Sheriff’s race, District 5 commissioner in runoff

Published 12:23 am Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Randy Sanders will face Richard E. (Ben) Bates in a runoff for the Democratic candidate for Marengo County sheriff in the closest voting of the night in Tuesday’s primary election.

Primary runoff elections will take place on Tuesday, July 13.

Sanders garnered 2,784 votes, while Bates took in 2,726 votes for a margin of 0.82 percent.

Email newsletter signup

Pine Hill police chief John N. Brown got 886 votes in the sheriff’s Democratic race, while Dennis Spence got 433 votes, Robert Clayton got 245 votes and Bucky Dailey got 52 votes.

In the Marengo County Commission races, incumbent Fred Armstead beat out Willard Williams 867 to 267 for the District 1 seat, while incumbent John Crawford Jr. defeated Kelvin Robertson 978 to 600 to win the District 3 position. In the District 5 race, Michael Thompson got 607 votes, while incumbent Jerry Loftin got 521 votes, clinching a runoff between the two. Sam Etheredge had 312 votes in that race.

The two county amendments passed easily, as county voters approved the Marengo County Probate Office to be able to charge a fee for records it handles, such as deeds or wills to help fund office equipment improvements. That vote was 3,636 to 2,417.

The city of Demopolis approved the renewal of the 5-mill property tax to help fund its school system. That vote was 1,301 to 830.

In the district attorney’s race, Marengo County voters selected incumbent Greg Griggers by an almost 2-to-1 vote, with Griggers garnering 4,551 votes and Barrown Lankster taking in 2,485 votes.

Voters in Greene and Sumter counties also voted in that district attorney race. Official results were not available at press time, but reports indicated that Griggers was leading in each of those counties as well.

In the race for Marengo County Democratic Executive Committee, Fred Armstead beat out Mitchell Congress on the men’s side 713 to 404, while Patsy B. Sheffield defeated BeEtta McIntosh 737 to 455.

Here is a look at how Marengo County voted in Tuesday’s primary election in other offices:

Governor (Democratic): Ron Sparks 4,362, Artur Davis 2,242.

Governor (Republican): Tim James 114, Roy S. Moore 97, Robert Bentley 96, Bradley Byrne 66, Bill Johnson 3, James Potts 1.

Lieutenant Governor (Republican): Kay Ivey 231, Hank Erwin 77, Gene Ponder 35.

U.S. Senator (Democratic): William G. Barnes 2,826, Simone de Moore 2,203.

U.S. Senator (Republican): Richard C. Shelby 337, N.C. :Clint” Moser 34.

U.S. Representative (Democratic): Earl Hillard Jr. 1,989, Terri A. Sewell 1,918, Shelia Smoot 1,471, Martha Bozeman 826.

U.S. Representative (Republican): Don Chamberlain 100, Chris Salter 98, Carol F. Hendrickson 51, Michele Waller 49.

State Attorney General (Democratic): James Anderson 3,102, Giles Perkins 1,347, Michel Nicrosi 702.

State Attorney General (Republican): Luther Strange 213, Troy King 146.

State Senator, District 23 (Democratic): Hank Sanders 1,099, Robert W. Green 592.

State Representative, District 68 (Democratic): Thomas E. “Action” Jackson 537, Thomas Jackson 313.

State Representative, District 72 (Democratic): Johnny Lee Flowers 904, Ralph A. Howard 777, Melvin Hugh Lightning 59.

State Treasurer (Democratic): Charley Grimsley 3,330, Jeremy Sherer 1,590.

State Treasurer (Republican): George C. Wallace Jr. 187, Young Boozer 182.

Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court, Place No. 2 (Republican): Michael F. “Mike” Bolin 210, Tracy W. Cary 99.

Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court, Place No. 3 (Republican): Tom Parker 216, Eric Johnston 64, James R. Houts 28.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (Republican): John McMillan 141, Dorman Grace 99, Dale Peterson 86.

Public Service Commission, Place No. 1 (Republican): Chris “Chip” Beeker 153, Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh 96, Stephen Evans 61.

Public Service Commission, Place No. 2 (Republican): Terry Dunn 166, Chip Brown 129.

Statewide amendment regarding propane gas being provided an assessment for promotional programs: Against 3,164, For 2,717.

State Democratic Executive Committee (female): Barbara Turner 417, Linda Spinks Vice 360.