Did Grissett qualify for election?

Escambia County (Ala.) School Board member Willie J. Grissett filed his declaration of candidacy in the judge of probate office Friday to seek re-election but his declaration to the state Democratic Party has not been received by Friday's 5 p.m. deadline, meaning he will likely not be on the March 3 primary ballot.

Candidates seeking office must file with their respective state parties to be certified as candidates. The Alabama Democratic Party has no record of Grissett qualifying.

However, Grissett said he did file his declaration of candidacy with the state Democratic Party online Friday afternoon.

Grissett said when he left the probate judge's office, he went to the school system office across the street and Superintendent John Knott helped him fill out the paper work to be sent online to Montgomery. He also said he followed that up with a hard copy sent to Montgomery.

He also said he could not find anyone to pay his qualifying fee to Friday and tried to reach Mike Godwin. Godwin stepped down as chairman of the Escambia County Democratic Party in May.

"It was my intention to run," Grissett said. "But I don't need to get involved in a rat race and get upset. This will complete 24 years on the school board and I feel I have served the people well."

Grissett currently serves as chairman of the school board.

He said he did his best for the schools saying he only had one vote and said he was working as a board and not an individual.

Loumeek White has qualified to seek the Democratic nomination for the District 5 school board seat and will be unopposed if Grissett has not properly qualified.

If that's the case, there will be no contested local races on the ballot.

Six Republicans qualified for re-election by Friday's deadline and will face no opposition in March. They will also face no Democratic opposition in November.

Those qualifying for re-election with the Republican Party are:

District Judge Eric Coale, School Board District 1 Kevin Hoomes, County Commission District 2 Raymond Wiggins, County Commission District 4 Brandon Smith, Tax Assessor Thad Moore, Jr., and Tax Collector Tim Pettis.