By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, September 11, Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale addressed the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans at their monthly meeting in Birmingham at Pale Eddie’s Pour House, 2308, 2nd Avenue North.
Sheriff Mike Hale (R) is seeking re-election in November in a Jefferson County that has been trending heavily toward Democrats since 2008. President Obama carried Jefferson County in both 2008 and 2012. Dozens of Republican officeholders were swept out of office in the last elections in Jefferson County, fueled by a pro-Obama wave.
Sheriff Hale urged Republicans to come out and vote in the November election to support himself and other Jefferson County Republican candidates including himself and Jefferson County judicial candidates. Hale said he knows that Governor Bentley is still going to be the Governor after the election, Gary Palmer is going to represent the Sixth District in Congress, and Jeff Sessions is still going to be our Senator but many races in Jefferson County will be decided by Republican turnout.
Hales said that he is a strong Second Amendment supporter. Hale said it is important to have a strong pro Second Amendment sheriff because ultimately the sheriff is the last line of defense of our gun rights. If the worst were to happen and the Federal government strips citizens of their right to keep guns, the sheriff can simply deputize the people of the county so that they can keep their weapons. It is also important that he be re-elected so that the GOP has one of the three seats on the committee that oversees elections in Jefferson County.
Sheriff Hale said that there is a lot of dissatisfaction in the courthouse with Democratic control but it is up to groups like the Young Republicans to go out to the people and motivate them to come to the polls in November to elect Republicans.
Former Jefferson County Drug Court Judge Davis Lawley also addressed the GBYR and he told them that it is very important that they re-elect Mike Hale as Sheriff. Lawley said that re-electing Hale, “Is even more important than my race.” Lawley said that he lost his race in the Obama coattails of 2012, but is running again.
Lawley said that a lot of people were elected then simply because they had a D behind their names without regard for their judicial abilities.
Lawley said that there is a lot of people including many lifetime Democrats who do not like the way that Jefferson County’s courts are being run and urged Republicans to get behind their judicial candidates.
Jefferson County Chief Deputy Randy Christian was also in attendance and he told the group that it is good to see that the Republican Party is in good hands going forward.
This month the GBYR asking attendees to bring a pet product to the meeting to benefit the Birmingham Humane Society. Last month the group collected laundry detergent for a local homeless shelter.
This month, the GBYRs will have a service opportunity at the Jimmie Hale Mission – Shepura Men’s Center. The group’s scheduled serving times are Tuesday, September 23rd from 4:30 – 5:45
GBYR Chair Jackie Curtiss said, “We need 5-7 volunteers for meal serving time. Please RSVP to Jackie.Curtiss90@gmail.com.”
Curtiss said two GBYR members are running for office this year. “If you are interested in helping Joel Blankenship (Jefferson County Tax Assessor) or Darius Foster (State House) win in November, please contact Jackie (Jackie.Curtiss90@gmail.com) or Marshall (myates@samford.edu).
Curtiss also announced that the group is holding a YR Trivia Night later in the month.
Curtiss said that prospective members should contact our Secretary Ward Henneker, for membership information (Ward.Henneker@gmail.com).
In August, the group heard comments from Alabama Political Reporter Editor Bill Britt.
In the Alabama Republican Party the Young Republicans state Chairperson has a permanent seat on the state steering committee.
