Republican roundtable attracts state, local candidates to Phil Campbell

Candidates for federal and state offices in Alabama often overlook smaller, rural counties as they stump across the state, choosing to concentrate their time in large metropolitan areas.

So when 17 candidates, including nine state candidates and a representative for a United States Senate candidate, converged upon Phil Campbell April 14th for the Republican Women of Franklin County Alabama’s (RWFCA) Candidate Roundtable, it was by all measures a successful, unprecedented event for Franklin County.

The Tuesday evening event was held at the Phil Campbell Community Center, a larger venue than originally planned due to the large response from candidates.

The RWFCA hosted the first roundtable in February at the Frog Pond Community Center. 10 candidates attended the first roundtable, but more committed the second time due to the May 19th primary date just over five weeks away.

Each participating candidate met with voters at one of 10 roundtables, with five minutes allotted to share their message and/or answer questions.

After five minutes, a bell signaled candidates to move to the next table while the voters remained so each candidate was able to visit with each table.

RWFCA President Denel Wardell gave a short welcome speech, urging everyone to register to vote by May 4, 2026, if they weren’t already registered.

She explained the format for the evening would have two sessions and a short intermission between them.

State Senator and Mobile County resident Jack Williams, who’s running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industry, traveled six hours to participate in the Franklin County roundtable.

“I want people to know who I am and what I stand for. You can lose a statewide election by one vote, so every single voters matters,” Williams said. “Being a farmer, I relate to folks in rural areas of Alabama so tonight was an opportunity to introduce myself to local voters in a small-group informal setting.”

Others who participated in the April 14th event included: Lieutenant Governorcandidates Dr. Stewart Tankersley, John Wahl and a representative for Nicole Jones Wadsworth; Secretary of State candidates Glenda Jackson and a representative for Caroleene Dobson; State Treasurer candidate Steve Lolley; Public Service Commission candidates Jeremy Oden (Place One) and Priscilla Andrews (Place Two); Franklin County Sheriff candidates Shannon Oliver and Brian Shackelford; Franklin County Commission District One candidates Curtis Baker, Jeff Fleming, Miles Gaston, Grayson Murray and Joey Norton.

Franklin County Coroner candidate Jeff Clark attended the roundtable but did not speak.

The messages shared by candidates ranged from the need for transparency as the main issue for Alabama candidates (Steve Lolley) to phasing out Alabama’s state income tax (John Wahl).

The RWFCA wasn’t the only local group to hold an event that attracted candidates to Franklin County.

Earlier this year, the Franklin County Democratic Party hosted a United States Senate candidate event, which saw the three leading Democratic candidates at the time, travel to Russellville for the first-of-its-kind event.