Until 2012, primary day voting in Franklin County was essentially a de facto general election in the Democratic primary.
Most local offices saw contested races among Democratic candidates, but other than a handful of races, no Republican candidates even qualified. At the state level, Democrats long controlled the face of Montgomery politics.
The state transition came earlier than it did in northwest Alabama, but it came nonetheless. Alabama is the most Republican state in the country as the 2016 election cycle nears. Republicans hold all state offices, both U.S. Senate seats, and all but one of Alabama's seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Next year's March 1 primary day will be a de facto election for several state offices, as no Democrats qualified. Locally, Republicans have candidates in all races except Franklin County Board of Education Place Four, where Democratic incumbent Shannon Oliver will face Eddie Britton in the primary.
“This is not a trend resulting from President [Barack] Obama's unpopularity among Alabama voters,” said Jerry Mays, Franklin County Republican Executive Committee chairman. “The Democratic Party does not represent the values of Alabama citizens, and they can no longer identify with the party.”
Franklin County voters will decide four Franklin County Commission races, various constable positions, Franklin County superintendent of education, Franklin County Board of Education Places Two and Four and district attorney next year. A total of nine Republicans qualified for those offices, compared to 13 Democrats.
The two incumbent Republican commissioners, Chris Wallace and Rayburn Massey, face no primary opponents, but the two Democratic commissioners, Wyman Pounders and Don Hastings, both have March 1 opposition. Terry Bolton is running for District Two against Pounders, while Norris Lewey and Anthony Bentley will challenge Don Hastings in District Four.
In 2012, the Alabama Republican Party funded several mailers that attempted to identify local candidates with Obama, who was seeking reelection at the time. Mays said similar campaign strategies could be used next year.
“When you run as a Democrat, you sign a loyalty oath supporting the ideals of the National Democratic Party," Mays said. "And that includes positions that are pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage and other ideas not consistent with Alabama values."
But Brian Hamilton, Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee chairman, said such attacks are nothing more than negative campaigning designed to mask the real issues important to voters.
“Our local races should be decided on local issues," Hamilton said. "I think it's shameful and a sign of weakness they can not win if they talk about local issues, so Republicans try and muddy the waters by convincing people that if they vote Democratic they are somehow not Christians,” Hamilton said.
Regardless of campaign tactics, Franklin County voters now, and in the foreseeable future, will have important choices to make on primary day as well as the November 1, 2016 general election.
The Franklin Free Press will again organize candidate forums at local venues, where voters can interact with those seeking office.
