Campaign 2006 gets under way

Published 9:10 pm Monday, January 2, 2006

The countdown to the June 6 primary election is picking up speed with the changing of the calendar and Republicans are the first out of the gate as party candidates can officially qualify beginning today.

Democratic Party candidates will have to wait until March 4 to formally qualify for their party’s June 6 primary.

Local party officials say they anticipate a busy six months of politicking and a full slate of candidates when voters go to the polls in June to select their candidates for November’s general election.

Candidates for political office in 2006 have been involved in campaign fundraising since last June. All state candidates must stop fund raising during legislative sessions unless the session is within 120 days of an election.

Other key dates candidates need to circle on their 2006 calendars are the following:

‰ April 8 – Last day a candidate may qualify with a political party to run for office.

‰ April 24 – 45-day financial report due.

‰ May 29-June 1 – 10/5-day financial report due.

‰ June 6 – Primary Election.

‰ June 19-22 – 10/5-day financial report due.

‰ June 27 – Primary Run-off Election.

‰ Sept. 25 – 45-day financial report due.

‰ Oct. 4 – Last day unsuccessful candidates in the June 6 Primary can accept contributions to retire a campaign debt.

‰ Oct. 25 – Last day unsuccessful candidates in the June 27 Primary Run-off can accept contributions to retire a campaign debt.

‰ Oct. 30-Nov. 2 – 10/5-day financial report due.

‰ Nov. 7 – General Election.

As was the case in 2002, Cullman County voters can expect to see a lengthy ballot on June 6.

At the state level, voters will select a governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. representative, attorney general, state senators and representatives, Supreme Court justice, four Supreme Court associate justices, three court of civil appeals judges, three court of criminal appeals judges, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, commissioner of agriculture, public service commissioners, state board of education representatives and various circuit court judges.

At the local level, Cullman countians will elect a sheriff, circuit court clerk, probate judge, coroner, superintendent of education, two associate county commissioners, both circuit court judges, four school board representatives (Fairview, Good Hope, Hanceville and Vinemont), a state senator and three state representatives.

The chairmen of the Cullman County Republican and Democratic parties say they anticipate a full slate of good, strong candidates by the time the June primary arrives.

They also agree on one other thing — the 2006 campaign season should be an interesting one.

“We will have a slate of what I consider to be excellent candidates who will do an outstanding job once they are elected to office,” said Bill Floyd, chairman of the Cullman County Republican Party. “Several people have already announced their intentions to seek public office and one of my top priorities is to see to it that we have at least one candidate in each local race.”

To qualify for the Republican primary, local candidates must file qualifying papers with Floyd, as the county chairman, either at his office, Bill Floyd Insurance, 409 Sixth Street, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Republican Party Headquarters at 100 Second Avenue Northwest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Jan. 9.

“Judicial candidates must file their qualifying papers through the state party and that paperwork must also be filed with the probate judge’s office here along with the qualifying papers for our local candidates,” Floyd said. “Included in the paperwork is a listing of the candidate’s election campaign committee along with any qualifying contributions.”

Dean McMinn, chairman of the Cullman County Democratic Party, said he feels equally confident that 2006 will belong to the Democrats.

“There seems to be a lot of interest both in local and state races already. I think there will be a lot of good Democratic candidates on the ballot. I’m anticipating it being a good year politically and a good year for Democrats,” McMinn said.

Asked if he anticipates a strong challenge from Republican candidates anxious to rest away control of local positions traditionally held by Democrats such as sheriff, probate judge, circuit court clerk, superintendent of education, coroner and circuit court judges, McMinn said he welcomes the competition.

“I’m glad to see races develop. I think it makes us as voters more aware of the issues and the office holders seem to do a better job when they have opposition,” McMinn said. “Voters here tend to vote for individual candidates and I’m confident when the voters make those comparisons in 2006 they will choose the Democratic incumbents and candidates.”

The Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) defines a candidate as a person who has:

1. Qualified to be listed on an election ballot by filing qualification forms with a political party or by submitting a petition to run as an independent or third-party candidate; or

2. Received contributions or made expenditures for an election campaign equal to the following thresholds:

‰ $25,000 or more for statewide office

‰ $5,000 or more for circuit or district office

‰ $10,000 or more for State Senate

‰ $5,000 or more for State House of Representatives

‰ $1,000 or more for municipal or county office