By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Barbara Bobo, the longtime publisher of the West Alabama Gazette and Mayor of Millport, passed away Monday after a year long battle with cancer.
The Alabama Democratic Party expresses its condolences to the family of Barbara Bobo on their website. The Democratic Party wrote, “Barbara Bobo will be missed by all who knew her. Her smile was radiant, her enthusiasm infectious, and her knowledge and wit abundant.”
In 2006, Barbara Bobo challenged incumbent Congressman Robert Aderholt (R) from Haleyville. Bobo lost the race 29% to Aderholt’s 71%.
Bobo was a Democratic leader from Lamar County and was the long-time co-publisher (along with her husband Peyton Bobo) of the West Alabama Gazette and the Northport Gazette.
Bobo served many years on the State Democratic Executive Committee. She was also the Lamar County Party Chair and was a delegate to several Democratic Conventions.
Bobo was the coordinator for West Alabama in the first campaign of Govenor Fob James (then a Democrat) and served in the “Peanut Brigade” for President Jimmy Carter’s (D) campaign in New Hampshire. She also played roles in the Bill Clinton (D) and Barack Obama (D) presidential campaigns.
Barbara Bobo is survived by her husband, Peyton Bobo; two brothers, Robert James and Larry James, and a sister, Carolyn A. Driver; nephews Conrad and Adam and niece, Christie.
Barbara was a member of the Millport Baptist Church.
