By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday four candidates will be on the House District 53 Special Democratic Primary election ballot in Birmingham.
Democrats: Anthony “Alann” Johnson, Arthur D. Shores Lee. Demetrius C. Newton Jr. and Frank Topping will be on the ballot to replace long time incumbent State Representative Demetrius Newton (senior) (D) from Birmingham who passed away unexpectedly on September 11th . He was 85 and served for decades in the Alabama House of Representatives.
His son, Demetrius C. Newton Jr. is seeking to replace his father.
The primary election will be held on Tuesday. If no candidate can get 50% + 1 of the vote then a Democratic primary runoff will be held on January 28. The winner of the Democratic Party nomination will then face Republican Willie (W.A.) Casey on March 25.
If no primary runoff is needed then the special general election will be on January 28.
The 2014 legislative session begins on January 14.
The winner will then likely have to face a Democratic incumbent in 2014 because the Birmingham House District will be folded in to one of two neighboring districts due to redistricting based on the 2010 Census which showed a massive population drop in the City of Birmingham over the last decade.
House District 53 will be moved from Jefferson County to Huntsville in Madison County.
The redistricting plan has been approved by the U.S. Department of Justice, though Rep. Newton was suing over the plan at the time of his death.
Polls will be open at 7:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm.
