Jefferson County Republicans announce slate of local candidates
On Wednesday, the Jefferson County Republican Party announced their slate of countywide and local candidates. Major party qualifying for the 2024 election cycle ended on Friday. The Jefferson County Republican Party is running a host of candidates in the 2024 election, including: John Amari for Probate Judge, Place 1. For Probate Judge, Place 2 – Joel R. Blankenship For Assistant Treasurer – Delor Baumann For Assistant Tax Collector – Johnny Curry For Board of Education, Place 1 – Phillip Brown For Board of Education, Place 2 – Robert “Glenn” Durough For Constable, District 15 – Rod Honeycutt For Constable, District 15 – Larry Woods For Constable, District 44 – Stephen A. Moseley For Constable, District 45 – Tim Anders Sr. For Constable, District 46 – Keith Hall For Constable, District 47 – Gilbert F. Douglas III For Constable, District 48 – Robert De Buys For Constable, District 51 – Ronnie Dixon For Constable, District 51 – Joe Williams For Constable, District 55 – Ken Gray Sr The Republican primary is on March 5. Since none of these local candidates have primary opponents, they automatically qualify for the November 5 general election. There will be a number of contested races on the Republican primary ticket in Jefferson County, including President of the United States, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals Place 2, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2, and President of the Public Service Commission, Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District, Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District, and State Board of Education Place 3. The next Republican Party Executive Committee Meeting is Tuesday, November 21, at the Homewood Library at 6:00 PM. Chris Brown is the Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. While Republicans dominate statewide offices across Alabama, both Houses of the Alabama Legislature, and the last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried Alabama was 1976, the Democratic Party has become the dominant political party in Jefferson County. The Democratic Party has won the last two sheriff’s elections and for district attorney. Jefferson County supported Joe Biden in 2020, Clinton in 2016, Obama in 2012, and Obama in 2008. Even though Republicans carried the state as a whole, Brown says a study of where the growth is happening in Jefferson County (Hoover, Gardendale, Trussville, McCalla, etc.) shows that it is occurring in Republican areas while many Democratic precincts are experiencing long term declines in population. The prospect of turning Jefferson County red is increasingly likely long-term. Will that change occur in 2024, however, remains to be seen. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republicans seek appointments in Jefferson County
The Mid-Alabama Republican Club (MARC) met on Saturday for their regular meeting and a legal briefing on the Congressional redistricting case in federal court by attorney Albert “Bert” Jordan. Hoover City Council President John Lyda is the President of MARC. Former State Representative Johnny Curry asked the MARC members to write Governor Kay Ivey on his behalf. “My name is Johnny Curry – I seek appointment by the Governor to tax assessor for the Bessemer Cutoff,” Curry said. “Currently, there are no Republicans in the Bessemer Courthouse. I served four terms in the Alabama Legislature representing Hueytown.” “I am not the only Republican seeking the office,” Curry said. “I can win reelection.” Appointments are up to Gov. Ivey. Ivey is a Republican, but some Republicans have criticized her in the past for appointing Democrats in Democrat-controlled areas of the state – areas like Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office in the Bessemer Division became open following the sudden death of Assistant Tax Collector Eric Burks in July. Former Judge Brian Huff was also at the MARC event. He is also seeking an appointment from Gov. Ivey. Huff said that he previously was a Jefferson County judge appointed by Gov. Fob James and then elected in 1998. “I lost in 2012 along with all the other Republicans,” Huff said. “Now a vacancy has opened in divorce court in Place 1 in Jefferson County.” “My name went down to Governor Ivey on Wednesday with three other peoples,” Huff said. “I think the bench is important in Jefferson County.” “I would appreciate any support that you can give me,” Huff said. Huff is currently in private practice. He is a former Circuit Judge at Jefferson County Family Court. He is a graduate of Gardendale High School and West Birmingham Christian School. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law. Greg Fanin is running in a special election for Alabama House District 16, which was vacated by Rep. Kyle South when South accepted a position as head of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. Fanin said that he became a Republican in the 1980s. “I was a Reagan Republican,” Fanin explained. “I served in the Army.” “I am asking for your vote,” Fanin said. “September 26 is the date.” HD16 includes parts of Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, and Fayette Counties. “I have a super strong connection to Jefferson County,” Fanin said, citing attending school in the county growing up. “I am asking for your support.” Fanin is a veteran of both the Army and the Air Force. He currently serves as the Commissioner of Coal Mines (ASMC) appointed by Gov. Ivey. He is a real estate appraiser and President of Gemini GEM Inc. He is the father to two daughters, Erin and Meg. He attends the Church of the Highlands. Allison Hepola is the head of the Republican Women of Shelby County. She asked for members of the MARC to support the club in its ongoing efforts to elect Republicans. Hepola was also soliciting signatures so Florida Governor Ron DeSantis could have ballot access in Alabama’s upcoming Presidential primary on March 5. Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight thanked the members of the MARC for their help electing former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin in a special election last month to fill an open position on the county commission. The GOP victory means that the Republicans maintain their narrow 3 to 2 control over the County Commission. Chris Brown is the Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. Brown similarly thanked the group for their efforts in electing Bolin to the Commission. “I am very proud f the cooperation we got from the Alabama Republican Party,” Brown said. “The Jefferson County GOP knocked on over 2,000 doors in three weeks.” Brown also thanked U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville for recording a robo-call to remind voters to get out and vote for Judge Bolin. The Republican Party lost its last countywide elected official in Jefferson County in 2018 when Sheriff Mike Hale (R) was unseated by Mark Pettway. Gov. Ivey defeated Democratic nominee Yolanda Flowers 67.38% to 29.36% in 2022, but Ivey lost Jefferson County to Flowers. Brown was unmoved by the last decade of history, saying that if you look at where the growth is in Jefferson County, Gardendale, Trussville, Vestavia, and Hoover, are Republican areas. “I think we are at a point where we can flip the county back to the Republicans,” Brown declared. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Former State Rep. Johnny Curry seeking support for appointment to Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office following death of Eric Burks
The Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office currently has an opening in the Bessemer Division following the sudden death of Assistant Tax Collector Eric Burks in July. Burks was a native of Montgomery, Alabama. His wife, Karen Burks, serves as the Circuit Clerk of the Bessemer Cut-Off. Joey Sanders, posted on Facebook, in support of Johnny Curry. Sanders wrote, “There is a vacancy in the Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office, Bessemer Division. Governor [Kay] Ivy will fill this vacancy by appointment. Johnny Curry is seeking this appointment. Johnny Curry served in the legislature for 16 years. He has served as chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee and currently serves on the State Republican Executive Committee. Johnny Curry is a true Republican and proud to be a conservative. He would love to have your support and would ask that you send a letter to the Governors office expressing your support.” . Gov. Ivey has not announced an appointment for this position.
