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Finally, Kelvin Datcher has officially won the seat to represent Alabama House District 52.
Datcher trounced Republican Erskine Brown Jr., 1,124 to 218, in a race that was little more than a waste of time and taxpayer money. Datcher replaces John Rogers, the state’s longest serving representative, who resigned the seat as part of a plea deal for federal fraud charges.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity and I want to go to Montgomery and search for ways to actually accomplish things that will help the people of District 52,” Datcher said. “I want to thank the people for giving me the opportunity and trusting me. I don’t take that lightly.”
Datcher, who works as Birmingham’s Deputy Director of Community Development, believed that he had won the seat following the Democratic primary runoff in July, when he beat pastor Frank Woodson. At that point, the Alabama GOP had no candidate in the race, because Carlos Crum, a first-time candidate, had dropped out.
But minutes before the special election filing deadline, Brown was placed on the ballot. Brown had no campaign website, no campaign social media, no apparent campaign staff and did little to actually campaign for the seat. There were also serious legal questions raised about the stunted process which allowed Brown on the ballot and the fact that Brown apparently never formed a principal campaign committee – a requirement under Alabama law.
Had Brown not been in the race, Gov. Kay Ivey could have simply seated Datcher in July as the district’s representative.
Now, Datcher’s swearing in will occur on Wednesday.
