The primary ballots for the Tuesday, June 21 runoff elections may be short, but some of the races on the ballots should generate plenty of voting interest, both locally and on the state and national level.
Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby defeated four challengers to win the May 24 Republican Primary for sheriff without a runoff. Since there were no Democratic challengers for the office, and no independent candidates have announced, Yerby is virtually assured of a second term as Fayette County’s sheriff.
With the primary elections approaching fast, several races, are expected to bring voters to the polls in near-record numbers for a non-presidential election year. In Fayette County, the races for Sheriff and Superintendent of Education each have several viable candidates who have campaigned hard for their respective positions. There are also contested Commissioner seats and Board of Education positions on the ballots in certain districts within the county.
Qualifying closed for both the Republican and Democratic parties on Jan. 28, with few if any last minutes surprises. No one qualified for a local office during the last week of qualifying. Two local candidates have no opposition in their bids for re-election. They have no opposition from either major party, virtually assuring them of re-election to their current positions.
With only a few days remaining to qualify for local office, the Superintendent of Education and Fayette County Sheriff races have attracted the most candidates. The Fayette County Republican Party began qualifying candidates for office for the 2022 elections on Dec. 1, 2021, and the Fayette County Democratic Party began its local qualifying on Dec. 20, 2021.
The Fayette County Republican Party began qualifying candidates for office for the 2022 election on Dec. 1, and the Fayette County Democratic Party began its local qualifying on Dec. 20. At press time, there were no qualifiers for local office through the Democratic Party.
Several local Republicans are literally off to the races early as the Fayette County Republican Party began accepting qualifiers on Dec. 1. According to Fayette County Republican Chairman John Killian, current Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby was the first in line to qualify, turning his paperwork in to Fayette County Republican Candidate Committee Chairman Ty Burnett at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 1
In less than three weeks, on Nov. 3, local voters will decide on their choice for president, a U.S. senate seat, a Congressional House seat, President of the Public Service Commission, two county commission seats, state amendments and one local amendment that will affect only Fayette County. During the “Year of the Coronavirus Crisis,” many voters will exercise the option allowed by Alabama Secretary of State John Merrell to vote an absentee ballot. However, thousands of other Alabama voters will gather at the polls on election day to cast their ballots in person.
The only municipal election within the county this year will occur on Aug. 25 in the City of Fayette, with every position on the ballot being contested. Seeking the position of mayor, replacing retiring Mayor Ray Nelson, will be: Kevin Bass, Rod Northam, Max Weaver and current City Councilman Cedric Wilson. Vying for office in Ward One are Steve Herring, Kevin Rhudy and Virettia L. Whiteside. Ward One Councilwoman Linda McCraw is not seeking re-election. In Ward Two, incumbent Councilman Eddy D. Campbell will face challenger Floyd Rogers Jr. for the position.
The long-awaited July 14 primary runoff election features no Democratic ballot and a short Republican ballot for eligible voters. Voters who voted in the Democratic primary on March 3 are barred by law from “crossing over” and voting in the Republican runoff primary on July 14.
Voters who did not vote in the March 3 primary, or who only voted on the Constitutional amendments, are eligible to vote in the runoff, along with the Republican primary voters.
