By Joseph M. Morgan
joseph@southerntorch.com
Voting is a right that many in our nation take for granted. We are blessed to live in a country that allows its citizens to choose their leaders in a free, democratic electoral process. It is our duty as Americans, not only to exercise that right to vote, but to do so in a responsible and informed way.
Because 2016 is a presidential election year and media coverage of is so extensive, the importance of other races on the ballot—county, statewide, even other federal races—often becomes minimized in the chaos. Amidst all the confusion it is easy to lose sight of the races that matter right here in Alabama and in DeKalb County.
Whom we choose to lead this country as our president for the next four years is of vital importance, but we are often affected almost as greatly by the leadership and actions of those we put into office at the local level.
Below is a very simple breakdown of each race that will appear on our ballots in DeKalb County on Wednesday, March 1, 2016, for Alabama’s Primary Election and Tuesday, Nov. 8—Election Day 2016.
In the weeks to come, Southern Torch will take a look at each of these races and provide our readers with information about each office and the candidates who seek election to those offices.
On DeKalb ballots in 2016:
• President of the United States
• U.S. Senate
• U.S. House of Representatives
• Alabama Supreme Court - Associate Justice (3 seats)
• Alabama Public Service Commission - President
• State Board of Education (4 seats; Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7)
• 9th Circuit Judicial Seat
• DeKalb County District Attorney (9th Circuit)
• Dekalb County Commission, District No. 2
• DeKalb County Schools Superintendent
• DeKalb County Board of Education, District No. 5
President Of The United States
GOP Presidential Candidates (in alphabetical order):
• Jeb Bush
• Ben Carson
• Chris Christie
• Ted Cruz
• Carly Fiorina
• Lindsey Graham
• Mike Huckabee
• John R. Kasich
• Rand Paul
• Marco Rubio
• Rick Santorum
• Donald J. Trump
Democrat Presidential Candidates:
• Hillary Clinton
• Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente
• Martin J. O’malley
• Bernie Sanders
United States Senate
U.S. Senate - GOP Candidates:
• Richard C. Shelby - Current Officeholder, Running For Re-Election
Republican Challengers:
• Marcus Bowman
• John Martin
• Jonathan Mcconnell
• Shadrack Mcgill
U.S. Senate - Democrat Candidates
• Ron Crumpton
• Charles Nana
U.S. House of Representatives -
Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District
U.S. Congress - GOP Candidates:
• Robert Aderholt - Current Offficeholder, Running For Re-Election
Republican Challenger:
• Phil Norris
Alabama Supreme Court -
GOP Candidates:
• Donna J. Beaulieu
• Tom Parker
Alabama Public Service Commission President -
GOP Candidates:
• Terry Dunn
• Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh
Ninth Circuit District Attorney (Dekalb And Cherokee Counties) -
GOP Candidates:
Mike O’dell - Current Officeholder, Running Unopposed For Re-Election
Republican Circuit Judge Circuit 9, Place 3 -
GOP Candidates:
Jeremy Taylor - Current Offficeholder, Running Unopposed
For Re-Election
Dekalb County Commission, District No. 2 -
GOP Candidates:
• Derek Caldwell
• Scott Westbrook
Superintendent Dekalb County Board of Education -
GOP Candidates:
• Hugh Taylor - Current Officeholder, Running For Re-Election
Republican Challenger:
• Jason Barnett
Superintendent Dekalb County Board of Education -
Democrat Candidates:
• Bill Monroe
Dekalb County Board Of Education, District No. 5 -
GOP Candidates:
• Don Brock
• William “Billy” Dalton
• Robert Elliott
• Brad Smith
