Six Republicans, one Democrat qualify for House District 16 race
Six Republicans and one Democrat have qualified to run in a special election for the vacant District 16 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.
The winner of the special election will fill the seat previously held by Kyle South. South resigned in the middle of his third term in the Alabama Legislature to become the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama on July 1.
Republicans Bryan Brinyark, a Northport attorney, and Brad Cox, a Fayette County commissioner, were the first two House District 16 candidates to announce their campaigns.
Joining the House District 16 race as qualifying ended on July 25 were Republicans Greg Fanin, Greg Lowery, Floyd "JR" Rodgers Jr., Mike Simpson and Democrat John H. Underwood.
The party primary for the seat is set for Sept. 26 and a runoff, if needed, would be held Oct. 24. The general election for the seat is set for Jan. 9.
The party primary for the seat is set for Sept. 26 and a runoff, if needed, would be held Oct. 24.
The deadline for independent candidates or minority party candidates to qualify for the race is 5 p.m. Sept. 26.
The general election for the seat is set for Jan. 9.
House District 16 includes portions of Fayette, Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties.
Here's a look at the four candidates who recently qualified or the House District 16 race:
Greg Fanin
Fanin is a resident of Fayette County and now serves the state Commissioner of Coal Mines, according to a news release. He is also a real estate appraiser and president of Gemini GEM Inc.
Fanin is a wounded combat veteran who started his 26-year military career at Fort Tom Bevill in Fayette and finished at Montgomery. He graduated Samford University in May 1994 on the GI Bill.
“I fought for you as a soldier. Now let me fight for us in Alabama House 16,” Fanin said in the news release. “I will fight for lower taxes, better roads and more state money for our local schools.”
Fanin was a delegate for Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican presidential campaign. He is the father of two daughters.
“If you believe, as I do, that too often our rural area of Alabama is overlooked by state government, please join me to make a change. I will only promise you that I will work for you, not the special interests in Montgomery who have way too much control and influence," Fanin said.
Greg Lowery
Lowery is a studio musician, songwriter, keyboardist and vocalist for Christian and country music acts. He studied at Bevill State Community College. Lowery is the founder of Greg Lowery Productions, LLC, and founding director of BAMA-Bio Tech Corp.
Floyd "JR" Rodgers Jr.
Rodgers is a native of Fayette and serves as associate pastor of Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church. He studied at Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Mike Simpson
Simpson is a native of Hueytown and a former Bessemer police officer. He ran for the House District 16 seat in 2018, but was defeated by South in the Republican primary.
Simpson has served as pastor of Smithville Baptist Church in Bessemer for 12 years.
John H. Underwood
Underwood is a retired police officer who served 27 years with the Fayette Police Department and is a longtime Fayette County commissioner.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Six Republicans, one Democrat plan to run for House District 16 seat
