Auburn Plainsman article: "Incumbents hold ground"
By Ashley Hungerford
Assistant State & Local Editor
9 November 2006
The rainy weather on Election Day Tuesday didn’t stop voters in Lee County from going to the polls.
Of the registered voters in Lee County, 26,768 votes were cast at the polls. Lee County Probate Judge Bill English said there was a 37.7 percent turnout of registered voters, just below his 39.5 percent forecast.
English said he didn’t see the rain as a deterrent to voters. He said many voters rushed to the polls early to beat the rain. When the weather cleared up in the afternoon, he said there was still a steady stream at the polls.
As the results rolled in Tuesday night, it was clear Lee County voted many incumbents into another term.
State Sen. Ted Little (D-Auburn) defeated challenger Peggy Martin in the State Senate District 27 race.
In a highly publicized race, Rep. Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) won another term in Montgomery in State Representative District 79.
However, challengers Carolyn Ellis (D) and Dick Clark (I) were both pleased with their campaign and election experience.
“It has been wonderful to meet the people and talk about the issues I talked about,” Ellis said. “My earnest desire is that we will work together to make Alabama better tomorrow than it is today.”
Ellis said without hesitation she would complete the entire process again.
Clark was the only Libertarian candidate on the Lee County ballot. Receiving 3.15 percent of the votes, Clark said he was happy to have the chance to inform voters about Libertarians and the issues they’re concerned with.
“I’m very grateful to those people who supported my campaign,” Clark said.
Clark ran for office in 2002. He said he’s happy he surpassed his previous results, and he learned more this round than he did his first attempt.
Clark said after 13 months of campaigning, he’s now going to focus on applying for law schools.
In statewide offices, Gov. Bob Riley (R) defeated Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley (D). Riley received 60.69 percent of votes cast Tuesday; Baxley got 38.53 percent.
Jim Folsom Jr. (D) defeated Luther Strange (R) to occupy the lieutenant governor seat left vacant by Baxley.
Troy King (R) defeated John Tyson Jr. for another term as attorney general.
In an upset, Beth Chapman (R) unseated incumbent Nancy Worley (D) for the secretary of state position.
In a surprise unseating, Sue Bell Cobb (D) ousted incumbent Drayton Nabers Jr. (R) for chief justice of Alabama Supreme Court.
While much of the national coverage of Tuesday’s elections revolved around whether the Democratic party would win the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, Rep. Mike Rogers (R) won another term representing the 3rd Congressional District.
Rogers received 59 percent of the votes statewide and 61.58 percent of the votes cast in Lee County Tuesday.
English said Lee County didn’t have any major problems at the polls Tuesday.
“We had a couple little bobbles early, but you kind of expect that,” English said.
He said a machine malfunctioned at a poll location in Smiths Station, but they had the problem solved by 7:45 a.m.
“The majority of the poll workers did a great job,” English said.
Lee County has 290 poll workers who worked a long day Tuesday for only $75.
“It’s a tribute to their service,” English said.
(Read the original article here.)
