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Local amendment would allow CCSO to charge booking fees

Voters in Covington County and across the nation will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 5, for the general election, which includes one undecided local contest. Local polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The only local election to be decided is for the Dist. 2 seat on the Covington County Commission. Robbie Weaver is a Republican in that race while Shane Guy is running as an Independent. The Dist. 2 seat was vacated when Michael Smith opted to run for the Commission Chairman seat, which he won over incumbent Greg White in the Republican primary with no opposing party opposition.

There are a total of seven local races that will appear on Tuesday’s ballot with six of those already being determined either in the primary or having no opposition, including: 22nd Judicial Circuit, Place 1 Judge Lex Short (Republican, incumbent); Covington County Circuit Clerk Amy Jones (Republican, incumbent); Covington County Probate Judge Stacy Brooks (Republican, incumbent); Commission Chairman Michael Smith (Republican, won primary with no opposition in general election); County Commission Dist. 1 Ben Courson (Republican, won primary with no opposition in general election); County Commission Dist. 3 Lynne Holmes (Republican, incumbent, won in primary with no opposition in general election); and County Commission Dist. 4 Tommy McGaha (Republican, incumbent with no opposition).

Two other district-only races that will appear, but are already determined with no opposition in the general election, are Covington County Board of Education Place 1 to be held by Sonny Thomasson and the County BOE Place 2, which was won by Jed Blackwell in the primary.

Voters will also determine the winner for the newly-redrawn First Congressional Dist., which includes Covington County. This race is between Democrat Tom Holmes and Republican Barry Moore. Moore served as the U.S. Representative from the former Second Congressional District and he defeated the former First Congressional District incumbent, Jerry Carl, in the primary.

LOCAL AMENDMENT
Local voters will also be voting either “yes” or “no” on a local amendment that reads: “Relating to Covington County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to authorize the Legislature to fix, alter, and regulate court costs in the county and provide for their distribution.”

The amendment appears on the ballot after the passage of HB24, which was sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hammett and approved by the House. More specifically, the measure relates to HB478 calling for inmates of the Covington County Detention Center, who are found guilty, to pay a booking fee of $30. This fee is in addition to any other fines, court costs, or other charges imposed against the inmate. The booking fee will not apply to inmates who are held in the detention center on behalf of other municipalities, such as Andalusia, Opp, and Florala.

The bill states the revenue collected from the booking fee will be submitted to the Covington County Sheriff’s Department Law Enforcement Fund and will “be used by the Sheriff of Covington County for jail operations including, but not limited to, training fees, salaries, equipment, jail operational expenses, or other law enforcement uses as determined by the sheriff to best meet the needs of his or her agency.”

The bill also states that the district attorney’s office may assist in collecting the fees if they are not paid.

Other counties with similar booking fees already established include Etowah County, $30; Henry County, $45; and Montgomery County, $20.

To view the bill in its entirety, click here.

OTHER RACES
In state races, only one race is not determined, which is for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The race is between Democrat Greg Griffin and Republican Sarah Stewart. The winner will replace outgoing Chief Justice Tom Parker, who is beyond the mandatory retirement age for judges in the state.

Nationally, all eyes will be on the race for president. In Alabama, five names will appear as presidential candidates, including Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. Also appearing will be Independent Robert F. Kennedy, who withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump after achieving his place on the state’s ballot. Two other Independents, Chase Oliver and Jill Stein will also be on the ballot as presidential candidates.