Little wins runoff for revenue commissioner (updated)

Published 9:04 pm Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Tim Little defeated Rex Cleckler on Tuesday in a Republican runoff for revenue commissioner, gaining 2,628 votes (52.3 percent) to Cleckler’s 2,401 (47.7 percent).

The outcome of the election won’t be official until provisional ballots are counted, though it’s unlikely there will be enough to change the result.

Little could become the county’s first revenue commissioner, a position that resulted in the combination of the tax collector and tax assessor offices, but first will face Doug Ward on the General Election ballot in November.

Little currently serves as tax collector, and Cleckler is the tax assessor.

In the wake of the election, Little thanked his family, friends and other who have made “sacrifices” to help with his campaign.

“And thanks to the voters of Chilton County,” Little said. “There was a lot that went into this. I just want to thank everybody involved.”

During the Republican Primary Election in June, Little was also the top vote-getter with 4,425 (47 percent), outdrawing Cleckler’s 3,600 (38 percent) and Joe Headley’s 1,242 (13 percent).

Since no one candidate earned more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff was necessary.

A total of 5,066 ballots were cast Tuesday, out of 27,871 registered voters in Chilton County.

Below is a list of how Chilton County residents voted in other measures on Tuesday’s ballot:

U.S. Representative, 6th Congressional District

•Paul DeMarco: 1,835 votes (37.3 percent)

•Gary Palmer: 3,091 (62.8)

State Senator, District 30

•Clyde Chambliss Jr.: 871 (70.5)

•Harris Garner: 364 (29.5)

Secretary of State

•Reese McKinney: 2,071 (46.1)

•John Merrill: 2,420 (53.9)

State auditor

•Dale Peterson: 1,576 (35.3)

•Jim Zeigler: 2,893 (64.7)

Public Service Commission, Place 2

•Chris “Chip” Beeker Jr.: 2,898 (65.5)

•Terry Dunn: 1,528 (34.5)

Statewide Amendment No. 1

•Yes: 2,874 (71.9)

•No: 1,122 (28.1)