Several Baldwin County races and candidates will head into the July 17 runoff election, including a state senate seat, commission seat, a statewide judicial race and the probate judge race.
With all votes except the provisional ballots counted, Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott and dentist David Northcutt will face each other on the July ballot.
Elliott got 8,923 votes (38.95 percent) to Northcutt’s 7,534 (32.88 percent), with Orange Beach Councilman Jeff Boyd receiving 4,839 votes (21.12 percent) and former Alabama House member Bill Roberts getting 1,615 votes (7.05 percent).
“I’m humbled and excited that in a four-way race of serious, legitimate contenders, we got almost 40 percent of the vote,” Elliott said. “I’m proud of my record on standing up for public schools, protecting our kids, demanding more money out of Montgomery and, most importantly, fighting for the infrastructure and quality of life that the people of Baldwin County deserve.”
Elliott said his campaign had always anticipated a runoff scenario.
“Our campaign has been focused on the July election from day one, since we’ve always known we would be in a runoff,” Elliott said. “But we didn’t expect this large of a vote. We’re thankful to everyone who voted and with the support of the people who want to see Baldwin County move forward, we will win in July.”
Northcutt said he felt great about making it into the runoff and said he was ready to hit the reset button for the race.
“I feel very good about it, mainly because I’m hearing about the support and enthusiasm from the community,” Northcutt said. “Anytime you have four candidates, the odds of a runoff are very high so we were expecting this. I was hoping to make the runoff and we did.”
In the Baldwin County Commission District 3 race, political newcomer Billie Jo Underwood came out on top, forcing a runoff with incumbent Commissioner Tucker Dorsey.
Underwood received 13,207 votes (48.4 percent) to Dorsey’s 10,534 votes (38.6 percent), with challenger Will McDaniel receiving 3,548 votes (13 percent).
Underwood said she was excited to have a large amount of support heading into the July runoff.
“I am grateful and honored for all the support I have received from the citizens of Baldwin County in last night’s election,” Underwood said. “I look forward to the next six weeks to share my vision for a better Baldwin County. I have run an open and honest grassroots campaign that has been citizen focused, and I will continue to work on their behalf.”
Dorsey said he was prepared for a runoff as a possible outcome, and said he would work over the next six weeks to show why he was the best candidate for the job.
“75 percent of the commission is now set,” Dorsey said. “Our campaign is going to continue to talk about the issues facing Baldwin County and our record - what we’ve done, what we’re doing and what we’re going to do to keep moving Baldwin County forward and why my leadership should continue. I love Baldwin County, and I want to continue being able to serve the citizens here.”
In the race to fill outgoing Probate Judge Tim Russell’s seat, lawyers Harry D’Olive Jr. and Alan Lipscomb will face one another.
D’Olive came out on top in the five man race with 8,853 votes (31.52 percent), Lipscomb received 6,765 votes (24.08 percent), attorney Lynn Perry received 4,581 votes (16.31 percent), private investigator Max Hansen got 4,435 votes (15.79 percent) and former law enforcement officer Matt McKenzie got 3,457 votes (12.31 percent).
Baldwin County Circuit Court Judge Michelle Thomason will be heading into a statewide runoff in her bid to win a seat on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
While Thomason won Baldwin County with 48.4 percent of the vote, she trails attorney Christy Edwards statewide. Edwards received 42.2 percent of the statewide vote to Thomason’s 33.5 percent.
Thomason said she’s ready to continue traveling the state to talk with voters.
“We’re ready to hit the ground running again,” Thomason said. “I feel I’m the best candidate to fill that spot on the Court of Civil Appeals, and have been endorsed by the judge who is vacating the seat. I’m looking forward to talking with voters across the state, but I’m incredibly thankful for all of the voters here in Baldwin County who came out to support me.”
