2024 Election

Tune In Next Time: Jefferson County Democratic Party Awaits Ruling Before Declaring Its Nominee for Treasurer

Democrats are debating

Daytime soap operas have nothing on politics in Alabama when it comes to drama.

After seeing both candidates for Jefferson County treasurer removed from the ballot for the March 5 primary, the Jefferson County Democratic Party is awaiting a ruling from the state Ethics Commission to determine whom it can — or can’t — nominate.

Eyrika Parker and Mara Ruffin Allen each was removed from the March ballot for failing to file her statement of economic interest. Each filed a lawsuit to be put back on the ballot.

Wayne Rogers, chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, said he can’t say that either lawsuit is over.

“Mara Ruffin Allen is continuing to maintain that her lawsuit is still out there and Eyrika Parker’s lawsuit is technically still out there as well,” Rogers said, acknowledging a communication from Parker.

“Eyrika sent out an email (Jan. 23) to members of the committee that indicates she essentially has been told by her lawyers that there’s no way for her to win so she’s got to approach it in different fashion.”

Rogers said the Jefferson County Democratic Party is awaiting an Ethics Commission ruling on the question of whether an individual who was removed from the March primary ballot for failure to file a statement of economic interest must be also removed from the November general election ballot, or could a party elect to put that person back on the ballot as their nominee? The ruling is expected Feb. 7.

If, for instance, the party ruled Parker ineligible to go back on the ballot and the Ethics Commission said the party should have put her back on the ballot, “That’s a problem,” he said. Conversely, if the party puts Parker back on the ballot and the Ethics Commission rules that the party should not have, “that’s an even worse situation for us,” Rogers said.

“We are awaiting that decision by the Ethics Commission that will tell us whether or not an individual who was disallowed from the ballot in March could, in fact, be the nominee at a convention or caucus and be back on the ballot in November.”

The county treasurer’s race won’t be on the ballot in the March primary. No Republican candidates qualified to run in that race and both Democratic candidates were disallowed from the ballot, meaning the party’s nominee is likely to become treasurer, barring a strong write-in or independent campaign.