DEMOPOLIS – The best thing for Demopolis, the county and the region would be if Thomas Moore were elected senator in District 24.

At least that was the message Marengo County Commissioner Freddie Armstead was pushing from the front steps of City Hall Friday afternoon in a press conference for Moore’s campaign.

Armstead wasn’t alone in his sentiments, however. Moore picked up the endorsements of Congress Artur Davis and State Sen. Hank Sanders as the best candidate to fill the senate seat left vacant by Tuscaloosa native Charles Steele’s resignation earlier this summer.

Also campaigning for the office are State Rep. Bryant Melton and State Rep. Bobby Singleton.

But it was Moore who drew the endorsements.

“This is one of the poorest senate districts in the state,” Davis said. “… it’s incumbent on us to replace [Steele] with someone with as capable as Thomas Moore.”

Davis said Moore had a “laser-like focus” on job and industrial recruitment, a proven track record of “being able to work together to build a solid foundation for Demopolis,” and a good reputation and strong character.

“I’m confident the voters of Marengo County will give him support. I know he’s a good man,” Davis said.

Sanders said Moore was honest, intelligent and knew how to communicate – and those factors translated into a positive for the Black Belt.

“He knows how to communicate across lines – racial lines, gender lines, age lines and class lines,” he said. “He can communicate well with every walk of life and, more importantly, knows how to list to all walks of life.”

Sanders, who has represented much of the same West Alabama territory over the course of his own senate career, said he knew the region’s success hinged on the ability to partner with others for long-term growth.

“We have to find a way to work together to lift this area. I’ve been in the Senate and I can judge what a person might do based on what they have done, and what it takes to succeed in the Senate. Thomas Moore has it,” he said.

Moore, who’s campaigned on building quality in education, affordable housing and other key issues in the region, acknowledged Davis’ and Sanders’ endorsements.

“No city, no county, no region is an island,” he said. “… It’s time to go to work.”

Demopolis Mayor Cecil Williamson added her own endorsement to the mix: “I value his judgement and value his knowledge and instincts.”

Williamson said she would hate to loose Moore, who is the city’s mayor pro-tem, from the council, but added she’d be the first “squeaky wheel” he’d have to deal with if elected to the Senate.

The special election is on Oct. 26, just one week prior to the Nov. 2 general election.