Saturday, several candidates were in Indian Springs to attend a candidate’s forum sponsored by the Republican Women of Shelby County at the Indian Springs Town Hall. Debra Jones is running for Alabama Supreme Court associate justice.
Jones said that her parents named her after Debra who was a Judge in the Bible.
After law school she worked as an assistant district attorney. Then Jones practiced law for 16 years. She also started the Children’s Advocacy Center. Jones became a judge by running against a Democratic incumbent that had been in office for 21 years.
“The nine judges who sit on the Alabama Supreme Court will decide the culture in which you and your children live,” Jones said.
Bill Cole is running for the Court of Criminal Appeals.
“I have practiced law for 13 years,” Cole said.
“I have four children coached sports taught Sunday School,” Cole said. “I am a member of MARC (the Mid-Alabama Republican Club). I go regularly. I have met so many people in the last two years.”
Cole said that as a judge, “It is important to manage your docket and keep it in good shape; and I intend to do the same thing on the court of criminal appeals.”
Dr Robin Litaker is running for Public Service Commission.
“I am not a politician,” Litaker said. “I am a 32 and a half year veteran of the Alabama Public School system. I have been a teacher of the year. I have been a principal and an assistant principal.”
“I am a Christian,” Litaker said. “I am a lifelong Republican like my daddy and my granddaddy.” “I have a lot of experience on boards. I have stood up to Dr. Paul Hubbert a number of times, sometimes face to face.” “I have years of experience studying and implementing complex policies and regulations in a fair and equitable manner.”
Litaker promised to be a public servant if she is elected.
Pat Thetford is running for Court of Civil Appeals. Thetford said that he has served as a judge in Jefferson County and has experience in trials and courts.
A number of Shelby County local candidates also addressed the group.
Patrick Kennedy is running for Circuit Judge Place 2.
Sheriff John Samaniego is seeking another term.
The Alabama Political Reporter asked, ICE in the past as had as few as three agents assigned to the state.
Samaniego said that it has improved some. The facility that was built in Etowah County has reduced the number of criminal illegals sitting in jails, but still once one bonds out the state can’t continue to hold them unless a federal authority has come to pick them up.
Nicolle Saia is running for District Judge in Shelby County. She is an alumnus of Cumberland Law School.
Saia sits on the board of the Montessori school and is very involved civilly.
Jule Palmer is running for re-election to her judgeship. She addressed the group asking for their support.
Sharon Cooper is running for Shelby County Circuit Clerk.
“I am a Christian, a Republican and a lifelong Shelby County resident,” Cooper said. “I have served 30 years in the circuit clerk’s office. I am currently your chief Magistrate. I am for term limits. I will be a working clerk.”
Mary Harris is also running for circuit clerk.
“I had worked for the Circuit Clerk’s office for 26 years when I was elected in 1999,” Harris said.
Allison Boyd is running for Shelby County Judge of Probate.
Boyd said that she has a degree from Samford, a MBA from UAB, and a law degree from Cumberland.
Boyd said that she worked in the D.A.s office in Tuscaloosa and then moved back to Shelby county.
I worked crimes against children,” Boyd said. “I sent a lot of people to prison, some for the rest of their lives. I moved to the drug court level. There I worked on getting people’s lives back on track. I accepted a position with the probate court and have worked there for the last two years.”
State Representatives Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, said that candidates like him who are unopposed in the primary will not be on the primary ballot.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle is running for the Republican nomination for governor. Battle also addressed the Shelby County Republican Women.
“In about 17 days you are going to pick your new governor,” Battle said. “Your vote will take us away from the last 30 years.”
The Shelby County Republican Women are the official affiliate in Shelby County of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women. Dawn Ray is the President and they normally meet on the third Saturday of each month.
