By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Polls open at 7:00 am for the Republican Special Election Primary in House District 104.
Republican voters in Alabama state House District 104 get to choose between: Susan Hightower, Nathan Davis, Margie Wilcox, Ralph Carmichael, and Charlie Plyler as their representative in Montgomery.
Nathan Davis is an operations manager for an air conditioning distributor. Davis ran in 2010 against then incumbent Rep. Jim Barton and won over 34% of the Republican Primary vote.
Davis said in a written statement, “I’m running for the exact same reason I ran last time. I’m seriously worried about the future of my children and our country. I’m an optimist and a realist. I cannot ignore Washington and the national debt and as a state representative, you should represent voters of 104 and the state of Alabama. I’m a big believer in the 10th Amendment and Constitution and it’s going to be my priority to do as much as I can to refute federal mandates and intrusions in our lives.”
Davis has been married for three years to his wife, Svitlana, and has a new son as well as a son from a previous marriage. Davis has been a vocal critic of the controversial common core standards and supports the Alabama Accountability Act. Davis said that if a school is ot viable then it should close. “Why keep a stone school afloat with taxpayer money when we can send them to a school more qualified to teach them?”
Davis graduated with a degree in History and Political Science from the University of Mobile. Davis is a supporter of drug testing welfare recipients. Davis is is a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Charlie Plyler is a realtor and is formerly automobile dealership manager. Plyler said on his website,
“While the country’s political and economic situations are in complete disarray, I believe that the state, our area in particular, has positioned itself to take advantage of a rare opportunity. I am very optimistic about our outlook: IF we continue to focus on job creation, not just the large companies like Airbus, EADS and Austal, but also the small businesses that make up 49% of all Alabama jobs (we need them all). I will be a friend of small business and will do everything possible to remove some of the burdens that your bureaucracy has placed on them. And IF we focus on a high quality of life for our residents, we will continue to attract people to the state, not only in the form of tourism, but additional residents. That is more people purchasing homes and more people paying taxes.”
Plyler warned. “But what if we lose focus and individual politicians start trying to grandstand and make a name for themselves (usually on legislation that little chance of passing or not be challenged in the courts), that will hurt or state’s image with national and international companies and reduce our chances to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Plyler promised, “If elected, I will be a responsive, responsible, and realistic voice for the people of House District 104. I believe addressing the issues that face Alabamians and resolving them with proper solutions are more important any political win. I am not a person that craves attention or needs the spotlight, but I do have a reputation for getting things done. Before starting my real estate career, I was the new car manager at Tameron Honda in Daphne. When Tameron purchased Honda By The Bay, they invited me to become the new car manager. The dealership was only selling 30 new cars per month and a few pre-owned at the time. We were able to increase that number to over 300 new and used vehicles and build the new dealership on the interstate. We did not do that because I am a great salesperson. We did it because I helped to build a great team that focused provided great service, and I am a very good negotiator and mediator. Successful negotiating is not drawing a line in the stand and just saying no! It is by know where the line is and starting far enough behind it so that you get exactly what you want but the other side still feels good about the deal.”
Plyler supports term limits and says that he is strongly pro-Life. Plyler also favors property rights, early detection of autism, coastal insurance reform, promoting community colleges and trade schools, auditing universities to make sure tuition rates are justified, promoting tourism, and improving the state’s image.
Margie Wilcox is a prominent business owner who own cab companies and airport transport companies. The Theodore businesswoman is staunchly pro-Life and supports the traditional family.
Wilcox has raised $25,061 in campaign contributions and is just barely second to Susan Hightower. The other three candidates have raised much less.
Wilcox said on her website, “By ensuring that our parks are clean and safe and that our police have the resources and the laws to fight crime we can keep families together and our children safe. We need a stronger focus on families!” Wilcox is a charter member of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.
If elected Wilcox promises to reduce the size of government, publish most government documents on the web, and strengthen Alabama’s ethic laws. Wilcox said on her website:
“Just a few years ago our republican leadership did a great job in passing new laws to improve our trust and confidence in elected leadership. Unfortunately, the loop holes have been found. Double dippers are still double dipping and the old revolving door is spinning even faster. I am a cheerleader for the conservative leadership in our state and I want to join them with a push to close those holes and keep the promise to be the most honest and transparent leadership in the history of Alabama!”
Wilcox is a graduate of Leadership Mobile, a former member of the Mobile County Republican Executive Committee and has been very active in the Business Council of Alabama and is a Past President of National Association of Women Business Owners.
Susan Hightower is a realtor, small business owner, a grandmother and the wife of state Senator Bill Hightower (R). Hightower has been endorsed by the Alabama Forestry Association, the Alabama Alliance Against Abortion, and the Alabama Retail Association. Hightower has raised over $25,000 in campaign contributions mostly from Political Action Committees.
Susan Hightower is the owner of: Wee Exchange and Little Monkey Toes. She is also a licensed real estate broker. On her campaign website, Hightower said that she believes there are many viable options to educate our children, and parents should be able to decide which alternative is the best choice for their child and their family. Hightower promises that some of the issues she will address as a legislator include: coastal Insurance Reform, facilitating community action groups such as Southern Skyline Community, bringing more industry into South Mobile County, nurturing small businesses, decrease government, and education.
Ralph Carmichael is a small businessman, a daycare center operator, a retired pastor, and former missionary. He has also worked for Ford and for the West Bay Christian Center. Carmichael is among a growing number of Black conservatives who are running as Republicans in Alabama. The Alabama Republican Party is hopeful that that translates into more Alabama Blacks voting Republican in future elections.
Carmichael said on Facebook, “The special election for House District 104 is Tuesday, October 15. If you want a balanced budget, a representative who will represent ALL the residents of House District 104; cast your vote for me. I believe my experience in business, education background and desire to serve the residents of this district makes me the right choice. A vote for me, is a vote for you.”
The Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday.
The winner of the Republican Primary will still have to face Democrat Stephen Carr II. There is no Democratic Primary today because only Carr qualified to run as a Democrat.
The Special General Election will be held on Dec 3rd unless a Republican Primary runoff is necessary, then the runoff will be in December and the Special General Election will be on January 28.
