Cullman – With 84 percent of votes counted, Democrat James C. Fields Junior was leading in a special election Tuesday to fill the vacant District 12 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. His victory would give the predominantly white district its first black representative.
With 32 of 38 boxes counted, Fields had 3,021 votes, or 59 percent. Republican County Commissioner Wayne Willingham had 2,070 votes. High winds in the area knocked out power at the Cullman Civic Center. Officials were waiting for a generator to arrive before counting the remaining six boxes.
The election was held to replace Democrat Neal Morrison of Cullman, who resigned from the House last August to become president of Bevill State Community College.
The district covers about two-thirds of Cullman County, which is about 97 percent white. It includes the cities of Cullman and Hanceville.
The Legislature returns to Montgomery on Feb. 5 for the 2008 regular session.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)