The special election for House District 27 in Marshall County is headed to a runoff.
Former Alabama Department of Early Education leader Jeana Ross of Guntersville was the top vote-getter in the six-person GOP primary Tuesday. She received 39.2%% of the vote, nearly double that of her closest competitor, Alan Miller. The Arab City Council member and manager at Redstone Arsenal Credit Union received 20.5%, according to unofficial results from the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
The primary was decided by 3,583 voters, less than 10% of registered voters in the district, according to the secretary of state.
There is no Democrat in the race, so whoever wins the April 30 runoff will take the seat.
The seat became vacant when former Rep. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, was elected to the Alabama Senate in January.
Other candidates in the GOP primary were: Stacy Lee George, 3%; Bill Hancock, 13.5%; Bill Stricklend, 14.8%; Billy Ray Todd, 8.7%.
“It was amazing to have so many outstanding individuals who wanted to serve our Party and represent the people of Marshall County,” Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said in a written statement Tuesday night. “… The Republican Party is committed to defending individual liberties and enacting legislation that puts people first. I am confident that both of these candidates will be strong leaders, dedicated to upholding our traditional, conservative values and protecting the people of Alabama from the radical, left-wing agenda.”
Education is a key platform piece for Ross.
“As a career educator, continuing Alabama’s improvements in our public schools is a passion of mine, but I will also focus on other important issues like combating illegal immigration, creating jobs, and protecting our traditional morals and conservative values,” Ross said in January when announcing her campaign.
In his campaign, Miller is stressing his financial background and community involvement.
“I want to emphasize what I’ve done in this district over the last 20-plus years for the people of the district, proving my passion for this community,” he told Alabama Daily News in January. “… I feel (I have the) business acumen and insight needed to help keep state government running effectively, efficiently and fiscally responsible, as any well-run organization should.”