Tears and Laughter: Other reasons Wilcox is ranked the worst County in Alabama 

Call me crazy, but every election year I still manage to get a little hopeful. Friday was the last day for candidates to qualify. I haven’t seen a full list yet of everybody who filed the proper paperwork, but there are several races Wilcox County residents should follow. 

Wilcox is in Alabama Senate District 23 which has been represented by Senator Hank Sanders for the last 35 years. He has announced that he will not be seeking a tenth term in office. 

Evidently what happened was he wanted to spend some quality time with his lovely wife, Rose, on their 48th wedding anniversary. I think we can all agree 48 years is a long time in terms of marriage, and he took off 24 hours to celebrate. 

I do not know where they had dinner or if maybe they visited Atmore, I have no details. All we can know is what has been reported. He spent 24 hours with Mrs. Sanders and decided he did not want to go through that kind of hassle to score 24 hours with her again. He chose not to seek reelection then and there. 

Sander’s is 75 years old. He has been representing a huge portion of the Black Belt region – including the city of Selma – for almost half of his life…and look at it. It is still near first at everything last.  

Sometimes change can be a positive thing. It is also worth noting here that not all skills are hereditary. 

Another long time politician will take a final bow this year, Wilcox County Probate Judge Jerry Boggan has announced that he will not seek reelection. He too has served in public office for over three decades. 

Names will emerge this week of those who are running for his seat as well as other offices. I hope whoever is running, specifically, those who win, love to rock the boat. I hope they like to swim. I want them to uncover all the hidden wrongs, mistakes, and inaccuracies and make them public. It is nobody’s private life. It is the county’s government. It is the people’s concern. It’s not a collective secret that leadership agrees to keep upon entering. Well, it is now, because there are too many relatives and “kinfolks” serving in office and working in the courthouse – together. Kinship often seems to trump what may be in the best interest of the county.  

I hope the candidates who become elected this year have the strength of character within themselves to look at this failing county and be honest about what is going on within local leadership that keeps Wilcox a county with too much corruption, too many unsolved crimes, and too many county employees who either do not do their jobs or are not capable of accurately doing the jobs they were hired to do.  

Lamison still doesn’t have county water. It has been almost two years since the chairman of the commission, John Moton, Jr., speaking for the majority of commissioners, cried on the radio and went on TV assuring, “All we need are the votes for a water board,” – which they got. 

Not to mention the county is still broke, still struggles to figure out what money to take from where to make payroll, and is still in debt. 

Here’s to the election year. It is going to be fun.

Amanda Walker is a blogger and contributor with AL.com, The Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, and Wilcox Progressive Era. Contact her at walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist