Owens optimistic about GOP's chances on Nov. 4

By Scott Wright

CENTRE — The Nov. 4 general election is fast-approaching, and one local Republican Party official is excited about the prospects for her party's candidates in Cherokee County and across Alabama.

“There is a new element to elections in this county that wasn't here just a few years ago,” said GOP Chairwoman Lori Owens. “Voters are more aware in this county and they know there will be competitive races at the local level.”

Owens said she expects that with the popularity of the Republican Party's presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, there will be a “coattail” effect in Cherokee County in next Tuesday's election that will help local and state GOP candidates.

“Sen. McCain has quite a following in Alabama and his selection of Gov. Sarah Palin helped ignite the party base,” she said. “I think we had this interesting dynamic of people who were supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton who were upset that she did not get the Democratic nomination for president.”

Owens, a professor at Jacksonville State University, said McCain's policies have resonated with some of her political science students.

“I've had students tell me they will be voting for McCain because they simply cannot vote for Barack Obama,” she said. “They said they feel John McCain will be prepared on day one to become president, and they trust him more on issues like national security and the economy.”

Owens said many issues McCain feels strongly about are important to local voters.

“People in Alabama tend to be concerned about United States Supreme Court appointments and other special issues,” she explained. “And most people here feel better about the kind of people Sen. McCain would select to fill any vacancies.”

Owens got some insight into the popularity of her party's candidates last week during a statewide bus tour involving several candidates for statewide offices. On Wednesday, the “Hometown Connection” bus, carrying Court of Criminal Appeals candidates Mary Windom and Beth Kellum, and Public Service Commission president candidate Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, made a stop in Centre.

“The bus tour is an effective way for statewide candidates to get exposure,” Owens said. “Candidates for Supreme Court typically get more political donations because those races are always more expensive, so the bus tour gives candidates for more unfamiliar offices a way to get out, raise money and meet with the voters.”

Owens likened the bus tour to the train tours candidates took in the late 1800s through the 1940s, and said they are very effective for getting attention and spreading word about a candidate's positions on the issues.

“The bus tour really gives voters a chance to interact with the candidates they support without having to take a trip to Birmingham or Montgomery to do it,” Owens said. “I noticed the candidates on the bus tout taking time to talk with voters one-on-one and answer their questions.”

Owens said she was very pleased with the turnout for the Centre stop.

“People who attend those type of events are what are often called the 'party faithful,'” she said. “They always turn out for local events, although I did see several new faces at the courthouse on Wednesday.”

Owens said the popularity of the McCain-Palin ticket will certainly be a boost to two local GOP candidates on the ballot next Tuesday.

“When you run as a local candidate with the presidential race also on the ballot, there will typically be lots of energy and turnout will be high,” she said. “The key factor is motivating your supporters to turn out to vote because local candidates are at the bottom of the ballot and you have to do your job well, and remind them to find you on the ballot.”

Owens said she is hopeful Cherokee County Commission candidate Kevin Ford and Superintendent hopeful Mitchell Guice will do well on Election Day.

“This will be the third consecutive election in which we have had competitive local races,” she said. “You can tell there is a lot of support for our candidates just by the number of signs you see in yards across the county.”