>> ELECTIONS
A change in the election cycle for Baldwin County’s commissioners appeared dead in the water earlier this year but now apparently has clear sailing following a unanimous vote last week.
Board members voted 5-0 at a called meeting last Thursday to request that local legislation be introduced in the General Assembly to initiate staggered terms for the Commission, whereby two district commissioners will be chosen in the year of the presidential election and the other three when the governor’s race is on the ballot.
Under the proposal adopted last week, commissioners in Districts 3, 4, and 5 will be elected for two years in the 2024 general election, while candidates in Districts 1 and 2 will run for four-year terms. Then, in 2026, the District 3, 4, and 5 candidates will run for four-year terms.
Chairperson Emily Davis represents District 1 and Kendrick Butts District 2, both with a majority Black voting age population. Sammy Hall, Henry Craig, and Johnny Westmoreland currently represent Districts 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
Davis and Butts opposed the proposed change In a March vote, prompting the local legislative delegation to caution board members that they likely would not introduce the legislation changing the election cycle for the county commissioners without a unanimous vote.
The key to the change for 2024 is how soon the legislation can be passed and signed into law. Qualifying for the parties’ primaries begins March 4, just eight weeks after the General Assembly convenes the second Monday in January.
State Representatives Ken Vance and Mack Jackson were present at the Thursday meeting and assured commissioners they would do everything possible to effectuate the change for the upcoming election cycle.
Vance said Sunday evening he believes it will happen.
“We will introduce local legislation to accomplish this very early in the session,” he stated.
State Senator Rick Williams, who could not attend Thursday’s meeting with the commissioners due to a conflict, agreed with Vance.
Butts said Sunday he had talked with commissioners from other counties concerning the pros and cons of the staggered elections.
“I think it would be best to serve the citizens of Baldwin County by having a partially experienced board,” he commented. “It would be devastating to have all five members on an uncertified Board.”
Butts indicated he would be announcing early in January his intentions for the upcoming election.
Davis stated she changed her position after doing research and talking with elected officials she considered veterans of the Civil Rights era.
“Ever since that meeting (in March), I’ve been talking with people like Senator David Lucas, his wife, Elaine Lucas, commissioner in Bibb County, and lots of other people I have respect for, that are very knowledgeable.
“They’ve gone through staggered terms,” Davis said. “They are saying ‘change your mind and go forward’, because it’s not a bad thing. They found out it’s not a bad thing. In fact,” she added, “sometimes it’s a saving grace because you always have someone there with experience.”
The chairperson knows her intentions next year.
“I will be qualifying in March,” she said with certainty. “I will be seeking reelection to help the people in my district and all of Baldwin County.”
Craig, in his third term, believes the change is needed.
“Good, experienced continuity is important,” he said. “Good government does not happen without experience and education. Even then it can be difficult.”
Craig said he had not made a firm decision yet as to whether he will seek reelection for the two-year term.
Hall has by far been on the Board of Commissioners the longest time, serving his district a total of 34 years over two different periods of representation. He has most recently been on the board since 2004.
He sees the staggered terms as a must.
“It is important now perhaps more than ever,” the commissioner said. “In the political world we are in now it is important to have some consistency in our government. With all the changes going on in society, we could easily have some individuals get elected that have no clue to how government works and create serious issues.”
Hall declined to discuss his intentions for 2024 at this time.