Incumbents dominate in tuesday primary

Alabamas republican leaders in the state capitol were winners in Tuesdays primary elections with governor Robert Bentley winning the republican nomination for re election in a landslide.  State senate pro tem Del Marsh defeated  defeated tea party challenger Steven Guede in the republican primary and will face democrat Taylor Stewart in November.  In other races, Senator Gerald Dial narrowly defeated Tim Sprayberry to win the republican nod and will face democrat Darrell Turner in November. In house district 35, Rep. Steve Hurst won the Republican primary defeating challenger Steve Dean and lacking Democratic opposition, is poised to retake his seat outright in November for a fifth term in office. Calhoun county will have a new family court judge.  Anniston attorney Peggy Miller-Lacher   unseated incumbent Circuit Judge Brenda Stedham for the 7th Circuit, Place 4 judge’s seat.  No Democratic or independent candidate qualified to run, meaning Miller-Lacher is expected to win the November general election.   Stedham, has held the position since 2009, after she was appointed the Republican nominee for the judgeship by state party leaders in 2008. The Sheriffs in both Calhoun and Etowah Counties were both winners Tuesday.  Sheriff Larry Amerson will face democrat Thomas Long in November. A new commissioner was elected for district 5 Tuesday.  Lee Patterson won his bid for the seat Tuesday capturing nearly 52 percent of the vote.  A runoff may be needed in the district one commission race.  Incumbent Fred Wilson and James “Donald” Montgomery Sr. may need provisional ballots counted to know whether they’ll meet in a runoff July 15.  Wilson ended the night with the most votes, ahead of Montgomery and Eric Stringer, but just shy of the required 50 percent to win outright. Provisional ballots will be counted next week.

In one of the only local democratic races Tuesday, former Anniston city prosecutor Ted Copeland   beat opponent Lindsay Ford for the democratic nomination in the district 40 house seat. Copland will run against Republican incumbent K.L. Brown in the general election. In district 35, incumbent Mack Butler defeated Ashville mayor Robert McKay in the Republican Primary.  Rep. Jim McClendon, of Springville, will be  leaving the House for the Senate after defeating Sen. Jerry Fielding, R-Sylacauga, in the District 11 Senate Republican primary race Tuesday..