GOP hopefuls visit

BY BRUCE BRANUM

The Greenville Standard

 

“We are pleased as punch about the great turnout, both the candidates and the interested voters that have come out to see and talk about important issues,” said Cleve Poole at Butler County Republican Party’s candidate forum event held Tuesday evening, Feb. 20 at the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBWCC) Conference Center in Greenville.

We have someone here from almost every statewide candidate race for the Republican Party. We have every candidate in attendance running for state congress and senate congress in our district. This will give the candidates a chance to show their people skills and how they handle public situations,” added Poole.

“We really appreciate all of the candidates coming down to Butler County – and more importantly, all the Butler County voters who came out to see the state candidates,” Poole said.

After the audience had an opportunity to meet one on one with the candidates, the candidates then were given two minutes to convince those in attendance and ask for their vote consideration.

Rick Pate, candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries, gave the most entertaining speech of the evening. He is currently Mayor of Lowndesboro and owns a cattle farm in Lowndes County.

An estimated 175 people were in attendance at the forum held at LBWCC.

The following candidates who are running for office were in attendance:

Governor – Tommy Battle and Scott Dawson; House – 2nd Congressional District, Tommy Amason, Bobby Bright, Rich Hobson, Barry Moore and Martha Roby; Lt. Governor – Will Ainsworth, Twinkle Cavenaugh and Rusty Glover; Attorney General – Chess Bedsole, Steve Marshall and Alice Martin; Chief Justice – Tom Parker and Lynn Stuart; Supreme Court – Debra Jones and Brad Mendheim; Court of Civil Appeals – Christy Edwards and Michelle Thomason; Court of Criminal Appeals – Bill Cole, Richard Minor, Richard Anderson, Chris McCool, Christy Edward and Michelle Thomason; Treasurer – John McMillan; Secretary of State – John Merrill; Ag/Industries – Gerald Dial and Rick Pate; Auditor- Stan Cooke; PSC – Chip Beeker and Jeremy Oden.

Danny Bond, the only republican candidate for Butler County Sheriff, did not speak but was introduced by Poole during the event. He is currently a captain with the Greenville Police Department.