Jeffco Voters Elect County’s First African-American Sheriff and District Attorney
Longtime Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale lost his bid for re-election, defeated by Democrat Mark Pettway, who is the county’s first African American sheriff. Pettway is a detective in the sheriff’s office. He received 51 percent of the vote and Hale received 49 percent in the sheriff’s race, according to preliminary results.
Voters also elected Democrat Danny Carr as Jefferson County’s next district attorney, the first African American to hold the post in Jefferson County. Carr defeated Republican Mike Anderton, who was appointed interim district attorney last year by Gov. Kay Ivey. Unofficial results show Carr received 57 percent of the vote and Anderton with 43 percent.
Incumbent GOP Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight defeated Democrat J.T. Smallwood to hold onto his seat.
Only one incumbent Jefferson County Democrat lost to a Republican. Eddie Brown, a Republican, defeated Jefferson County school board member Martha Bouyer. Brown is a retired Jefferson County school administrator.
Democrats controlled judicial races in Jefferson County; however one race may not be over. Democrat Linda Hall defeated Republican Teresa Pulliam in the race for Circuit Court Place 14. A judge last week said Hall would be disqualified from taking office because she does not meet the residency requirement. A Jefferson County voter challenged Hall’s residency, saying she lived most of the year in Shelby County. It is unclear how the vacancy will be filled.
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