By Bart Moss

For the FCT

Northwest Alabama Republicans celebrated recent successes in Tuscumbia last Thursday evening as they welcomed former Presidential candidate Rick Santorum to the area.

Santorum won the state of Alabama’s Republican presidential primary in 2012.

He joked, “I won Tuscaloosa County, home of the Crimson Tide, and I won Lee County, home of the Auburn Tigers. So, I feel at home in the state of Alabama.”

He congratulated Alabama Republicans, in particular northwest Alabama Republicans, on their recent electoral success.

“When you put good people up to run for office and they stand for the values of the American people you find success,” Santorum said.

“The people of Alabama want conservative leadership,” he continued. “They want leadership that is not afraid to stand up and fight for what is right and fight for people and not special interests.”

Also on hand for the event was Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead who proclaimed northwest Alabama as Republican territory.

“It used to be that the only way you could win in Franklin County, Colbert County and Lauderdale County was to run as a Democrat,” Armistead said.

“We have broken through that barrier and are on our way to making the Republican Party the majority party in northwest Alabama just like it is statewide.”

Colbert County Republican Party Chairman David Black, the organizer of the event, said Armistead was committed to northwest Alabama.

“Chairman Armistead told me last year that he wanted to have a political rally like the one tonight to send a message to voters in northwest Alabama that it’s okay to vote Republican,” Black said.

“Voters seem to agree with Armistead because three years ago there was not a single elected Republican in northwest Alabama and now we have 20 Republicans holding office in Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence and Lauderdale Counties.”

“One of the promises I made when I was elected Chairman was to help northwest Alabama Republicans win and bring a big event to the area. We have fulfilled those promises but we are not through. We plan to build on our successes not rest on our laurels.”

Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore was recognized at the event as one of three Republicans elected in Franklin County in 2012. County commissioners Rayburn Massey and Chris Wallace were also elected as Republicans.

“We are proud of the success our party has achieved,” said Moore. “We appreciate Chairman Armistead’s commitment to Franklin County and we appreciate Senator Santorum taking the time out of his schedule to visit the area.”

“We run for offices as Republicans,” Moore added. “When elected we serve all the people.  We want Franklin County to be successful.  That is our number one priority.”