House District 10 candidates prepare for Tuesday’s special election

MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — Madison and South Huntsville voters will be called to the polls Tuesday for the Alabama House District 10 special election.

Republican Teddy Powell and Democrat Marilyn Lands will appear on the ballot. Over the past few weeks, both candidates have spent time knocking on doors and meeting with voters.

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“We see the energy of this campaign building,” Lands said. “There’s some momentum going here. It’s really exciting.”

Both have said they are eager to bring their experience and voice to the Alabama House, but they can only do that with the support of voters.

“We’re going to focus on local issues,” Powell said. “Issues that we can change, not issues that we can’t change.”

Powell has spent seven years serving on the Madison City Council, and he said he is prepared to bring that experience to the state level.

“I know how to work with people who are different,” Powell said. “Not everybody always agrees on the same path or even the same idea, but I know how to get past those issues and work and get things done.”

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Powell said he wants to bring North Alabama tax dollars back to the area.

“North Alabama, for every dollar we spend down, we get about 35 cents back on the dollar to do infrastructure,” Powell said. “We are one of the fastest growing areas in the state, and that’s what we’re trying to focus on.”

His campaign prioritizes infrastructure, the economy and education. Powell said the state consistently ranks as one of the lowest in the country in education, and he believes Alabama can do better.

“I’ve talked to people in our community,” Powell said. “I’ve talked to people throughout the state and I think that’s something we can improve.”

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Lands is currently a licensed therapist, and with a background in community mental health, she said she can bring that experience to several statewide problems.

“We’re seeing so many families struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, this opioid epidemic, the suicide rates rising, especially with our young people,” Lands said.

Lands said she wants to expand Medicaid, reduce the grocery tax and support women’s reproductive rights, both access to abortion care and fertility treatments.

“I’ve heard so many stories from women here who have dealt with similar issues to mine, also ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages where they weren’t able to get a D&C (Dilatation and Curettage), which would be standard procedure in those cases,” Lands said. “I’ve heard from many families struggling with infertility issues.”

Lands said she is ready to usher in change in Alabama.

“I feel like we just keep going backward and backward and backward,” Lands said. “I want to see us move forward.”

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The vote is necessary to replace former representative David Cole, who resigned his seat after pleading guilty to voter fraud in October.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Check your polling location here.

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