South Alabamian

Republican challenges: Wilkins gets state’s OK, Dronet still unresolved




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A hearing challenging a Clarke County Commission candidate’s right to run as a Republican has been tabled.

Clarke County Commissioner Bill Taylor had challenged Brad Dronet’s right to run for the District 3 seat as a Republican because he ran for the post as a Democrat four years ago.

Taylor, a retired Jackson postmaster, holds the seat and defeated Dronet, a Jackson restauranteur, in 2018. Taylor is seeking re-election. Also running is Barry Chancey who served on the county school board several years ago. All three are Republicans.

The Clarke County Republican Executive Committee heard the initial hearing on the challenge Feb. 15 and ruled that Dronet could run. Taylor appealed the decision to the state committee which was to hear it this past weekend during the GOP winter meeting in Birmingham.

However, the hearing was not held. Taylor was at the meeting and prepared to defend his challange. He said he was told that Dronet was out of the country.

A decision will have to be made soon. Candidates must be certified to local probate judges by Friday, March 9 in order for ballots to be printed for the May 24 primaries.

State committee rules for Wilkins

A hearing committee of the Alabama Republican Party has allowed Jamie Wilkins of Jackson to remain on the ballot for the Clarke County seat on the Republican State Executive Committee.

This is an elected party position and Wilkins was the only candidate to qualify, assuring his election.

However, Pierce Boyd, a Sumter County resident and a party official, challenged Wilkins, citing several objections, including the fact that Wilkins had supported then-State Sen. Marc Keahey, a Democrat, 13 years ago.

Wilkins was not at the hearing, held in Birmingham Saturday during the winter meeting of the state party. He was represented at the hearing by attorney Chess Bedsole.

Wilkins, a longtime Republican advocate, thanked everyone who supported his fight to the challenge, including elected Clarke County Republican officeholders.

“I am grateful for your calls and emails in this effort. Special thanks to my attorney Chess Bedsole of Birmingham for his tireless work on my behalf.

“I pledge to represent all of Clarke County honestly and to the best of my ability.”

Beech gets official word

Former State Rep. Elaine Beech, who served three terms as a Democrat representing District 65 before being defeated by Republican Brett Easterbrook in 2018 had qualified to run for the seat as a Republican this year. However, she was challenged by former State GOP Chairperson Terry Latham and three county chairmen in the district — Dub Ezell in Choctaw, Ivey Griffin in Clarke and Willie Long in Washington.

When Beech saw the long list of challenges she opted not to run. She said she knew the deck was stacked against her.

She said she received official notification Saturday that her name has been removed as a Republican candidate.

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