By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News
Former Tuscaloosa City Council president Cynthia Lee Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, has won House District 63 after no candidates challenged her in a special election to fill the vacant seat.
House District 63 was held by former Rep. Bill Poole for ten years before he was appointed in August by Gov. Kay Ivey to serve as State Finance Director.
Almond becomes the newest member of the Alabama House of Representatives just as lawmakers are preparing to return for a special session on redistricting next week.
“I look forward to jumping in with both feet next week in the special session,” Almond told Alabama Daily News on Thursday. “I am especially interested in helping our state to continue to have a conservative, responsible budget, hopefully serving in a role to be a voice for education which is especially important in my district due to The University of Alabama, and to focus on public safety and health care. I am ready to get to work!”
A Certificate of Election was issued by the Secretary of State’s office on Thursday since Almond was the only legally qualified candidate to register for the House District 63 special election.
No other Republican, Democrat or Independent candidate registered before the Oct. 19th primary election date, so the seat automatically went to Almond.
House District 63 takes up parts of downtown Tuscaloosa, including the University of Alabama and Northport.
This now leaves only one House seat vacant, House District 76 held by former Rep. Thad McClammy, D-Montgomery, and that special primary election is set for Nov. 16, 2021. Vacancies occurring after Oct. 1 will go unfilled until the next general election.