By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Saturday Cullman County District Judge Kim Chaney announced to the Cullman County Republican Executive Committee members that he has officially become a member of the Republican Party.
District Judge Chaney said in a written statement, “The truth is, I’m a lifelong conservative. Today, after much thought and prayerful consideration, I’ve decided to join the Republican Party, because it is the political party that better represents my core values.”
Cullman County Republican Party Chairman Kenneth Cornelius said, “We went through the interview process, and discussed it before the executive committee, and we talked about how Judge Chaney has demonstrated his conservative values in the past, as well as into the present. And it was pretty much 100% to agreement to welcome him into the Cullman County Republican Party. I know that I am elated and proud to call Judge Kim Chaney a Republican now.” “Judge Chaney is a well-respected member of the community and I am happy to welcome him to the Republican Party.”
Judge Chaney said, “During the past few years, I’ve struggled to work within the framework of the national Democratic Party. Their expanding platform no longer represents my principles, or those held in my community.”
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said in a written statement that Judge Chaney joins Chris McCool (the District Attorney of Pickens, Fayette and Lamar Counties), Talladega County Commissioner Jimmy Robertson, Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, and Walker County Revenue Commissioner Jerry Guthrie as Democrats who have recently switched to become Republicans.
Judge Chaney told the Cullman Times, “I’ve always been pro-business, and a fiscal conservative. As the presiding district judge in Cullman County, I’ve worked for the past 20 years protecting children — born and unborn.”
Chairman Armistead told Republican Party supporters, “We can all celebrate the leadership that our Party now has at all levels of government in Alabama, but we must not lose sight that fighting the madness in Washington must continue to be a top priority. Let us show the Obama administration & We Dare Defend Our Rights; by protecting our freedoms, streamlining our state government, and opposing Obamacare. Thank you for your service and dedication to our party. We are fighting the good fight and we need your help to continue.”
Armistead said that since Republicans were swept into the office in November of 2010, dozens of office-holders have come to the same realization that the Democrat Party has left them.
The Republican Party has won six of the last seven Governor’s elections and won control of both Houses of the Alabama state legislature in 2010.
