By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, in a whirlwind trip to DeKalb County, sat down with Southern Torch for an exclusive interview. 

Merrill discussed the newly-signed runoff bill, which reduces election runoffs from six weeks to four weeks; the upcoming 2020 United States Census, and the major issues facing Alabama voters. 

Our full interview with Secretary Merrill can be found on our Facebook page.

During the day, Secretary Merrill met voters at the DeKalb County Courthouse, had lunch with a large crowd at Kelly's Kitchen in Rainsville before interviewing with other media.

Merrill was the keynote speaker at the Alabama Mayors Association dinner, hosted by Fort Payne Mayor Larry Chesser, where he met with the heads of all seventeen municipalities in DeKalb County. 

Merrill is currently a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. In the primary, he is facing Stanley Adair, U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, schoolteacher Marty Hatley, state Rep. Arnold Mooney, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, John Paul Serbin, and former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville.