By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 Prince Chestnut (D) won the House District 67 election by a large margin over Toby Gordon (I). As of press time Chestnut had 96 percent of the vote.
Chestnut said on Twitter, “Thank you to everyone who liked, tweeted, retweeted, donated & posted. Your support helped our campaign & we are truly grateful. #voteblue.”
HD67 is the seat given up by State Representative Darrio Melton (D) when he was elected Mayor of Selma.
Prince Chestnut (D) faces Independent candidate Toby Gordon in the Special General Election.
Chestnut won the Special Democratic Primary with over 70 percent of the vote. No Republican qualified for the majority minority district in the Black Belt.
Chestnut will finish Rep. Melton’s term and will have to face reelection next year; but will be able to serve in the remainder of this Legislative Session as well as the 2018 Legislative Session.
According to his website, Prince Chestnut is an attorney, who has represented clients in the criminal and civil courts. He has written articles for The Selma Post Herald concerning legal issues in his column entitled “Laying Down The Law”. He has spoken and lectured at various institutions. Chestnut has nearly fifteen years of legal experience and has represented judges, county commissions, water boards, head start, industrial boards, personnel boards, school boards, etc. He practices primarily in the areas of government, business, nonprofit and personal injury. His representative client list includes major nonprofits in Central Alabama, rural water authorities and other local governmental entities. He has served as an Appraisal Umpire to resolve insurance appraisal disputes between insurance carriers and their insured. He has also served as a mediator.
Chestnut was appointed as an inaugural member of the Indigent Defense Review Panel, which considers the delivery of indigent defense services in the State of Alabama. In addition, he served on the board of directors for the Alabama Lawyers Association, United Way of Selma & Dallas County and the Selma & Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, respectively; he is a member of the Five Star Black Belt Alliance (a collaborative economic development initiative in West Alabama); the Alabama Municipal Judges Association and is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. For years, Chestnut has participated in the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program and been recognized on the Pro Bono Honor Roll. Chestnut is featured in the June 2013 edition of Selma The Magazine “Top 20 under 40”. In 2016, Chestnut was selected for membership into “The National Black Lawyers Top 100” for his reputation as a highly skilled attorney in the area of government and business transactions.
Chestnut is expected to be sworn in as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives by early next week.
