ad campaign last week, attacking Parker’s close affiliation with twice-ousted Chief Justice Roy Moore. Democrats hoped Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox would put up a strong challenge to Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican who was elected lieutenant governor four years ago and became the state’s chief executive when Robert Bentley resigned as governor last year after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations. Powell said had he expected Maddox to try to ignite enthusiasm for a state lottery as the strong theme for his campaign. That’s what Don Siegelman did in 1998, when he became the last Democrat to be elected governor. But Powell said that never developed as a consistent theme. While Ivey campaigned on her ability to bring new jobs to Alabama, Maddox criticized her refusal to agree to a debate. Powell said the Democrat suffered from a lack of focus. “I thought they were going to hammer the lottery as the main issue, that they would jump all over the lottery as a focus,” he said. The ballot includes 20 statewide races, with Democrats challenging Republicans in nine of them, along with four statewide constitutional amendments and one local amendment each for Jefferson and Shelby counties. Across the state, voters also will be choosing their legislators, judges, court officials, county commissioners, board of education members, sheriffs, district attorneys and other officials, including members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The BirminghamWatch General Election Voter Guide is your resource for investigating how you will mark your ballot Tuesday. Read more. More Stories in the Voter Guide
State Representative, District No. 46 Felicia Stewart Party: Democrat Residence: Mountain Brook Political experience: None. Professional experience: Consultant, LGBTQ component fund, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, April 2017-present; territory manager, Entellus Medical, April-October 2016; sales representative, Stryker Neuro, Spine ENT, 2013-2016; vice president sales, Texas / sales manager, The Stewart Organization, 2007 -2013; color systems
Office: Jefferson County Circuit Clerk Party: Democrat Residence: Birmingham Political experience: Member, president and vice president of the Jefferson County Board of Education. Professional experience: Planner with the Jefferson County Workforce Investment Program; Health Access Director for Cooper Green Hospital; member and past president of the Alabama School Board Association; member, the YMBC Civic Club
Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale Party: Republican Age: 67 Residence: Clay Political experience: Jefferson County sheriff since 1998 Professional experience: Sheriff. Captain in the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, where he commanded every division; chief of police, Pell City; security manager, St. Vincent’s hospital. Civic experience: Chair of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches board; board member
Mark L. Pettway Jefferson County Sheriff Name: Mark Pettway Party: Democrat Residence: Birmingham Political experience: None Professional experience: Fairfield Police Department, 1993-99; Internal Revenue Service Task Force, 2012-14; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 1999-present. Member, Fraternal Order of Police, Police Benevolent Association; former member, Law Enforcement Bicycle Association. Education: Faulkner University, business administration, 1989-91; instructor at
Office: Jefferson County Deputy Circuit Clerk, Bessemer Division Karen Dunn-Burks Party: Democrat Date of birth: 1965 Residence: Hoover Political experience: Burks was elected deputy circuit clerk, Bessemer division, in 2012. Burks said she has worked in and around government for several years, dealing with administrative issues and budgeting. “I’ve dealt with having to do more
Jefferson County Probate Judge, Place 1 Alan King Party: Democrat Residence: Birmingham Political experience: Elected Jefferson County probate judge, 2000, 2006, 2012; member, Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity; Professional experience: Private practice of Law, 1982-2000; founder, Probate Section of the Birmingham Bar Association; member and past president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the
Jefferson County District Court Judge Place 3 Pamela Wilson Cousins Party: Democrat Age: 58 Residence: Gardendale Political experience: Ran for District Judge of Birmingham, 2016; ran for Circuit Judge of Bessemer, 2010. Professional experience: Managing Attorney, Pamela Wilson Cousins, P.C. 1993-present; registered mediator, Alabama State Court; Attorney, Reid & Thomas 1992-1993; legal assistant, L. Dan
Jefferson County District Judge, Place 12 Lorraine W. Pringle Party: Democrat Residence: Bessemer Political experience: Elected to District judgeship, 2012. Professional experience: Licensed registered nurse, associate’s degree, 1981, and bachelor’s and nursing degree, 1983, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing, Samford University; juris doctorate, Birmingham School of Law. Vice president, Juvenile Justice Association; member, District
