Alabama Democratic Party to hold another hearing Friday about Perry County Commission District 1 seat

The Alabama Democratic Party has set a contest hearing for Friday to again discuss the Perry County Commission District 1 primary election results.

The party will meet at 10 a.m. in Montgomery for a hearing about the close race that ended with challenger Donald Bennett being named the winner of the District 1 seat over longtime incumbent Albert Turner Jr. by one vote.

Bennett was named winner by Perry County Democratic Chairman Carlton Hogue in late July when he cast a tie-breaking vote. Turner appealed that decision to the party. 

In a statement, Turner argued there were voting irregularities with several ballots that would have named him the winner and not needed a tie breaking vote. He also claims Hogue’s four-year term as chairman of the local party expired in May. 

Bennett said in a statement that he was given less than 48 hours’ notice of the hearing and that bylaws require five days.

The state Democratic Party held a hearing about the close race in June and determined Turner did not file the notice to contest the primary election results within the required 24-hour time period under state law after the provisional ballots were counted on May 26. However, the state Democratic committee ordered a recount that was held on July 9 and that made the results even tighter at 398 to 398.

In July, Hogue cast a tie-breaking vote and gave that vote to challenger Bennett.