Republicans Sweep Marshall County

November 5, 2008
Republican candidates swept all five Marshall County contests in Tuesday’s general election, claiming the majority of races in Marshall County for the first time in at least a century.

Marshall County Republican Executive Committee Chairperson, Jean Brewer, praised the results of Tuesday’s general election. “I am grateful to the people of Marshall County for giving our local Republican candidates such a big, sweeping win. Marshall County voters have been electing more and more Republicans over the past few years, and we are now clearly a solidly Republican county.”

She also cited the high caliber and positive campaigns of those seeking office as Republicans. “The exceptional quality of our candidates made the difference this year, and the voters clearly responded that way at the polls. I could not have been happier with the qualifications and experience of our Republican candidates. Our candidates ran clean races that steered clear of the negative, personal attacks we have seen by many of those running for office this year.”

Five local offices were on the ballot Tuesday. Republican Joey Masters was re-elected as Revenue Commissioner. Republican James Maze defeated long-time Democratic incumbent R.E. Martin in the race for Marshall County Commissioner District 2. Republican Richard Kilgore won the race for Marshall County Commissioner District 3. Republican Terry Kennamer was elected to fill a formerly Democratic seat on the Marshall County Board of Education, and Republican District Judge Liles Burke was elected without opposition.

Mrs. Brewer noted that several counties in North Alabama have been trending Republican at the local level recently. “Our neighbors in Blount County, Morgan County, and Cullman County have been moving strongly Republican in the last two or three election cycles, with many offices changing from Democrat to Republican hands, and now we have seen that happen here. We are happy to see that seventy-percent of all Marshall County straight ticket voting was Republican.”

Mrs. Brewer said that in 2010, more than a dozen county and legislative offices will be on the ballot, many of them held by incumbent Democrats. “The momentum that we have right now from this election is amazing. As we start getting ready to recruit candidates for the 2010 elections, I know that this year’s election results will have a very favorable impact for the Republican Party.”

Marshall County only had one elected Republican just a decade ago. Now, twelve Republicans hold office, including a majority on the county commission according to Brewer.  "The things our Party stands for - lower taxes, small town values, and common sense government - these are the issues that will help our candidates win many more elections in the coming years.”