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

PHOTO: DeKalb County District Judge Steve Whitmire will appear on the ballot as an independent in November. (Submitted Photo)

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — In a letter from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill provided to Southern Torch, confirmation was given to DeKalb County District Judge Steve Whitmire regarding his certification to run as an independent on the November ballot.

In order for a candidate to qualify as an independent in the State of Alabama, the law, “requires that an independent candidate must file a petition containing signatures equaling or exceeding at least three percent of the qualified electors who cast ballots for the Office of Governor in the last general election in the county, district, or other political subdivision for which the independent candidate is seeking ballot access.” 

According to numbers provided by Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Staff David A.Z. Brewer, 1,700 signatures were received on Whitmire’s petition. Of those 1,700 signatures, 104 signatures were rejected and 1,596 were accepted.

Southern Torch reached out to Judge Whitmire for a statement, but at the time of press, we have not received one. 

In his initial campaign announcement, Whitmire stated, "This office provides a special opportunity to serve our community by reaching individual citizens, young and old, on a daily basis. That's what I've tried to do, and what I will continue to do. I only ask for the opportunity to carry on serving you and our county as District Judge."

Whitmire was first elected to his position in 2002 as a Democrat. Last year, Whitmire attempted to switch to the Republican Party but was denied ballot access by the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP). The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.