Commission seat to be decided

Published 10:20 pm Monday, April 11, 2016

Dallas County residents will decide today who will be the next county commissioner in District 1.

Two candidates, Valerie Reubin and incumbent Connel Towns Sr., will meet in a run-off.

Towns earned 47.3 percent of the votes in the March 1 primary but not enough to avoid a runoff in a three candidate field. He has been active in campaigning over the past six weeks.

Email newsletter signup

“I’ve encouraged people to get back out and vote Tuesday and told them about the things I am trying to do to improve the community,” Towns said. “I want to hold one of the biggest town hall meetings to bring the community, especially the men of our streets out, and talk to them and show love to them.”

Reubin earned 33.9 percent of the vote to qualify for the runoff. Jelanie Coleman finished third with 18.8 percent of the vote.

Reubin said she is working to win over as many supporters as possible ahead of the runoff.

“I went door to door in the areas that I didn’t get the last time as well as in some of the areas that I did get support from during the primary race,” Reubin said.

She said although rain is predicted for Tuesday, she is still confident people will go out and vote.

“A lot of people have said it’s time for a change,” Reubin said.

Towns has served on the commission for four terms. If Reubin wins, it will be her first time holding public office.

The runoff is the only race on the ballot in Dallas County.Voters who reside in District 1 will be able to vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Those who need to know where they are to vote can get information from the Selma/Dallas County Registrar’s Office at the Dallas County Courthouse located at 105 Lauderdale St. in Selma. The registrar’s phone number is 874-2534. Information is also available at sos.alabama.gov.