UPDATED: Bates wins second term as Marengo County Sheriff

Attributing his victory to “God Almighty and a lot of wonderful people in Marengo County,” Sheriff Richard (Ben) Bates won re-election by a 3,713-3,091 margin over Phillip Myers Tuesday.

Marengo County Sheriff Richard (Ben) Bates with family and friends following his re-election Tuesday.
Marengo County Sheriff Richard (Ben) Bates with family and friends following his re-election Tuesday.

“We will take the money the county commission gives us and the equipment we have and provide the very best law enforcement we can for Marengo County,” Bates said.

The sheriff said he believes voters in Marengo County entrusted a second term to him because “we do not discriminate when it comes to enforcing the law. If you break the law, we are going to arrest you regardless of your standing in life,” he said.

Myers, who narrowly led Bates in the four-man primary in June, said he was encouraged by what appeared to be a high turnout, but said “Mr. Bates had more supporters come out and vote than I did. Those are the results and I accept them. Apparently God has got something better for me in store.”

In other local races Tuesday, Chester Moore unseated incumbent Arthur J. Hopson for the Marengo County Board of Education, District 4 seat by a vote of 975-571, while Demopolis’ Thomas Moore carried his home county by a 682-181 margin over incumbent Ralph Howard in the Alabama House, District 72 race. Howard retained his seat, however, defeating Moore by an unofficial total of 4,305-3,754.

Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore

“I was especially pleased with the support I received in Marengo County,” Moore said. “Those who know me best supported me. The result obviously didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but we fought the good fight.”

Moore said he has reached out to Howard and congratulated him, and extended his support for “the work that continues in the district.”

Moore, a retired auditor with the State of Alabama who currently operates a consulting firm, said he is unsure about future political plans. “We’ll take some time and digest this campaign, and just see where it goes from there,” he said.