By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
The Special House District 104 Republican Primary Runoff will be held on December 3. On Tuesday, the top two vote earners in the Special Republican Primary were Susan Hightower and Margie Wilcox.
On Wednesday, The Alabama Political Reporter erroneously reported that the Special House District 104 Republican Primary Runoff would be December 10. This information was based on a late night press release from the Alabama Republican Party and was counter to information reported earlier by The Alabama Political Reporter and what was being correctly reported by the Susan Hightower campaign. We would like to thank the readers who kindly provided us with information that the runoff date was actually December 3, which we have since verified with the Alabama Republican Party.
Susan Hightower said on Facebook after the victory, “We won with 43% of the vote. Thank you to all of the friends and supporters who helped make this happen. The runoff will be Dec. 3. Let’s get to work!” (ALGOP is reporting the date as December 10th though we have seen both dates used in releases over the last month.)
Margie Wilcox said on Facebook, “I made the run-off with 32% of the vote yesterday! Thank you to all my friends that voted for and supported me. I am so grateful to you for all your hard work. Thank you thank you thank you!!!”
The seat became vacant following the resignation of Representative Jim Barton (R) this past August. The winner will serve the remainder of Barton’s term and will still have to face re-election in 2014 along with every other seat in the Alabama Legislature. House District 104 is located in the southern section of Mobile County and stretches from I-65 to the Mississippi line.
Margie Wilcox is a prominent business owner who own cab companies and airport transport companies. The Theodore businesswoman is staunchly Pro-Life and supports traditional family.
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 an associate broker at Dauphin Realty, the founder and President of Wee Exchange, and the owner operator of Little Monkey Toes. She is also a grandmother and the wife of state Senator Bill Hightower (R). Mrs. 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.
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.
The winner of the Republican Primary Runoff will still have to face Democrat Stephen Carr II. There was no Democratic Primary today because only Carr qualified to run as a Democrat.
The Special Republican Primary Runoff Election will be held on Dec 3rd and the Special General Election will be on January 28.
