County elects BOE members, DA, coroner, sheriff

Franklin Countians cast their votes Nov. 8 in the general election, taking part in choosing several offices as well as weighing in on 10 amendments to the state constitution and one local amendment. New faces, as well as familiar ones, will be taking on or continuing leadership roles locally and at the state level.

VOTER TURNOUT

In Franklin County, of 19,353 registered voters, 7,487 ballots were cast in 25 of 26 precincts – the 26th being reserved for provisional votes – representing 38.69 percent of registered voters. Straight party voting included 4,519 Republican ballots, 474 Democratic ballots and 30 Libertarian ballots.

Statewide, 1,419,718 ballots were cast out of 3,687,753 registered voters, representing a 38.5 percent turnout.

COUNTY RACES

Incumbent Republican coroner, Charles Adcox, ran unopposed, securing 6,566 votes, 99.55 percent, to 30 write-in votes.

“I am looking forward to continuing to serve the county, and hopefully get the coroner’s office accredited,” Adcox said.

For district attorney of the 34th Judicial Circuit, unopposed Republican candidate Jeffrey Wade Barksdale, assistant district attorney since 2014, secured 6,662 votes to 26 write-in votes, representing 99.61 percent of the vote.

“I would like to thank our retiring district attorney, Joey Rushing, for his many years of service, and I look forward to continuing the work of the office to seek justice and keep our county safe,” Barksdale said.

For Franklin County Board of Education District 2, Republican candidate Terry Welborn received 953 votes to 19 write-in votes. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity to continue working for the students and faculty of Franklin County,” shared Welborn. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be their board member.”

For Franklin County Board of Education District 4, Republican candidate Carol Murphree defeated incumbent Democratic candidate Shannon D. Oliver with 857 votes, 75.51 percent to his 276, 24.32 percent.

“I’m looking forward to working with fellow board members, school staff and parents to achieve success for our students,” explained Murphree. “Having thirty years of experience in the classroom puts me in a good position to truly understand and solve issues that educators deal with.”

Franklin County’s incumbent Republican Sheriff Shannon Oliver secured 6,787 votes, 99.28 percent, of the vote, to 49 write-in votes. “I just want to thank all the voters,” shared Oliver. “I’m honored by the trust they have put in me.”

GOVERNOR

In Franklin County, incumbent Republican Gov. Kay Ivey received 6,584 votes, 88.4 percent. Statewide, Ivey received 944,845 votes, 66.93 percent.

In Franklin County, democratic candidate Yolanda Rochelle Flowers received 645 votes, 8.67 percent. Statewide, she received 411,687 votes, 29.16 percent.

In Franklin County, Libertarian candidate James “Jimmy” Blake received 196 votes, 2.63 percent. Statewide, he received 45,823 votes, 3.25 percent.

In Franklin County, there were 18 write-in votes. Statewide, there were 9,401 write-in votes.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

In Franklin County, Republican candidate Will Ainsworth received 6,517 votes, 93.84 percent. Statewide, he received 955,372, 83.69 percent. Ruth Page-Nelson received 423 votes, 6.09 percent, in the county and 178,069 votes, 15.6 percent, statewide.

SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES

United States Fourth Congressional District incumbent Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt received 6,456 votes, 86.95 percent, mirroring his 84.13 percent statewide – overwhelmingly overcoming Democratic candidate Rick Neighbors and Libertarian candidate Johnny C. Cochran.

In Franklin County, Republican Katie Britt received 6,539 votes, 88.02 percent, for the U.S. senator seat. Statewide, she received 940,048 votes, 66.64 percent. Democratic candidate Wil Boyd received 769 votes in the county and 435,428 votes statewide. Libertarian candidate John Sophocleus received 116 votes in the county and 32,790 statewide.

State Representative, District 18: In Franklin County, incumbent Republican candidate Russellville resident Rep. Jamie Kiel snagged 6,713 votes, 95.44 percent, to Libertarian candidate Talia Shimp’s 312 votes.

“I have enjoyed serving the people of Franklin and Colbert counties the past four years,” said Kiel. “I am grateful the voters recognized the work I have done to expand broadband access, support our schools and make sure our voice is heard in Montgomery.

“There is more work to do, and I plan to hit the ground running,” he added.

State Senator, District 6: In Franklin County, incumbent Republican candidate Sen. Larry Stutts received 6,137 votes, 88.31 percent. Statewide, he received 30,804 votes, 86.72 percent. Libertarian Kyle Richard-Garrison received 796 votes in the county and 4,588 votes at the state level.

OTHER STATE WINNERS

Secretary of State: In Franklin County, Republican candidate Wes Allen received 6,403 votes, 87.20 percent. Statewide, he received 923,206 votes, 65.9 percent.

State Treasurer: In Franklin County, Republican candidate Young Boozer received 6,379 votes, 92.58 percent. Statewide, Boozer received 944,792 votes, 83.75 percent.

State Auditor: In Franklin County, Republican Andrew Sorrell received 6,492 votes, 93.99 percent. Statewide, Sorrell received 947,719 votes, 84.43 percent.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries: In Franklin County, Republican Rick Pate received 6,443 votes, 93.57 percent. Statewide, Pate received 944,021 votes, 84.27 percent.

