Two Republicans plan to run for House District 16 seat
Two Republicans have announced their intention to run in a special election for the vacant District 16 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Bryan Brinyark, a Northport attorney, and Brad Cox, a Fayette County commissioner, say they will enter the campaign to 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.
The party primary for the District 16 seat is set for Sept. 26 and a runoff, if needed, for Oct. 24. The general election for the seat is set for Jan. 9.
Democratic and Republican candidates have a deadline of 5 p.m. July 25 to qualify for the special election. The deadline for independent candidates or minority party candidates is 5 p.m. Sept. 26.
District 16 includes portions of Fayette, Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties.
Here's a look at the first two candidates to enter the District 16 race:
Bryan Brinyark
Brinyark was born and raised in Tuscaloosa County and graduated from Central High School in Tuscaloosa in 1986, according to a news release. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1990 from the University of Alabama, where he went on to earn his law degree in 1993.
Brinyark has lived in the Samantha/Windham Springs area for 19 years, where he raised his family on a small farm.
“I am excited for the opportunity to represent the great people of West Alabama,” Brinyark said in the news release. “No one will work harder to earn every vote and fight for this district.”
Brinyark is a partner attorney with Brinyark & Frederick, P.C., in Northport.
Since 2005, he has served in Bibb County as the municipal judge for Centreville and previously served in the same capacity for Brent and Woodstock. He is now a substitute municipal judge in Tuscaloosa. He is a member of the Alabama Judicial Study Commission, the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association, and the Alabama Municipal Judges Association.
The Tuscaloosa County Commission appointed Brinyark as a board member for Indian Rivers Behavioral Health.
Brinyark said he is confident that he is the right person to fill the House District 16 seat following South's departure.
“Kyle did a wonderful job representing our area and he is leaving big shoes to fill,” Brinyark said. “But I know I am more than capable to fill those shoes and get this district what it deserves.”
Brad Cox
Cox works as a business development officer with Alabama One Credit Union, according to a news release. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University.
Previously, Cox taught agriculture at Fayette County Schools from 2012-13, and 2016-21. From 2013-16, he served a six-county area of west Alabama as a director for the Alabama Farmers Federation.
He was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to the Fayette County Commission in September, 2021. He was elected to a full term in 2022 with no opposition.
He is now the pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Fayette and previously served as a student pastor at Southside Baptist Church
“It’s been a great honor to serve the people of Fayette County,” Cox said in the news release. “I’m excited about this new opportunity to serve the people of Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Fayette counties in the Alabama Legislature. My campaign will focus on areas where I have personal experience, funding our public schools, making sure Alabama’s infrastructure is solid, and helping farmers and small business owners be successful.”
Cox said he is well-prepared to serve in the Alabama Legislature.
“My experience as a public school teacher, county commissioner, pastor and banker makes me uniquely qualified to serve the people of Fayette, Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties,” Cox said. “I’m a conservative Republican. I’ll carry those principles and my professional experiences to Montgomery.”
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Two Republicans enter race for House seat in part of Tuscaloosa County
