By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Voters in Blount and Northern Jefferson Counties headed to the polls on Tuesday (many for their fifth or sixth time this year). This time they were voting in the Republican Primary Runoff Special Election to decide who will represent Alabama House District 34 for the next two years.
Retired Blount County Probate Judge David Standridge beat out Oneonta Banker and School Board Vice President Chris Latta in the Republican runoff. Since no Democrat or minor party candidate qualified to run in the special election, David Standridge as the winner of the Republican runoff will automatically become the District 34 Representative in the Alabama House.
In Facebook comments after the victory David Standridge and his wife Danna said that they were, “Honored and humbled by the support we received in today’s election! Thank you all for your support and hard work. We look forward to serving you in Montgomery as your State Representative and wife.”
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead issued a written statement following the Special Primary Runoff election for House District 34. Armistead said, “I am excited that David Standridge has been elected to represent District 34, and look forward to seeing him represent the Republican Party in the Alabama House of Representatives.” “Republicans are in such strong shape in Blount County that no Democrat filed to run in the District 34 race. The winner of tonight’s special primary runoff will now serve as the new State Representative for District 34. Voters had a tough choice between two great Republican candidates, and I am excited to see what Standridge is going to do for Blount County.”
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) said on Facebook, “Just called Mack Butler (District 30) and David Standridge (District 34) to congratulate them on their election to the Alabama House of Representatives. I look forward to working with them.”
Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (R) from Auburn said on Facebook, “Congratulations to newly elected Representatives Mack Butler (the House District 30 winner) and David Standridge. I look forward to working with them in the legislature as we continue the fight as the last line of defense against the ever encroaching reach of the federal government.”
Standridge has held several elected offices in Blount County and was most recently the Probate Judge. Standridge grew up on a farm in Blount County and is a career law enforcement officer.
Unofficial results show that Standridge defeated fellow Republican Chris Latta by a margin of 54.8% to 45.3%. There were a total of 4,320 total votes cast in the hard fought Republican Primary election that originally included six candidates.
The HD 34 seat was vacated by Thomas Elwyn (R-Oneonta) after he accepted Governor Robert Bentley’s appointment as Executive Director of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission.