Public Service Commission, Place No. 1: In Franklin County, Republican Jeremy H. Oden received 6,416 votes, 93.39 percent. Statewide, Oden received 944,987 votes, 83.73 winners.

Public Service Commission, Place No. 2: In Franklin County, Republican Chip Beeker received 6,375 votes, 93.01 percent. Statewide, Beeker received 929,248 votes, 83.18 percent.

Attorney General: In Franklin County, Republican Steve Marshall received 6,555 votes, 89.09 percent. Statewide, he received 953,284 votes, 67.91 percent.

SUPREME COURT

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place 5: In Franklin County, Republican Greg Cook received 6,448 votes, 88.11 percent. Statewide, he received 941,059 votes, 67.42 percent. Democratic candidate Anita L. Kelly received 864 votes, 11.81 percent, in the county and 453,518 votes, 32.49 percent, in the state.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place 6: In Franklin County, Republican candidate Kelli Wise received 6,549 votes, 99.53 percent. Statewide, Wise received 995,668 votes, 97.51 percent.

CONSTITUTION OF ALABAMA OF 2022

In Franklin County, there were 3,608 Yes votes, 65.16 percent, and 1,929 No votes, 34.84 percent. Statewide, there were 885,270 Yes votes, 76.49 percent, compared to 272,384 No votes, 23.51 percent.

AMENDMENTS

All amendments received majority yes votes at both the county and state levels.

• Local Amendment 1: There were 2,824 Yes votes, 47.32 percent, and 3,144 No votes, 52.68 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 1, Aniah’s Law, provides that an individual is entitled to reasonable bail prior to conviction unless charged with capital murder, murder, kidnapping in the first degree, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual torture, domestic violence in the first degree, human trafficking in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, arson in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, terrorism when the specified offense is a Class A felony other than murder, and aggravated child abuse of a child under the age of 6. In Franklin County, there were 5,385 Yes votes, 83.42 percent. Statewide, there were 1,018,004 Yes votes, 80.48.
• Statewide Amendment 2 authorizes the state, a county or a municipality to grant federal award funds or any other source of funding designated for broadband infrastructure by state law to public or private entities for providing or expanding broadband infrastructure. In Franklin County, there were 5,551 Yes votes, 86.99 percent. Statewide, there were 937,436 Yes votes, 78.56 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 3 requires the governor to provide notice to the attorney general and to the victim’s family prior to granting a reprieve or commutation to a person sentenced to death and to void the reprieve or commutation if the governor fails to provide notice. In Franklin County, there were 4,984 Yes votes, 83.86 percent. Statewide, there were 991,893 Yes votes, 81.89 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 4 provides that the implementation date for any bill enacted by the legislature in a calendar year in which a general election is to be held and relating to the conduct of the general election shall be at least six months before the general election. In Franklin County, there were 4,556 Yes votes, 81.75 percent. Statewide, there were 935,476 Yes votes, 79.96 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 5 deletes a provision giving the probate court of each county general jurisdiction over orphans’ business. In Franklin County, there were 3,326 Yes votes, 61.89 percent. Statewide, there were 935,476 Yes votes, 79.96 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 6 authorizes each municipalities to levy and collect ad valorem taxes for the purpose of paying bonds and the interest thereon and for capital improvements. In Franklin County, there were 2,577 Yes votes, 74.29 percent. Statewide, there were 674,971 Yes votes, 60.71 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 7 specifies that all counties and municipalities may exercise the authority and powers granted by Amendment 772 to provide for economic and industrial development; to permit notice for Amendment 772 projects to be published in any newspaper in circulation in the county or municipality; and to ratify all actions and agreements of any county of municipality done under Amendment 772 unless subject to pending judicial proceedings. In Franklin County, there were 3,985 Yes votes, 74.29 percent. Statewide, there were 832,667 Yes votes, 75.41 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 8 relates to Shelby County, to bring certain privately-owned sewer systems that use public rights-of-way of public roads under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission under certain conditions. In Franklin County, there were 2,482 Yes votes, 60.35 percent. Statewide, there were 685,048 Yes votes, 71.56 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 9 relates to Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties, to bring certain privately-owned sewer systems that use public rights-of-way of public roads in the city limits of Lake View under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, beginning January 1, 2023 and ending Dec. 31, 2027. In Franklin County, there were 2,400 Yes votes, 60 percent. Statewide, there were 681,441 Yes votes, 71.44 percent.
• Statewide Amendment 10 authorizes the code commissioner, contingent upon the ratification of an official Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to renumber and place constitutional amendments ratified before or on the same day as the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, based on a logical sequence and the particular subject or topic of the amendment, and to provide for the transfer of existing annotations to any section of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to the section as it is numbered or renumbered in the Constitution of Alabama. In Franklin County, there were 3,098 Yes votes, 62.35 percent. Statewide, there were 681,441 Yes votes, 71.44 percent.

These unofficial results include absentee votes, but not provisional votes, which will be counted Nov. 16, when the election will be certified.