The Year in Politics

Editor’s note: The following story is one of a series of articles compiled by The News Courier staff about the news that shaped Athens and Limestone County in 2016. Additional articles will be published this week as the year draws to a close.

In a year that saw a reality TV star and billionaire real estate magnate elected to the most powerful office in the world, it only makes sense the political scene in Alabama and in Limestone County would be just as interesting.

Depending on where you lived, some voters in Athens and Limestone County were eligible to vote in no fewer than five elections in 2016.

For example, there was a special election in February, followed by the “Super Tuesday” primary on March 1. Because there was no clear winner in the three-man Circuit Court Judge, Place 1 race, a runoff was held April 12.

Four months later, on Aug. 23, voters within the city limits of Athens went to the polls to vote in the municipal election.The political year finally wrapped up Nov. 8 with the general election.

The 2016 general election was the first time voters were required to show a state-approved ID to vote for president. In another rare instance, the general election ballot also featured two independents — Limestone County Commission hopeful Bill Daws and District Attorney candidate Kristi Valls.

Daws and Valls were both running to unseat the Republican candidates who previously unseated them — District 4 Commissioner Ben Harrison and District Attorney Brian C.T. Jones. Ultimately, Daws and Valls could not overcome a Republican stronghold that has been in place in Limestone County since the 2010 election.

Montgomery wrap-up

In between the elections, the political tension in Montgomery grew tighter and tighter. Gov. Robert Bentley faced public calls for impeachment — or his resignation — after details of an inappropriate relationship with his top aide came to light.

Twenty-three lawmakers signed impeachment articles against Bentley. The governor has said the relationship was not physical.

Lawmakers angered by details of the relationship were aggravated further by Bentley’s change of heart about the lottery. Once a staunch gambling opponent, Bentley proposed a lottery to help generate about $225 million annually to help prop up the general fund.

Lawmakers passed on gambling in 2016, but the lottery issue may return in the 2017 session, set to begin in February.

Another of Bentley’s bills that would have called for the borrowing of $800 million to build for new megaprisons also failed. That issue is also set to be addressed again in the upcoming session.

Disgraced House Speaker Mike Hubbard was found guilty on 12 counts of public corruption and was sentenced to serve four years in prison. In November, he filed an appeal, citing juror misconduct.

Good fortune failed to shine on Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended for the rest of term over his defiance of gay marriage. He is currently appealing that suspension.

Bentley briefly experienced a resurgence in popularity following the election of Donald Trump in November. After Trump nominated U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions to the attorney general post, Bentley was put in a position of naming a successor.

The governor interviewed 11 candidates earlier this month, including Moore and State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur. Orr is a member of the Limestone County Legislative Delegation.

The following is a recap of the political year that was:

Crawford elected

After defeating challenger and Athens City Councilman Chris Seibert in the primary runoff in December 2015, Republican Danny Crawford faced Democratic challenger Henry White in the Feb. 16 state House District 5 special election. The election was necessitated by the death of state Rep. Dan Williams in July 2015.

Though White had previously held the seat from 2006-2010, Crawford, a former Athens City Councilman and Farm Service Agency director, garnered nearly 59 percent of the vote. Because the 2016 session of the Alabama Legislature was underway at the time of the election, Crawford left for Montgomery the day after his victory to begin his new duties.

He said directions to the restroom were established on day one. Some of his colleagues directed him to an entrance that didn’t require him to fight his way through the lobby of the state House.

When asked if a secret handshake was required for the legislative entrance, he laughed and said, “You just have to act like you’ve got to go.”

Red tide continues

In what was perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come, Republican candidates greatly outnumbered Democrats on the March 1 “Super Tuesday” primary ballot.

Republican Ben Harrison, the incumbent District 4 county commissioner, defeated Republican challenger Tom Strain. Harrison would face independent Bill Daws in the Nov. 8 general election.

In the Limestone County Circuit Court Judge, Place 1 race, Chad Wise and Jim Moffatt were forced into an April 12 runoff. The same was true of Jim Bonner and Jeff Newman, contenders for the state Board of Education, Place 7.

Wise defeated Moffatt with 63 percent of the vote, while Newman garnered 57 percent. Neither faced Democratic opposition in the Nov. 8 general election.

Council remains intact

Had Athens’ District 3 Councilman Jimmy Gill lived, he would have been up for re-election in the Aug. 23 municipal election. Gill’s death on March 27 necessitated a decision by the council to appoint Frank Travis to complete the remainder of Gill’s term.

Travis, who faced no opposition in the Aug. 23 election, was duly elected on July 22 along with unopposed councilmen Chris Seibert and Joseph Cannon.

Only council members Harold Wales and Wayne Harper faced opposition. Even Mayor Ronnie Marks, who had three competitors in 2012, ran unopposed.

Despite having two challengers, Harper — the former Athens police chief who was first elected in 2012 — was able to avoid a runoff by clinching 56 percent of the vote. Wales, who was first elected in 2004, garnered 60 percent of the vote.

General election

Much like with the March 1 primary, Democrats were practically nonexistent on the Nov. 8 ballot. The lone local Democrat was incumbent Charles Shoulders, who was unopposed in the Limestone County Board of Education, District 1, race.

The only two contested local races — County Commission District 4 and District Attorney — ended in victories for Republicans Harrison and Jones. Not surprisingly, Donald Trump dominated the presidential race in Limestone, securing 72 percent of the vote. He garnered 62 percent statewide over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-5th, defeated Democratic challenger Will Boyd to remain in Washington another two years. Brooks has since expressed an interest in U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions’ seat after Trump nominated Sessions to the attorney general post. Brooks was one of the 11 candidates interviewed earlier this month by Gov. Robert Bentley, who will appoint Sessions’ replacement.