Cullman County Republican Party President Waid Harbison is seen at the Cullman County Courthouse.

In an effort to ramp up its involvement in contested primary elections as the GOP’s hold on local politics matures, the Cullman County Republican Party will begin hosting a series of town hall meetings next month, highlighting party candidates vying for advancement beyond the June 5 primary election.

Candidates for both local and state offices will be on hand to speak, as well as answer questions from the public, at the series, which kicks off Thursday, April 12. Any GOP candidate running for office is invited to attend. The town hall meetings are free to the public.

Local GOP Chair Waid Harbison said the meetings are part of the local party’s growing emphasis on vetting candidates where much of the real voter action happens in this Republican-dominated county: the party primaries.

“For years, the Republican Party was fighting just to get candidates elected to office in the general elections, and the focus was more on defeating Democrats,” said Harbison. “Now, we’re trying to get more involved in the primary elections and to do more voter education to showcase the differences between Republican candidates.”

Cullman’s Republican Party structure has become more robust in recent years, with the local party often making high-profile candidates and elected officials based in Montgomery available to the public. It’s a function of the local GOP’s continued push to be among the state’s most active, Harbison explained.

“We’re definitely trying to get more active as a party, and it is our goal to be the best Republican Party in the state,” he said. “We’ve recently gotten a college Republican group started at Wallace State, and this past year, also a teenage Republican group. Voter education, recruiting candidates, and getting local people more involved is all part of the activity you’ve been seeing, and will continue to see, from the Cullman County Republican Party.”

The party is hoping to organize and host a local debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates, including incumbent Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, sometime in late May, Harbison added. That event will be announced if and when all candidates have confirmed their participation.

As for the town hall meetings, one event is being scheduled for each state House district represented by Cullman County: House District 12 at Good Hope, House District 11 at Fairview, and House District 9 at West Point.

The April 12 meeting will be held at the Good Hope Town Hall, followed by a second meeting on Thursday, April 26 at the Fairview Town Hall. The final event will be held Thursday, May 10 at the West Point Town Hall. All meetings will begin at 6 p.m., and will provide free snacks and beverages to guests.

Offices with party opposition in the 2018 primary include Associate Cullman County Commissioner Place 2, Cullman County Circuit Judge Place 2, Cullman County Probate Judge, Fairview School Board, Good Hope School Board, Alabama House District 9, Alabama House District 12, and Alabama Senate District 4.

Offices without opposition this June include Cullman County Sheriff, Cullman County Circuit Clerk, Cullman County District Judge, Cullman County Circuit Judge Place 1, Cullman County Associate Commissioner Place 2, Cullman County Coroner, Vinemont School Board, Hanceville School Board, & Alabama House District 11.

For more information on the town hall events, contact local GOP Chair Waid Harbison at 256-708-1650.