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The Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh
Political experience: Public Service Commission 2010-present, president since 2012; ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor, 2018; first woman elected executive director/chair of the Alabama Republican Party, 2005. Professional experience: Co-owner, Cavanaugh Bradley Animal Hospital, Montgomery; former deputy chief of staff/senior adviser, administration of Gov. Bob Riley. Civic experience: Active members, First...
Allen Long
Political experience: Longtime Republican activist. Has served as chairman of the Lauderdale County Republican Party and on the State Republican Executive Committee. First run for public office. Professional experience: Ear, nose and throat doctor and small business owner. Practiced medicine in the Shoals area for more than 30 years. Civic...
March 5 Vote to Decide Party Nominees to Congress and JeffCo Offices, as Well as President
Voters go to the polls March 5 to select party nominees for offices from the White House, to Congress to the courthouse. BirminghamWatch’s 2024 Primary Voter Guide will brief you on what’s on your Republican or Democratic ballot in Jefferson County with profiles of candidates, sample ballots and takeouts on key races.
Candidates on the Jefferson County Republican Primary Ballot
There are no Jefferson County races on the Republican ballot during the March 5 primary. There are statewide candidates in contested primary races, and there will be Republicans candidates in local races in November. Follow the links for profile information, where applicable. President of the United States. Ryan l. Binkley.
Bryan Taylor
Political experience: Elected to Alabama Senate, 2010, and served one term; Distinguished Fellow, Alabama Policy Institute; member, The Federalist Society; has been legal counsel to the Alabama Republican Party and two Republican governors. Professional experience: Co-founding partner of the law firm Bachus, Brom & Taylor, with concentration on Constitutional law...
Sarah Hicks Stewart
Residence: Montgomery/Mobile. Political experience: Elected associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, 2018. Appointed Mobile County Circuit Court judge by then-Gov. Bob Riley in 2006 and ran three times – 2006, 2010 and 2016 – unopposed. Professional experience: In private practice for 14 years before becoming a judge....
Congressional D6 Candidates Voice Views on Palmer’s Incumbency, Other Issues
The first bone of contention in the U.S. House race for District 6 came with accusations that the incumbent broke his promise by seeking a sixth term. Jefferson County residents Gerrick Wilkins and Kenneth McFeeters claim U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer reneged on his campaign promise to step down after five terms in the House. Both promised to seek legislation to limit what they call life-long jobs for federal politicians.
Meet the Republican Congressional District 6 Candidates
Three men are vying for the Republican nomination to represent Alabama’s 6th Congressional District – incumbent Rep. Gary Palmer and challengers Kenneth McFeeters and Gerrick Wilkins. Here’s a bit about them. Kenneth McFeeters. Kenneth McFeeters, 63, who is also known as “Abe” McFeeters was born in Montreal,...
Candidates on the Jefferson County Democratic Primary Ballot
These candidates will be shown on the ballots given to Jefferson County residents who vote in the Democratic primary March 5. There are no Democrats in contested statewide races. Follow the links for profile information. President of the United States. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Dean Phillips. Uncommitted. U.S. Representative, 7th...
Ron Marshall
Jefferson County Assistant Tax Collector – Bessemer Division. Political experience: Serving in his fourth term on the Bessemer City Council. Professional experience: Self-employed in the broadcast industry after spending more than 30 years in managerial positions in the banking and telecommunications industries. Civic experience: Member, Bessemer Area Chamber of...
Ves Marable
Jefferson County Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer. Occupation: Former councilman, city of Fairfield, president and CEO, VeLMar Productions, 2000-present; confidential senior judicial adviser, state of Alabama Unified Judicial System, 1990-present. Education: Birmingham School of law, law degree, 1997; Alabama State University, bachelor’s in psychology, sociology and music. More information: Facebook.
Everett Wess
Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for probate judge, 2018, circuit court judge, 2014 and 2016. Affiliated with Alabama New South Coalition, Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee, Jefferson County Citizens Coalition, Jefferson County Democratic Conference and Jefferson County Progressive Democratic Council. Professional experience: Managing partner, The Wess Law Firm, P.C., 2000–present; municipal...
Joi L. Travis
Residence: Jefferson County. Political experience: Has been active on numerous campaigns in Alabama and Ohio. Professional experience: In private practice as Travis Law LLC; active with the Alabama Bar Association, the Birmingham Bar Association, the Magic City Bar Association and the Alabama Lawyers Association. Has worked with Alabama State University, the Ohio Democratic Party, the Ohio Secretary of State and the Ohio Senate. Interned at the Alabama Association for Justice.
Yawanna Nabors McDonald
Professional experience: Partner with Campbell Partners. Has represented clients and litigated on legal matters including trusts, estates, probate, wills, deeds, and corporate and business litigation. Has been honored as a National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40; Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star, 2019- present; B-Metro Top Women Attorney, since 2018; a 2019 B-Metro Star of the Bar and distinguished attorney, 2018. Birmingham Bar Leadership Forum, 2016, member, the 17th Alabama State Bar Leadership Class.
Lee Wendell Loder
Political experience: Current judge, Birmingham Municipal Court; past president and member, Birmingham City Council, 2000-2004. Professional experience: In private practice for 28 years, dealing with probate, estate planning, wills and trust law, including significant cases involving consumer and civil rights involving tax law. Ambassador for the American Council of Young Political Leaders on delegation to Tanzania/Zanzibar; hosted a Birmingham delegation of policy and business leaders from South Africa on behalf of ACYPL.
Yashiba (Red) Blanchard
Political experience: Member Alabama Democratic Women. Professional experience: In practice at her law firm, Glenn Blanchard and Associates, P.C., for nine years, specializing in veteran’s disability law, probate law, domestic relations and plaintiff’s litigation. Active with the Alabama State Bar, American Bar Association and Birmingham Bar Association. Has served as a special circuit court judge and special district court judge in Jefferson County. Previously worked for Jefferson County Commission, county Personnel Board and as a college professor.
Sarah E. “Sarah Beth” Conkle
Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for circuit clerk, 2018; member, Birmingham Young Democrats. Professional experience: Paralegal and trial coordinator with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Birmingham division, 2010-present; support staff/trial coordinator with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office; May 2004-2009; summer internships with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, 1997-2003.
Jackie Anderson-Smith
Political experience: Elected circuit clerk, 2018; served six terms on the Jefferson County Board of Education. Member, Jefferson County Democrats, Downtown Democrats and Jefferson County Citizens Coalition. Professional experience: Circuit clerk; chairman of the board of directors of Alamerica BancCorp, which owns Alamerica Bank, and chairman of the board of...
Hope Marshall
Jefferson County District Judge, Place 11 – Bessemer, Criminal Division. Professional experience: Practices with White Arnold & Dowd P.C., since 2007, focusing on criminal defense, white collar criminal defense and general civil litigation. Commissioner, Alabama Securities Commission. Member, Magic City Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association, Alabama Lawyers Association, Alabama State Bar, American Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer; on the Indigent Defense Advisory Board for the Birmingham Division of the 10th Judicial Circuit, 2023-2024; member, Birmingham Bar Foundation board of directors, 2023.
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