Samaniego wins Republican primary for Shelby County sheriff race

In the race to replace Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry on June 3, John Samaniego emerged victorious from the Republican primary with 55 percent of the vote. Hoover Police Capt. Kip Cole took 20 percent of the vote, Rick Needham took 19 percent and Pelham Police Officer Larry McDow won 6 percent. There will not be a runoff.

Samaniego is a chief deputy at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and has 35 years of law enforcement experience. He received endorsements from Curry and the Shelby County district attorney, Robby Owens.

With the Republican nomination in hand, Samaniego moves on to the general election race. He does not have a Democratic challenger, but the Libertarian Party is trying to get its candidate, Ken Bailey, on the general ballot. The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 4.

Other primary results from Tuesday, June 3:

• Daniel A. Crowson won the Republican nomination for Shelby County District Court Place 2 with 66.87 percent of the vote.
• The Republican nomination for the District 11 State Senate seat was Jim McClendon, with 63 percent of the vote.
• Arnold Mooney and Amie Beth Shaver will have a runoff for the Republican nomination for State House District 43 on Tuesday, July 15. Mooney and Shaver got 30 percent and 23 percent of the vote, respectively.