Montgomery – The Alabama Democratic Party’s Contest Committee met on Friday morning in the state capital and formally certified the Democratic nominees for two contested county commission primary races in Perry and Wilcox counties.
Perry County race resolved after recount
Long‑time Perry County Commissioner Albert Turner, Jr. was initially declared the loser to businessman Donald Bennett by a single vote in the Democratic primary. A state‑ordered recount produced a tie, prompting the party’s contest committee to review the results. Turner presented a copy of a primary ballot that had not been counted, and the committee concluded that the original tally had missed that vote.
“When the state ordered the recount, it was proven that they had miscounted the votes,” Turner said at the hearing. “If they counted the votes that they had, we would win, and that’s what showed today.” The committee’s decision gave Turner a one‑vote margin and certified him as the Democratic nominee for the Perry County commission seat.
Wilcox County nominee upheld amid vote‑buying allegations
In Wilcox County, the committee also voted to certify incumbent Commissioner Jeff Saulsberry as the Democratic nominee. Saulsberry had won the primary, but local party officials had previously decertified his victory and instead certified his opponent, Charlene McConnico, citing allegations of illegal vote buying.
Saulsberry denied any wrongdoing, stating, “People accuse me of that, but no I didn’t do that. There was no illegal vote, there was no wrongdoing on my part.” He added, “It’s a shame that we had to come to Montgomery to get justice, but I’m here and I got justice and I want to say thank God.” The committee’s ruling is effective immediately.
Implications for local elections
Both decisions resolve uncertainty ahead of the November general election, ensuring that the Democratic tickets for the Perry and Wilcox county commission seats are set. While the races are partisan in nature, the outcomes are primarily procedural, focusing on the accurate counting of votes and the party’s authority to address allegations of misconduct.
The certifications underscore the importance of thorough vote‑counting processes and the role of party committees in safeguarding election integrity at the local level. Voters in Perry and Wilcox counties will now have a clear understanding of the Democratic candidates they can expect on the ballot later this year.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
