Candidates for county offices

DOUBLE SPRINGS - Although the Republican primary election is not until March 5, excitement is already stirring in Winston County after candidates announced their intentions to run in such such key county races as school superintendent, board of education seats and commission chairman at the county Republican Party meeting, Monday night, Aug. 14.

The Winston County Republican Party voted at this meeting to join the state in setting the starting date for candidate qualifying for Oct. 9, with the cut-off date for qualifying being 5 p.m., Nov. 10, according to Party Vice Chairman Greg Farris.

County School Superintendent
Announcing candidacy for Winston County Schools superintendent were Heather Tucker, who is currently Double Springs Elementary principal, and Jeff Scott, who is currently county transportation supervisor.

Current Winston County Schools Superintendent Greg Pendley has stated he will not be seeking re-election after 12 years in that office. A separate story in this edition will detail that.
“You have heard me speak several times about the issues that affect our school and our teachers and our students and our communities,” Tucker addressed the audience during her announcement.

“That is something I will continue to do each and every day (as well as) fight for our students as we echo what we need here back to Montgomery,” Tucker added, “and when we get mandates back from Montgomery, bring those back to Winston County, as a mission and a vision for the students of Winston County.”

Tucker’s motivation in seeking the county superintendent’s seat is based on four pillars of success that are needed by  students: 1) excellence in everything that is done from the classroom to the field, 2) opportunities for all students  in every area, 3) relationships and 4) transparency.

“My number one priority is build those relationships with our students, our families, communities, our legislators, our state school board, all of those things, (so) that we can work hand-in-hand to move our county and our students forward,” Tucker stated.

“If we are not transparent about what we are doing and why, then  there’s an issue,” Tucker noted while discussing the fourth pillar.  “The school is the heart of our community, and if we don’t make those  better, then our communities and our county is not better.”

Scott then took the floor to make his announcement for county superintendent. He began by looking back over this 30-year career in education.

“During that 30-year career, I have taught; I have coached; I have been principal; I have been transportation director; I have been involved with building maintenance and construction,” Scott stated. He noted he has also been involved with the school system’s Child Nutrition Program.

“The only thing I haven’t done in education is be a superintendent,” Scott pointed out. “That is why I have chosen to do this at this time.

“I would just like to have the opportunity to use my experience, (to) work alongside our board, our state legislators, to provide every student in Winston County the opportunity to be the very best that they can be,” Scott added.

“I just ask you to look at the experience and let my experience work for the students,” he continued.

“The focus should be on the students.  It shouldn’t be on me or any other candidate. I think if we truly put our focus on the students, and do what is truly best for them, we should look at the experience that each candidate has and base our decision on those experiences, to do what is best for the students of Winston County,” Scott concluded.

“I truly believe that together, everyone achieves more.”

County Board of Education
Allin Bailey, who has served on the District 3 Double Springs seat on the Winston County Board of Education, announced he would not seek reelection in the March 5 primary, citing health and other factors.

“Last time, my family really didn’t want me to, and I had heart surgery and have a heart valve, and since then have had cancer, and I just need to take some time,” Bailey said.
“I am not going to say I am not going to run again sometime,” Bailey added. “I might have the ambition to do something else, for some other office.

“I am just going to set this aside for now and need to take better care of my family and have some time for me just to evaluate everything and rest,” Bailey continued. “I have really enjoyed it and will continue to work hard until out of office.”

Farris responded, “Allin, we appreciate you and  all the work. It’s not an easy thing to do. We all know that. Allin has  done an excellent job in representing us in this school district over the years.

“Thank you Allin for your service,” Farris added, to applause from the audience.

Greg Densmore announced he would be seeking  the  District 3 Board of Education seat.

“I have lived in Double Springs and Houston a majority of my life,” Densmore began. “I went to school at Winston County High School. My wife went to Winston County High School, and my son most recently graduated from Winston County High School.”

Densmore added that people have asked him in the past few weeks why he would seek election on the school board, since his son has graduated.

“It’s pretty simple,” he responded. “I care about my school. I care about our school. I care about building relationships. I care about all the things that go into making our school better.
“A lot of people want to come up and start talking about athletics. That’s the farthest thing from my mind, really,” Densmore pointed out. “I want to be able to push our students to get out of dual enrollment and be able to advance in AP classes, to push technical school on them.

“There are so many opportunities out there for our students,” Densmore continued.

Densmore added he looked forward to working with the new superintendent and school board members on establishing a vision and creating goals for the schools.

“I look forward to building that foundation for our future, for our schools. That’s it. It’s pretty simple,” Densmore noted. “Just get in there and roll your sleeves up and go to work for our kids because (our students are) our number one priority.”

Densmore noted he has coached football the past five years and could see all sorts of circumstances with students, many of which should be improved.

“I don’t stop caring because my son is out of school,” Densmore pointed out.

Randy Lee, who is current board member for the Addison district, noted he would be seeking re-election.

“It’s very important we have some experience on the school board because we are about to have a new superintendent,” said Lee. “Thanks for allowing me to do this.”

Joey Boteler, who is current board president and serving Lynn’s District 2, also announced his plans to run for re-election.

“Our children are our future,” Boteler addressed the audience. “They need the best education that we can give them.”

Boteler noted his children have gone through Winston County Schools but his grandchildren are just starting.

“I just want to make sure and see that we give them the best education,”  Boteler pointed out.
No candidate announced at the meeting for the Addison or Haleyville district seats on the county school board.

Commission Chairman Announcement
David Cummings, currently commissioner for District 2, announced he will be seeking the chairman’s seat. No other candidates announced during the Aug. 14 meeting concerning that seat.

“I have served as a district commissioner the past 13 years, and with my experience, I would like to take it to a new level and be chairman of the commission,” Cummings pointed out.

“I’d like to bring my experience and hard work to the chair,” he added.

Current Chairman Roger Hayes, who has held that seat since 1993 and was not present at the meeting, has not made a decision about whether he will seek re-election, he said.

Probate Judge, Circuit Clerk
Sheila Moore, incumbent probate judge, and J.D. Snoddy, incumbent circuit clerk, also announced their candidacies for March 5.

No other persons announced for those seats at the meeting.

Moore announced she would be seeking re-election for the position in which she has served for the past 16 years.

“I just humbly ask for your prayers and your continued support on March 5,” Moore stated.

Snoddy also announced his plans to seek re-election. Snoddy has served as circuit clerk for the past 22 years.

“I have enjoyed working for the people of the county,” Snoddy said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to get to serve you. I have tried to use every avenue possible to help the county, not only as clerk but doing other things too, and I will continue to do that.

“...You hired me, when the phone rings in the middle of the night, to get up and come up here (to the courthouse) if I need to,” Snoddy pointed out. “You hired me to be available to the people of the county, no matter what the situation, because if it’s important to you, it’s important to me, and that is my job.”

Constable seats planned for March 5 ballot
Also on the March 5 ballot will be 18 seats for county constables, one for each of the precincts, Farris stated.

No candidates announced for any of the constable precincts at the meeting.