Municipal elections: 23 qualified in first week

The first week of qualifying for the Aug. 26 municipal elections in Franklin County saw 23 make their campaigns official, 14 of them incumbents.

Prospective candidates who haven’t qualified have until 5 p.m. on June 24 to do so.

As of June 13, no candidates had qualified in either Hodges or Vina.

In Russellville, 11 have qualified for the six positions up for grabs.

The most contested race is the mayoral election with incumbent David Reed Grissom drawing two challengers – Guadalupe Martinez and David Ward.

Three council positions have two qualifying for positions so far – District 2, District 3 and District 5.

In District 2, incumbent Darren Woodruff will face opponent Hunter Smith.

In District 3, incumbent Gary Cummings is being challenged by Donnie Horton.

And in District 5, incumbent James “Jamie” Harris has one opponent – Robbie Byran Richardson.

District 1 incumbent David Palmer and District 4 incumbent Dexter Hamilton do not have any opposition.

In Red Bay, nine have qualified to run for the six positions, including three seeking the Place 3 council post – incumbent Herbert Trulove, Kathryn Cantrell Wilkins, and Jonathon Strickland.

The only other contested election thus far is the mayor’s race, where incumbent Charlene Fancher will face challenger Mike Shewbart.

Four incumbents are running unopposed – Place 1 council member Mike Kennedy, Place 2 council member Jarod Massey, Place 4 council member Jason Vinson and Place 5 council member Brad Bolton.

In Phil Campbell three incumbents are the only ones to qualify the first week: Mayor Tommy “Eddie” Murbutt, Place 2 council member Rodney Kuykendall, and Place 4 council member Jacqueline Knott.

Each candidate also must file a Statement of Economic Interests form with the Alabama Ethics Commission to be able to have their name appear on the ballot.

Runoffs, if needed, will be held Sept. 23.

New terms will begin on Nov. 3.