By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – A Republican had never held the House District 31 seat in Alabama. That changed yesterday when Barry Mask defeated Democrat Bobby Payne in a special election. Mask won 59 percent of the vote and is expected to be sworn into office tomorrow in Montgomery. Mask is a regional development manager for Thompson Engineering who will represent a district that includes Coosa and Elmore counties. He fills the seat left vacant by the recent death of Representative Jack Venable. He was a Democrat who had served in the House since 1974.