Government

Governor’s Race

(with 64 of 67 counties reporting) DEMOCRATS Sue Bell Cobb…………………………….. 65,377 (29.90%) Christopher A. Countryman………………..4,185 (1.91%) James C. Fields, Jr………………………....18,021 (8.24%) Walt Maddox……………………………… 114,864 (52.54%) Doug “New Blue” Smith……………………. 7,934 (3.63%) Anthony White………………………………..8,254 (3.78%) REPUBLICANS Tommy Battle………………………………. 125,181 (24.79%) Scott Dawson………………………………. 64,542 (12.78%) Bill Hightower………………………………… 23,899 (4.73%) Kay Ivey……………………………………...288,263 (57.10%) Michael McAllister (deceased)……………….2,992 (0.59%)

by BirminghamWatch

Polls Are Closed Across the State

Polls across the state closed at 7 p.m. and the process of counting the votes will begin shortly in today’s election. Up for grabs are statewide races for the governor’s office all of the other top statewide races, along with seats in the Legislature and many judgeships and county offices. Voter turnout across the state was holding at about 25 percent with few problems reported, according to voting officials. That also held true for Jefferson County, where voter turnout is expected to fall somewhere between 25 percent and 28 percent, based on reports received from precincts. Barry Stephenson, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Registrars, said precincts didn't experience a particularly heavier volume during late afternoon-early evening hours from people voting after work. Stephenson said calls to his office during the last hours of voting mainly covered questions about find their correct voting locations. Earlier in the day, the recent redrawing of Alabama’s legislative districts caused some confusion at the polls. Stephenson said he spent a chunk of his morning fielding calls from voters who didn’t realize their state House districts had been changed. “The state settled the lawsuit to redraw some of the State House districts and we implemented that in February,” said Stephenson, “It changed probably 30 to 40 percent of our voters’ districts, and they’re just now noticing.” Voters were mailed information about the change, but, still, when they arrived at the polls, they were prepared to vote in a different district. BirminghamWatch will be keeping up as the votes are counted throughout the evening. For BirminghamWatch’s guide to today’s election, including sample ballots, profiles of candidates, tools to find your polling place or report a problem, read the Voter Guide.

by Cheryl Slocum

JeffCo Commissioners Say Investment Paid Off in Amazon Opportunity

Jefferson County commissioners dusted off their atob campaign buttons for their committee meeting Tuesday. Some had called the “Alabama to Birmingham” campaign to lure in an Amazon headquarters a waste of money. As commissioners continue to lay the groundwork to draw in an Amazon advanced robotics fulfillment center, they said that was money well spent. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Alabama Votes Today

The recent redrawing of Alabama’s legislative districts is causing some confusion at the polls today. Barry Stephenson, Jefferson County Board of Registrars chairman, said he spent a chunk of his morning fielding calls from voters who didn’t realize their state House districts had been changed. “The state settled the lawsuit to redraw some of the State House districts and we implemented that in February,” said Stephenson, “It changed probably 30 to 40 percent of our voters’ districts, and they’re just now noticing.” Voters were mailed information about the change, but, still, when they arrived at the polls, they were prepared to vote in a different district. Otherwise, voting in the county was progressing smoothly this morning as voters went to the polls to decide among 10 people vying for their party’s nomination for governor. All of the other top statewide races also are on the ballot, along with seats in the Legislature and many judgeships and county offices. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For BirminghamWatch’s guide to today’s election, including sample ballots, profiles of candidates, tools to find your polling place or report a problem, read the Voter Guide.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr. and Cheryl Slocum

Birmingham Hires LA Commander to be New Police Chief

After more than six months of searching, Birmingham has a new police chief. Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Monday that Patrick D. Smith has been appointed as the city’s new law enforcement head, succeeding A.C. Roper, who announced his retirement in November. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Contributions in the Governor’s Race

Contributions of $5,000 or more to candidates in the Governor’s Race (Updated June 3) Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Electronic Voter Check-In is Expected to Make Voting More Efficient in Jefferson County. What Else is New at the Polls?

When voters in Jefferson County go to the polls Tuesday, they’ll be met not with signs telling them to line up according to their last names, but by poll workers with electronic poll books ready to sign them in. Voter check-in for Jefferson County’s registered voters goes fully electronic for the first time, rather than voters having to wait while poll workers look up names on printed paper lists. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must still verify their identity and choose to vote either a Republican or Democratic ballot. The state also has a new law that prohibits crossover voting. Voters may not vote in one party’s primary in June and then switch to vote in the other party’s runoff in July. Read more.

by Cheryl Slocum

Ivey Tripled Closest Competitor in Fundraising Last Week

Gov. Kay Ivey raised more than three times as much as her nearest competitor last week, continuing to far outpace her opponents as Republican and Democratic candidates for governor enter the final week of the campaign for the June 5 primary elections. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Birmingham City Council Appoints New PACE Board, Despite Reservations by Some

Birmingham’s controversial PACE Board is back in action after being defunct for nearly a year. The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to appoint new members to the board in order to secure approval for a new restaurant at the Negro Southern League Museum, despite deep reservations by some council members over the board’s accountability. The Public Athletic, Cultural, and Entertainment Facilities Board — PACE, for short — is a five-member board created by the city in 2011 to oversee development of Regions Field and the Negro Southern League Museum. But the board drew ire from the council after construction costs for Regions Field went over budget by roughly $8 million, $4.1 million of which the council is paying off in installments through 2021. The rest of those costs were taken on by development companies Robins & Morton and A.G. Gaston Construction.

by Sam Prickett

Richard A. Dickerson

Office: Jefferson County Commission, District 2 Party: Democratic Age: 62 Residence: Birmingham Political experience: None. Professional experience: President and CEO, RAD Communications; senior official, Clinton Administration; various senior roles, state and local government; director of strategic communications, USAID in Kandahar, Afghanistan; equity partner, EcoHouse; staff member, 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Civic experience: Public safety committee Education: Davis & Elkins

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.