favor statewide amendments

By BRIAN BLACKLEY

Managing Editor

Pike County voters showed favor toward state amendments that included a hotly-discussed Amendment 1 which would put more than $6 million into county coffers to help fund local road and bridge improvements.

Down the line, Statewide Amendments 1-14, in some cases by great margins.

Amendment 1, an amendment to use oil and gas offshore lease dollars to help improve the conditions of many rural roads and bridges, and to make major improvements to the state dock in Mobile, passed by a three-to-one margin.

Pike County voters favored the amendment 75 percent to 25 percent with about 8,500 people voting.

Amendment 2, which would lift the state’s ban on interracial marriage passed 60-40 in percentage points.

Likewise Amendment 3, following the pattern of Amendment 1 passed 75-25 percent. This amendment would allow the use of 10 percent of interest earnings on a state trust account to go into county and municipal funds for infrastructural improvements.

State Amendment 4 pertaining to the collection of ad valorem taxes in Alabama counties passed 67-33 percent.

Amendment 5, which outlines specifically, who will be eligible to serve on the Auburn University Board of Directors, also passed 71-29 percent.

State Amendments 6-14, amendments without local application, also passed locally.

At press time, results from other counties in the state were not in, so a final determination as to whether or not these amendments passed statewide has not been mace.

Still local officials, particularly those in county government, are hopeful that they will pass on a state level.

County Administrator Steve Hicks said he is watching Amendments 1 and 3 with great interest.

"We need a win on both of those statewide," he said early Tuesday evening. "Both of those mean a lot to Pike County, offering us the chance to get the money to improve roads and bridges without it costing us out of state funds."

Amendment 1, the brainchild of Gov. Don Siegelman’s administration, was supported by many local and state agencies and few outspoken critics were to be found.

"He did a good job of selling this amendment on its merit," Hicks said.

Throughout the campaign season, Siegelman made few speeches supporting the amendment, but he did take to the rural roads to make appearances on many rural bridges in dire need of repair that would benefit from the amendments.

A final announcment regarding the outcome of all state amendments will appear in a subsequent edition of The Messenger.