VICTORIOUS: Republicans win races in Pike County
Published 3:00 am Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The results are in from the general election and Pike County voters have chosen the candidates they want to represent them.
In the only local race, Pike and Dale countians voted for Republican nominee Wes Allen to take over the District 89 seat of longtime Republican Rep. Alan Boothe in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Allen carried Pike County with 5,808 votes to 4,579 votes for Democratic nominee Joel Lee Williams, a 12-point victory.
“This isn’t about Wes Allen, this about the voters of Pike and Dale counties and the voters of District 89,” Allen said in a victory speech at B. Graves Tuesday night as the results became clear. “I just want to thank you for that. How humbling it is to know that I have your support and to have you all with me every step of the way.”
Allen said he is prepared to “fight like an animal” to reduce regulations and protect the conservative values of District 89.
“I want to make sure we focus on the regulations and red tape that strange small business and protect the values and principles that the people of District 89 hold dear,” Allen said. “I won’t forget the support of the voters when I get to Montgomery.”
Allen also said he’ll support public education being decided at a local level. “I don’t think a top-down approach works,” Allen said.
With the win, Allen will now be working in the same legislature as his father, Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa. Allen said that, as far as he is aware, this will be the first time in Alabama history that a father and son have served in the same legislature at the same time.
“It’s going to be special,” Allen said. “He’s the hardest-working man I know and I look forward to working alongside him.”
Democratic nominee Joel Williams congratulated Allen on the win Tuesday night.
“I want to thank everybody, all my family and friends and supporters,” Williams said. “I had a lot of people put in a lot of hours. It makes you very humble when you see people out trying to help you. I’m very, very appreciative and humbled by the effort on my behalf. I don’t have any regrets. I don’t know of anything we could have done differently that would have changed the outcome. I got essentially the same number of votes that I did four years ago within virtually the same amount I did four years ago with probably a third of the funding.”
Now that the race is over, Williams said he’ll continue his job as a local attorney and serving his clients.
“I’m going to keep doing the same thing I’ve been doing the last 37 years practicing law on the Court Square,” Williams said. “And I’ll still speak out on issues. Alabama still does a terrible job of funding education; tonight’s election (overall) doesn’t change that.”
For now, Williams said he is going to take a few weeks off after a busy year of campaigning.
Republican Rep. Martha Roby went from surviving a primary scare to winning a fifth term in Congress.
Roby carried Pike County with 5,794 votes compared to 4,552 for Tabitha Isner.
The one-time Montgomery City Council member defeated Democratic challenger Tabitha Isner to win the District 2 House race in southeast Alabama.
The victory comes after Roby was pushed into a runoff with Bobby Bright in the GOP primary. Roby fought through lingering fallout from her criticism of then-candidate Donald Trump over his recorded comments suggesting he sexually assaulted women.
Roby had an easier time during the general election in a district dominated by conservative Republicans. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence helped by endorsing Roby months ago.
“I am humbled and deeply grateful to the people who live and work in Alabama’s Second District for once again placing their trust in me to fight for them in Congress,” Roby said. “I am proud of the work we have been able to accomplish and I am eager to continue doing my part to deliver even more results for our military, veterans, farmers, and all of the hardworking Alabamians I represent. On behalf of my husband Riley and our children Margaret and George, it is a tremendous privilege to serve our state and country in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am thankful to voters across Alabama’s Second District for giving me the opportunity to continue advancing the conservative principles we share.”
Isner says she sought office because of the Christian ideal of assisting those in need. It was her first run for public office.
Gov. Kay Ivey carried Pike County en route to being reelected by Alabamians Tuesday night as well.
In her trademark drawl, Ivey, 74, had told voters throughout the campaign that she had restored trust to government. Her campaign ads emphasized the state’s record low unemployment and growing economy, while highlighting the governor’s folksy no-nonsense demeanor. She also emphasized her opposition to abortion and support of gun rights.
“We steadied the ship of state,” Ivey said in a campaign speech. “I promised that my administration would be open, honest and transparent. …. Promises made. Promises kept.”
Ivey is the state’s second female governor and the first Republican woman to hold the position.
Other statewide races also followed the Pike County voting with Republican John Merrill being reelected as secretary of state, Republican Steve Marshall reelected attorney general, Republican Will Ainsworth elected lieutenant governor and Republican Tom Parker elected chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
Pike Countians also voted yes on all four constitutional amendments on the ballot and so did voters statewide.
The amendments allow for the public display of the Ten Commandments in certain circumstances, clarify that the right to life of unborn children is enshrined in the Alabama Constitution and the right to an abortion is not, restructure the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and end special elections for seats vacated in the last year of a four-year term.
Amendment 2 will not make abortion illegal in Alabama but could end abortion in the state automatically if the U.S. Supreme Court ever reconsiders its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and votes to give the issue back over for states to decide.