When longtime State Representative Todd Greeson of Ider was defeated in the Republican primary for State Senate Distict 8, it seemed as if DeKalb County no longer had any representation in the race. The nominees, Horace Clemmons (D) of Paint Rock Valley in Jackson County, and Steve Livingston (R), of Gurley in Madison County, were set to square off in the general election on November 4th. Soon after however, Horace Clemmons brought two lifelong DeKalb County residents onto his staff, Joseph Mayes of Grove Oak and Ryan Tramel of Rainsville.

Mayes, 22, graduated from Fyffe High School in 2010, where he proudly played football under Coach Paul Benefield. After high school he accepted a scholarship to The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mayes graduated magna cum laude from UAB with a degree in Political Science earlier this year.

Tramel, 23, also graduated from Fyffe High School in 2010, where he proudly played basketball under Coach Neal Thrash. He then attended Northeast Alabama Community College, where he was elected SGA President, and graduated in 2012. He then accepted a scholarship to The University of Alabama. Tramel graduated summa cum laude from UA with a degree in Business Management Administration earlier this year.

Speaking about the campaign as a whole, Tramel says, “ It has been great traveling to events and doors across Dekalb to introduce voters to Horace and his solutions to the problems we face.” Mayes adds on, “It has been rewarding to be able to focus on Horace’s many ideas to help the people of DeKalb County rather than using the attack ads that we see far too often today.”

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