By WILL WHATLEY, Alabama Daily News
The race to replace Dick Brewbaker is on.
Republican candidate Will Barfoot and Democrat David Sadler will square off on Nov. 6 for the State Senate District 25 seat that is being vacated by veteran State Sen. Dick Brewbaker.
Barfoot defeated Ronda Walker in the Republican primary while Sadler ran unopposed.
The District
Stretching from Crenshaw County through eastern Montgomery County and up into Elmore County, Alabama state senate district 25 centers around eastern Montgomery and Pike Road and includes other towns like Luverne, Wetumpka and part of Tallassee.
A total population of 157,932 live in the district, according to the 2010 Census. The district includes Pike Road, which had a population of 5,406 in 2010. That number was estimated to increase to 9,322 in a 2017 projection. Wetumpka also saw its population grow from 2010 to 2017. According to the projection, the population increased from 6,528 to 8,148.
In Luverne, the population dipped by 30 over the seven-year span since the Census. Montgomery’s population decreased from 205,764 to 199,518, which is considerably more than the state senate district average of 136,564.
A businessman from Pike Road, Brewbaker was first elected after defeating Democrat Jerry Freeman in the 2010 general election. He then ran unopposed in 2014. Brewbaker declined to run for a third term in the 2018 elections.
Fundraising
Will Barfoot
- Cash on hand: $33,465.02
- Amount raised in August: $3,900
David Sadler
- Cash on hand: n/a
- Amount raised in August: n/a
The Candidates
Will Barfoot
A personal injury attorney from Montgomery, Barfoot doesn’t believe individuals should make a career in politics. In fact, he wants to introduce legislation to keep others from doing so. He plans to introduce legislation in his first term that limits state legislators and others to a maximum of three terms.
On the campaign trail, Barfoot has highlighted his background in agriculture. He said his family moved to Pike Road in 1977 to run a farm.
“I will stand firmly against any bill that would have an adverse effect on our agricultural community,” said Barfoot.
Barfoot is a staunch opponent of abortion.
“I am, and have always been, firmly pro-life. I believe that every child is a gift from God,” he said.
Barfoot also opposes expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. As for a statewide lottery, he said it would be irresponsible to gauge whether or not he would support a bill without first seeing what the legislation featured.
Barfoot was a delegate for Mike Huckabee in the 2008 Republican presidential primary election. He has been endorsed by former Montgomery County Probate Judge Reese McKinney.
David Sadler
Sadler is a former college athlete who came to Alabama after school to help ex convicts have their voting rights restored. He is a father of three and mentored under former Alabama Democratic Caucus member Jerome Gray.
When asked what he wants most for district 25, Sadler replied he wanted to focus on improving education, safety for families, good-paying jobs and health care.
“We want to connect with the community. We’ve been going out not telling people what we’re going to do but rather what do they need done for them,” said Sadler. “We also want to constantly communicate with constituents so we have an informed citizenry.”
Sadler has come out in favor of a state lottery “if it pushes Alabama forward” and supports a pro-choice agenda, saying that is left “between whoever makes the decision and their god.”
When asked about Medicaid expansion, he said he wants what is fair for all citizens and doesn’t want to incentivize people to just accept and live off handouts.
“We don’t want to just give something away,” he said.