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11/8/12
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1928 views
Democrat
survivor
Thompson lone member of party remaining on Morgan bench
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By January, only one Democratic judge will be left at the Morgan County Courthouse, which has transformed from a bastion of blue elected officials to staunchly red ones in a decade.
Tuesday’s election saw another Democrat fall with Republican candidate Jennifer Howell’s decisive victory over incumbent Place 1 Circuit Judge Sherrie Paler. However, voters allowed incumbent Glenn Thompson to hold onto his seat as Place 2 circuit judge. He edged past Republican opponent BR “Buzz” Brown with 25,131 votes, or 52.78 percent, to Brown’s 22,516 votes, or 47.22 percent.
In the Circuit Clerk’s office, Republican Chris Priest won by a landslide 73.76 percent over Democratic opponent Martin Steelmon. He will replace retiring Democrat John Pat Orr.
Thompson, Paler and Orr all assumed office in 1994, at a time when Democrats ruled the county and the state. They have each served three consecutive terms.
On Tuesday, Priest and Howell rode a crimson tide of straight Republican ticket voting while Thompson eked out his win with smart campaigning, said John Mays, Morgan County Republican Party chairman.
“Glenn was effective, I think, in separating himself from the national Democratic Party, which no longer has the same principles of the mainstream Alabama voter,” Mays said. “He knew people would be voting straight Republican, so he told them you can still do that and vote for me in my race.”
Alabama voters can vote straight ticket but then also select individuals from other parties for specific races. Thompson acknowledged on election night his strategy of asking Republicans to vote for him, coupled with touting his 18-year record on the bench, helped him secure votes.
He won 24 of the county’s 45 precincts, capturing 17 of Decatur’s 21 polls, both of his “home boxes” in Hartselle and five boxes in southwest Morgan County. Brown won 21 precincts including Priceville, Trinity, all of eastern Morgan County and absentee ballots.
Howell swept 31 county precincts, including absentee ballots and boxes in Hartselle, Priceville and Trinity. Howell also picked off precincts in Paler’s stronghold, winning seven of Decatur’s 21 boxes. Paler won the remaining 14.
Howell, Priest and Thompson also had the local Fraternal Order of Police on their side, an endorsement which has proven to have plenty of pull with Morgan County voters. The local FOP Number 46 Lodge in Decatur endorsed Sheriff Ana Franklin and District Attorney Scott Anderson in their successful 2010 campaigns.
“Their endorsement means a lot for judges and sheriffs,” Mays said. “It says these people who are responsible to protect and serve the community feel the public will be more safer with these candidates,” Mays said.
FOP President Richard Stover said his organization endorsed Thompson, Howell and Priest because its members “know them and know what they stand for.”
“I think in the case of Judge Thompson, we feel like he’s always been firm but fair,” Stover said. “We just don’t want to get our buddy in there. It’s not about that. We want someone who will do the job correctly and work with us.”
Howell, Thompson and Priest will begin their six-year terms in January. Starting pay for circuit clerk is about $69,000, while starting pay for circuit judges is $119,000.
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Wait a minute. Isn't John MAys the criminal defense lawyer that represents all the killers and rapists? And we are letting him tell us who should be a judge? I want my vote back. What have we done?
So glad that Judge Thompson will be back on the bench!! Hope all of the new elected will do what they should toward justice!
What happened to Sue Baker Roan? When did she switch?
William
Mays is one of the leaders of the local Republicans - read the article.
Mays did not support Thompson - read the article
Mays is hard working attorney. His opposition to the death penalty shows the truly large tent that local Republicans have.in Morgan County.
Dave. The key word used was "Judge". It says "By January, only one Democratic judge will be left at the Morgan County Courthouse"
.
Ms Roan isn't a judge. She's License Commissioner. I doubt you'll see her switch parties. She gets re-elected because she does a good job regardless of party. that and she doesn't play the political "crap games" that some of the others do.
But Mays did support the other one. Howell. I want that vote back. If I'd known that the scum was supporting Howell I would never voted for her.
Mays didn't support Howell. The FOP did. Mays is with Morgan Democrat party
John, the article says "On Tuesday, Priest and Howell rode a crimson tide of straight Republican ticket voting while Thompson eked out his win with smart campaigning, said John Mays, Morgan County Republican Party chairman".
Rex Cheatham or some other guy maybe now is the democrat party chairman.
Glad man hater Paler is gone. Justice sure wasn't blind where she was concerned.
Mays supported both Buzz and Jennifer.
John Mays is a good attorney and a great American. He is also a die-hard Republican who believes in and supports his party. As for you William it appears that you do not believe that all Americans have rights and are innocent until proven guilty. You are small minded and nothing more need be said to you. Ms. Howell is also a great person and will perform her duties with dignity and honor. Not all Democrats are worthy of their jobs just as not all Republicans are worthy of their jobs. FOP President Richard Stover, was sent for drug testing along with a 72 year old political supporter made captain by Sheriff Anna Franklin. Franklin was later told by the County Commission there was no slot for him. So yes, the FOP endorses people who will give them political favors. I was also told that the FOP burned the votes the night Sheriff Franklin was endorsed...hmmmm...her boyfriend and her best friend runs it. CORRUPTION in the first degree. Mays is a local leader of the republican party and will have nothing to do with corruption. Therefore, people like the current DA Scott Anderson (A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF FRANKLIN'S) who continues to hear over 100 cases where their was a loss of chain of custody on the cases IS NOT A GOOD AND HONORABLE REPUBLICAN. I also do not believe that the Republican party will endorse Sheriff Franklin again. Franklin has consistently pushed nepotism by recently moving a long time employee to a dispatch job to make room for her unqualified daughter, firing or forcing out highly qualified personnel to make room for her family, friends, and campaign supporters. Franklin's hiring and promotion of the leader of the drug task force who has killed five dogs while on her watch with no investigation. Last but not least the inappropriate and unprofessional relationship she continues with Ziaja both on and off duty. I do not believe the good citizens of Morgan County will vote Sheriff Ana Franklin back into office. The leaders of Morgan County to include the county commission all know that Franklin is a loose cannon and a huge liability they just don't know what to do about it without it impacting the integrity of the local republican party. No action by the republican party is more of a liability than taking action before she cost the county a heck of a lot of money.
Party voting in local elections is simply ignorant. But, I've come to expect nothing less from most citizens of this State. Roy Moore.....really?