Huntsville insurance executive Wayne Parker won Limestone County Tuesday, polling 77 percent of the vote in the Republican race for the 5th Congressional District.

Only 5 percent of the county’s 41,798 registered voters went to the polls. That is the second lowest voter turnout in county history, said Probate Judge Mike Davis. Only 1,933 voters cast ballots.

In complete, but unofficial returns, Parker easily won over Huntsville attorney Cheryl Baswell Guthrie, 1,476 votes or 76.52 percent to 453 votes or 23.48 percent.

“In the June primary election we had 19 percent to vote,” said Davis. “We knew it would be lower in this run-off election because the campaigns in these races were not very visible and did not generate a lot of interest.

“Plus, the Republicans did not want to cause harm to their nominee by getting into a dog fight. Plus, it’s summer time and people had other things to do than to come and vote on three races,” Davis said.

The lowest voter turnout on record came in 2000 when 1 percent voted in a Republican primary, records show.

“This is second lowest on record, but I’m predicting now that we will have the highest turnout in Limestone County history come November because of the interest generated in the presidential race,” Davis said.

In the other two Republican races on the election ballot Tuesday, Beth Kellum received 57 percent of the vote to easily beat Lucie McLemore 938 to 699 for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 1.

In the other race, Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh polled 61 percent of the vote to defeat Matt Chancey 1,101 to 695 for president of the Alabama Public Service Commission.



Statewide results

Wayne Parker has won the Republican nomination for the the 5th Congressional District seat.

With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Parker was receiving 77 percent of the vote to 23 percent for Guthrie.

Parker will face the Democratic Party nominee, state Sen. Parker Griffith, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Cavanaugh built a strong lead in the Republican primary runoff for Public Service Commission president.

With 42 percent of precincts reporting, Cavanaugh had 60 percent of the vote, while Chancey had 40 percent.

The winner will face former Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley in the Nov. 4 general election. Baxley was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The winner of the general election will replace longtime commission President Jim Sullivan, a Republican who decided not to seek re-election.

Kellum held a slim lead over McLemore in early returns from the Republican runoff for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

With 56 percent of the precincts reporting, Kellum had 31,359 votes, or 53 percent, and McLemore posted 28,182 votes, or 47 percent.

The winner advances to the general election Nov. 4 against the Democratic nominee, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Clyde Jones.