By Staff
Republicans dominate most county races
By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Morgan Countians went to the polls in record numbers choosing Republican candidates over Democrats in five of six county races in Tuesday’s General Election.
Of the county’s 68,637 registered voters, 48,557 of them cast ballots. Not included were approximately 2,600 absentee ballots and an undetermined number of provisional ballots.
Republicans Brent Craig and Charles Langham were winners for district judge, Don Stisher was elected to the county commission, Amanda Scott was re-elected as revenue commissioner and Carolyn Wallace retained her seat on the county board of education.
The only Democratic candidate to emerge a winner for a county office was Sue Baker Roan, incumbent Morgan County License Commissioner. She easily defeated Republican newcomer Mark McCurry with 28,817 votes. McCurry received 20,962 votes.
Craig emerged as winner for District Court Judge, Place 3. He outpolled Democrat Larry Madison, 30,344 to 17,506 votes.
Langham defeated Democrat Tim Kyle, 31,034 to 17,022 votes, for District Court Judge, Place 3.
In the race for Morgan County Commissioner, District 3, Stisher defeated Democratic newcomer Jimmie Dewayne Brindley, 31,015 to 17,092 votes.
Scott was re-elected as Revenue Commissioner. She defeated
Democratic newcomer Rita Sims, 29,804 to 19,284 votes.
In the race for Morgan County Board of Education, Place 2, Carolyn Wallace was re-elected. She won easily over Democrat James Ray Bowling, 12,52 9 to 6,018 votes.
Greg Abercrombie coasted to victory in his bid for Morgan County Commission, District 4, with 34,942 votes. He had no official opposition from the Democratic Party; however, outgoing commissioner Stacy George received 2, 717.write-in votes.
Republicans Mike Tarpley and Tom Earwood were re-elected as District 3 and District 6 members of the Morgan County Board of Education, respectively. Both had only token opposition from write-ion votes totaling less than 200 votes in both races.
In the 5th District race for U.S. House of Representatives, Morgan County voters favored Democrat Parker Griffith over Republican Wayne Parker, 12,815 to 12,572 votes.
Republican Robert Aderholt prevailed over Nicholas Sparks, 17,146 to 11,072 votes, in the race for U.S. House of Representatives, District 4.
Amendment One (Rainy Day Education Fund) was rejected by Morgan County voters, 21.598 to 18,017 votes, but was approved statewide by a vote of 788,998 to 609,645.
GOP strong here, loses presidency
By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Bucking a countrywide trend towards Democratic resurgence, Morgan County joined in with the rest of the state in throwing its support behind the GOP’s national ticket.
In Morgan County, Republican John McCain received 35,986 votes, or 71 percent, to Democrat Barak Obama’s 13,882 or 27 percent. McCain outpolled Obama in Alabama some 60 percent to 39 percent, lost nationwide, with Obama winning 28 states to McCain’s 20.
Some 56 percent of Morgan County voters cast a straight ticket for Republicans, with 44 percent voting the straight Democratic ticket.
In other races: