Incumbent Randy Vest will be seeking his second term as Morgan County Commissioner, District 2 during the run-off election July 15. His challenger is Tommy Halbrooks, a state production managing contractor who is seeking his first public office.

Vest led a five-candidate race in the June 3 Primary Election with 6,163 votes or 39.8 percent of the 15,479 votes cast. Halbrooks came in second with 4,921 votes or 31.8 percent of the total.

Vest received more votes than his challengers in Hartselle, Decatur and the western part of the county while Halbrooks showed his strength in precincts east of Highway 31.

“There has been no let-up in my campaign,” said Vest. “At the same time, I have a job to do. It has to come first because I’m obligated to serve the people of my district and county to the best of my ability.

“My message remains the same,” Vest said. “I’m asking voters to look at my personal record of service and what the commission as a whole has been able to accomplish with my help over the past three and a half years. We take pride in the fact that we’ve been able to work with other state and local elected officials to grow new jobs as well as retain the ones we already have.

“Not only have I gained valuable experience on the job, I have taken advantage of continuing education courses and am well on my way to becoming a senior public official,” Vest said.

He added, “I’m very positive about the way the run-off campaign has gone and genuinely appreciate the support I received in the primary. Now I’m doing everything I can to those who voted for me and the other candidates before to go back and vote again on July 15.”

Halbrooks said he has tried to pick up votes in the precincts he fell behind in during the primaries.

“At this point there’s still a lot of work to do, but I feel good about my chances,” said Halbrooks. “I’m spending a good bit of time in Falkville, Hartselle, Danville-Neel and Decatur where I didn’t do as well in the primary election as I had hoped.

“My main concern is voter turnout,” Halbrooks added. “I have touched base with other candidates, and they all agree that run-offs attract fewer voters. That being the case, I’m stepping up the pace and encouraging all those who voted for me in the primary to go back to the polls and vote again on July 15.”

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and any voter, regardless of party preference, is eligible to participate in the run-off.