By Barnett Wright
The Birmingham Times
The only Jefferson County race on the ballot in next Tuesday’s, July 14 runoff election will be for Treasurer where Democrats Eyrika Parker, a banker, and Roderick “Rod” Scott, state lawmaker, are vying for the office.
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In the March 5 Democratic primary, Parker received 35,991 votes or 41.60 percent and Scott 25,660 or 29.66 percent, not the 50.1 percent needed to win outright, but enough to oust incumbent Jefferson County Treasurer Mike Miles, who finished third. The March 31 runoff was delayed over COVID-19 concerns.
Statewide, the most closely watched race is the battle between Republicans Tommy Tuberville and Jeff Sessions for the U.S. Senate to see who will face incumbent Democrat Doug Jones in the November general election.
Personal safety and public health is obviously a concern for many this year. Jefferson County is taking that seriously and preparing measures well in advance.
Barry Stephenson, Jefferson County Board of Registrars, Chairman, told bhamnow.com, “We will have personal protection equipment for the poll workers. They’ll have facemasks, gloves, disinfectant and isopropyl alcohol wipes. There will be hand sanitizer and signage about social distancing…”
Here are the bios for the two candidates in the Jefferson County treasurer’s race
EYRIKA PARKER
Parker is a lifelong Birmingham resident. She attended John Carroll Catholic High School where she graduated in 1992 and the University of South Alabama, finishing in 1998. She also attended Southern University Law Center, class of 2002. Parker has worked in the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk’s office, South Trust Bank, pharmaceutical litigation, executive producer of radio and television shows and co-host of Alabama’s oldest morning talk radio show. Parker was on the Jefferson County Mural Committee, Hopewell Revitalization Project, has prepared meals for local football and basketball teams, sponsored and committed to local breast cancer awareness events, sponsored local events for Sickle Cell Awareness Month, fed more than 100 families on a monthly basis through efforts to combat homelessness and hunger and obtained abandoned properties to put to good use for nonprofit organizations.
ROD SCOTT
Rod Scott, a resident of Fairfield, is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, representing District 55. Scott assumed office in 2006. He received his M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and his B.A. in economics from Yale University. His professional experience includes serving as a professor at Miles College. In the Legislature, he’s been ranking minority member, education policy committee; ranking minority member, fiscal responsibility committee; vice chair, Jefferson County Legislation Committee; member, Technology and Research Committee; ranking minority member, Ways and Means Education Committee.
On Election Day, be sure to arrive with a valid form of identification. Options include the following valid documents:
- Alabama driver’s license or non-driver ID card
- Alabama photo voter ID card
- State-issued ID (from Alabama or another state)
- Federal-issued ID
- S. passport
- Employee ID from the Federal Government, State of Alabama, County, Municipality, Board or other Alabama entity
- Student or employee ID card issued by a college or university in the state, provided it includes a photo
- S. military ID card containing a photo
- Tribal ID card containing a photo
At any polling location and in any election, if you run into trouble, you can call the non-partisan Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). You can also follow Jefferson County of Facebook and Twitter to keep up with any important updates.
