By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Mobile businessman Bill Hightower will face Alabama State Representative Jim Barton in a Special Republican Primary runoff on Tuesday March 12th. The winner of the Republican primary will be the next State Senator for District 35 because the Alabama Democratic Party was unable to recruit a candidate. Former Marine Corps pilot Nick Matranga finished third.
Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead announced the results on Thursday. Chairman Armistead said in a written statement, “As a former candidate and member of the State Senate, I know the decision making process these three fine Republicans went through to qualify and I thank them each for their willingness to serve the public. Now voters in Mobile will have a choice to make between two individuals who would both make fine additions to our Republican Senate Caucus in Montgomery.”
Chairman Armistead said, “The fact that no individual chose to qualify as a Democrat for Senate District 35 is just more proof that more and more Alabamians realize that the Democrat Party of today is the party of Barrack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Alabama Democrat Chairman Judge Mark Kennedy. The Alabama Democrat Party is not the party our grandparents may have belonged to. Looking at recent election results, it is clear that conservative Alabama voters have rejected the Democrat Party’s liberal way.”
The Republican Special Primary election Tuesday was held to fill the vacancy in Senate District 35 in Mobile County created by the resignation of Senator Ben Brooks. Brooks was elected as a Circuit Judge.
Bill Hightower led in the primary with 46.5% of the vote. Rep. Barton received 30% of the vote and Mr. Matranga received 23% of the vote.
The Republican Special Primary Run-Off election will be held in six weeks on March 12th, 2013.
