DAPHNE — The Eastern Shore Republican Women (ESRW) hosted a forum for the 10 qualified candidates running for the Baldwin County Commission.
Questions focused on qualifications, experience and values of the candidates, growth management, traffic, infrastructure, public safety and rural needs.
Republican candidates qualified are:
District 1 incumbent Jeb Ball and Richard Cox.
District 2 Angelo Fermo and Kyle Henderson
District 3 incumbent Billie Jo Underwood, Kevin Brock and Phillip Dembowski
District 4 Brett Gaar, Tracey Gambill and Tater Harris
Sheriff candidate and current commissioner Matt McKenzie spoke following the forum and addressed rumors that he only worked behind a desk during his time as an Alabama State Trooper.
"Trooper is more than just working at the driver's license office, which is what the rumors are that are going around that that's all I did," McKenzie said. "When you become an Alabama State Trooper, you have to work the road for a minimum of three years before you can do anything. So, you're going to hear rumors out there about that. About that, 'Matt didn't do anything but work in the driver's license.' Yes, I did work in driver's license, but I was a fraud investigator. I did all that with driver's license. So, I'm the only candidate that's got boots on the ground. The only candidate that's got boots on the ground. I'm going to repeat that because they say I don't have any experience. Well, I do."
McKenzie is running against incumbent Sheriff Anthony Lowery.
The primary election is on May 19.
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