2014 election results

Shelby County voters decided Tuesday night to approve a local amendment requiring probate judges to be licensed attorneys. The amendment passed with 79 percent of the vote.

Amendment One, a statewide amendment banning the use of foreign law in court cases was also passed with 72 percent of the vote. The amendment has been criticized as an attack on Muslims because it prohibits lawyers from using Sharia law as an argument in court cases. However, the attorney who drafted the bill, Eric Johnston, has said that it is a political decision, not a religious one.

The vote stands at 50-50 for Amendment Two, which would increase the state’s bonding authority and take money from the Alabama Trust Fund to improve National Guard barracks. Amendment Three, which provides “strict scrutiny” for any regulations on the right to bear arms, passed with 72 percent of the vote. Amendment Four was approved with 56 percent of the vote, so the state legislature now requires a two-thirds majority to approve unfunded mandates, rather than a simple majority. Amendment Five, referred to as the “Sportsperson’s Bill of Rights,” protects Alabama citizens’ rights to hunt and fish. It was passed with 80 percent approval.

A new Shelby County sheriff was elected, as well. Republican candidate John Samaniego took home 83 percent of the vote, compared to Libertarian candidate Ken Bailey’s 17 percent. Samaniego has worked at the sheriff’s office since 2003 and served as chief deputy for three-term Sheriff Chris Curry, who did not seek re-election.

The other contested Shelby County race was for county coroner. Incumbent and Republican candidate Diane Steele New was re-elected with 86 percent of the vote, while Libertarian candidate Shane Carlisle received 14 percent. New has been the coroner since 2006.

Other important election results:

- Governor

Robert Bentley (R – Incumbent) – 79.5 percent

Parker Griffith (D) – 20.5 percent

- U.S. Congress 6th District

Gary Palmer (R) – 80 percent

Mark Lester (D) – 20 percent

- State Senate 11th District

Jim McClendon (R) – 80 percent

Ron Crumption (D) – 20 percent

- State Senate 16th District

J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner (R) – 81 percent

Cindy Bell (D) – 19 percent

- State House 47th District

Jack Williams (R) – 73 percent

Salvatore Bambinelli (D) – 27 percent

- State House 52nd District

John Rogers (D)  – 77 percent

Phillip Bahakel – 23 percent