By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Candidates to run for the Alabama Senate as a Republican or as a Democrat need to qualify with their party no later than 5:00 on Wednesday December 12th.
Independent and third party candidates have until Thursday to produce the required number of signatures and file their petitions for ballot access. Only the signatures of registered voters in the district are valid for gaining ballot access.
The Special Primary Election for District 35 will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013. In the very unlikely event that no one contests either the Republican or Democratic primaries, the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013. Both political parties must certify their qualified candidates at the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office by 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley announced the special election just last Wednesday. Gov. Bentley said, “This election timeline was designed to have a senator in place for District 35 as soon as possible. The timeline gives candidates time to qualify, it allows voters time to learn about candidates, and it allows time for those who are unable to vote in-person to arrange to vote by absentee ballot.”
Alabama Representative Jim Barton (R) from Mobile has already announced his intention to run for the Alabama Senate for District 35. Senate District 35 became vacant when Senator Ben Brooks (R) resigned to become a Mobile County Circuit Judge.
Representative Barton represents Alabama House District 104 and is currently the powerful Chairman of the House General Fund budget committee. Rep. Barton said, “I was raised in Mobile County and proud to be raising my children here as well. I understand the values and challenges in our community. When elected to the Senate I will continue the fight I started in 2001 when I was elected to the House of Representatives to make sure that what we hold dear is protected.” Barton has won several Legislator of the Year Awards, most recently by the Alabama District Attorneys Association.
If a runoff is needed to settle on the major party’s candidate the Special Primary Runoff Election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. If no runoff is necessary then the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.
If primaries and a primary runoff are both necessary then the Special General Election will not be held until Tuesday, April 23, 2013.
