Sample ballots now available
Published 8:23 pm Monday, April 21, 2014
Sample ballots for Pike County’s primary elections are now available.
Democrats will choose a candidate for governor and fill a place on the State Democratic Executive Committee.
Republicans will choose seven candidates to move on to November’s general election and fill one place on the State Republican Executive Committee.
Governor Robert Bentley has opposition on the Republican ticket. Stacy Lee George and Bob Starkey have challenged him. The winner of the Republican primary will face one of two Democratic candidates – Kevin Bass and Parker Griffith – in November.
Also on the Republican ballot are lieutenant governor candidates Stan Cooke and incumbent Kay Ivey.
As part of District 31, Pike County Republicans will cast votes for state senator candidates. Incumbent Jimmy Holley is running against Garreth Moore.
When Governor Robert Bentley appointed Jim Bennett to secretary of state last July, he said his objective was to appoint someone who would not run for the office in this year’s election. Bennett previously held the position from 1993 to 2003.
The Democrats have not offered a candidate for the position. Barring any write-ins or independent candidates, Reese McKinney, John Merrill or Jim Perdue will be the next secretary of state.
Like the secretary of state office, state auditor and two seats on the public service commission will most likely be filled in the primary election.
With four candidates, state auditor is one of the most contested races in the primary. Republicans Dale Peterson, Hobbie Sealy, Adam Thompson and Jim Zeigler are running for the office. Having served two terms, Alabama State Auditor Samantha Shaw was not eligible to run this year.
The Alabama Public Service Commission is comprised of a president and two commissioners. Kathy Peterson is challenging incumbent Jeremy Oden for place one. Incumbent Terry Dunn has three challengers for place 2: Jonathan Barbee, Chris “Chip” Beeker, Jr. and Phillip Brown.
Pike County Republicans will have to choose between Amy Dent and Shirley Reddoch for place one of the State Republican Executive Committee.
Samuel Gillis and Joel Lee Williams are running for the State Democratic Executive Committee.
Sample ballots are available at the Pike County Courthouse and online at www.sos.state.al.us/Elections/2014/2014SampleBallots.aspx.