Bates takes third term as Sheriff; change in District 3 commission race
LINDEN, Alabama – Richard “Ben” Bates has four more years on the job after being elected Tuesday night to his third term as Marengo County Sheriff.
“I thank God each and every day for his blessings and the people of Marengo County for keeping me employed for another four years,” Bates said.
With the race against challengers Clint Sumlin and James “Rick” Jones being decided yet again in the Democratic Primary, Bates took more than 56 percent of a low turnout to keep his office. Bates garnered 3,036 votes (56.89 percent) while Sumlin took 1,677 ballots (31.42 percent). Jones tallied 624 votes (11.69 percent).
“I guess I’m just an old country fella. No big thing. Just country, going out and talking to folks and just being a regular Marengo County person,” Bates said of what has proven beneficial for him in functioning as sheriff as well as campaigning for the office on three occasions. “Just going out and meeting people. I’ve got a wife, she’s a preacher and she prays for me every day. God knows I need it. Sometimes I get hard headed. I stay prayed up and everything.”
Bates celebrated with friends and campaigners in the wake of the results, excitedly highlighting the fact that there would be no runoff this go-round. In 2014, Bates found himself bested on Primary night as challenger Phillip Myers had 2,735 votes as compared to the 2,713 of Bates amid a four-man race. Bates went on to win the runoff in July 2014 by pulling in more than 3,700 votes.
One local election will head to a runoff following Tuesday’s balloting. The four-man race for County Commission District 5 has left a pair standing. Incumbent Michael Thompson pulled 412 votes (33.74 percent) while Thomas Rodgers snagged 326 votes (26.7 percent). Mark Davis finished with 283 votes (23.18 percent) while Pettis Lockett had 200 votes (16.38 percent).
There will be a change in District 3 as that County Commission seat made for a hotly-contested race. Challenger Terry Hinton Sr. prevailed with 643 votes (52.58 percent) while incumbent John Crawford Jr. had 580 votes (47.42 percent). Those results come four years after Crawford outpaced Hinton 800-612 in the same race.
“The people of District 3 bought what I was saying. I went to them honest and sincere with the confidence to lean and depend on me to do what I said I was going to do for them,” Hinton said. “Right now I’m planning on getting in there and see how everything is operated, get out and meet the rest of my people in District 3 and let them know I’ll be there for them and will do what I can to help them.”
In notable statewide elections, Marengo County voters favored Walt Maddox in the Democratic gubernatorial ballot. Maddox had 2,847 votes (66.33 percent). The next closest candidate was Sue Bell Cobb with 833 votes (19.41 percent). Kay Ivey was the leading Republican vote getter with 575 ballots (74.77 percent). No other candidate reached triple digits.
In all, 6,140 Marengo County voters turned out Tuesday. Among those, 5,368 voted Democrat (87.43 percent) while 772 (12.57 percent) cast a Republican ballot.