In the News
State GOP may pass on House District 65 race
June 23, 2009
[Mobile Register, Altman, 6/23/09]
MONTGOMERY -- The state GOP likely won't spend much trying to put a Republican in the seat of former Alabama Rep. Marc Keahey, D-Union Grove, a party spokesman said.
"I think it's a little early to tell, but from a numbers standpoint, this definitely is a district that we wouldn't target," said Philip Bryan of the Alabama Republican Party.
Bryan said Republicans in the district typically garner only about 40 percent of the vote.
No special election date has yet been set for the state House District 65 seat, which opened up after Keahey was elected to the state Senate early this month. Already, at least three candidates are preparing to run.
They are:
Elaine Beech of Chatom, 49, a Washington County school board member and pharmacist running as a Democrat.
Ozelle Hubert of Jackson, 62, a pharmacist who has not held public office and is running as a Democrat.
Jerry Reed of Jackson, 67, a retired insurance agent, schoolteacher and principal who has not held public office and is running as a Republican.
The district includes all of Washington County and parts of Clarke and Choctaw counties.
State Republicans have been trying to regain control of the Legislature with a widely publicized fundraising effort, called Campaign 2010. The party gave $100,000 to Greg Albritton's ultimately unsuccessful state Senate race against Keahey.
Bryan said that while he doubts the state party will give the District 65 Republican nominee Campaign 2010 money, the party will try to provide other assistance.
Jim Spearman, executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party, agreed that the district is in a "solid Democratic area," but he was skeptical that the state Republican Party would withhold funds.
"I think they throw it (Campaign 2010 money) at all of them," Spearman said.
The state Democratic Party would likely contribute to the Democrat who emerges from the primary, Spearman said, adding that he likes his party's chances.
"We can look for them (Republicans) to field a candidate, but I still think it will be an uphill battle for whoever wants to get in it," he said.
Todd Stacy, press secretary for Gov. Bob Riley, said he expects the governor will decide "fairly soon" when the special election will take place. Stacy said it was too soon to say whether the seat would be filled by the start of the 2010 legislative session, which is Jan. 12.
Following the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey, D-Butler, in January, it was nearly five months until Keahey was seated as his replacement.
Candidates for the House seat said health care, education and jobs rank among their top concerns.
Reed declined to discuss which issues he would focus on during the campaign but said he has always wanted to pursue public office and has friends and family throughout the district.
"I kind of feel I'm in touch with the people here, and I know a lot of the things that go on in this part of the county," Reed said.
Hubert said his work as a pharmacist has given him a sense of the community's needs. He put economic development and a new hospital in Choctaw County on top of that list.
"We need jobs in this area," Hubert said.
Beech said she wants to improve education and health care in the region.
"I want to see more excellence in education," Beech said. "I just feel like I can make a difference."