Harri Anne Smith Will Be On November Ballot

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jun 30 2014 8:27 PM

State Senator Harri Anne Smith has received official notification from the Alabama Secretary of State that her petition drive garnered the signatures necessary to allow her on the November ballot as an Independent candidate for State Senate.

 

Even though less than 2,000 signatures were required for ballot access, according to the Smith petition campaign, more than 13,436 local residents supported the petition to get Harri Anne on the November ballot as an Independent.

 

Unlike party nominees who are automatically placed on the General Election ballot, Independent candidates must have a petition signed by at least 3% of those voting in the last general election. 

 

Even though she has been rated as one of Alabama’s most conservative Senators, Smith was forced to run as an Independent for re-election in 2010.  At that time she received the necessary signatures to run and won the race by an overwhelming margin against a well-funded opponent.

 

“Four years ago the effort was really about people in the Wiregrass taking back our vote.  This time it is about keeping our vote.  The people in our area are mad about Montgomery political bosses trying to dictate who our Senator will be” Senator Smith said.

 

Smith says more than three dozen volunteers went door-to-door and business-to-business to gather the needed signatures.  Campaign workers attended meetings, festivals and other events to allow people to show their support and have a voice in choosing who represents them in Montgomery.

 

Smith says "I am so thankful for the people who took the time to sign the petition to make sure they have a choice in November."

 

According to Gayla White who chaired the petition drive, the support from throughout the district was overwhelming.

 

“The people in the Wiregrass know how hard Harri Anne Smith fights for our area in the Alabama Senate and they want to keep her there.  They know Harri Anne is accessible, compassionate, hard working, and truly cares about them.  Her work has brought new jobs, school funding and support for senior and veteran programs to the Wiregrass,” according to White.

 

Smith says her focus has always been serving one group only – the people of the Wiregrass.

 

“My philosophy is simple.  The people of the Wiregrass elected me and not some special interest or political boss in Montgomery.  My job is to take care of our area and our people.  How I vote is how the people in my district want me to vote and that has never changed and it never will,” Smith continued.

 

Smith says an official announcement will be scheduled for sometime later this summer now that the Secretary of State has ruled that she can be on the ballot as an Independent for State Senate.

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