BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
CHAMBERS COUNTY — Sara Crutchfield defeated Sandra Calloway Crim in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, securing the District 5 seat on the Chambers County Commission with 65% of the vote.
District 5 covers parts of southern Chambers County in Lanett and Valley.
According to unofficial election night results from the Chambers County Probate Office, Crutchfield received 1,032 votes (65.03%), while Crim captured 550 votes (34.66%).
The race was decided late Tuesday evening as final boxes from the district were tallied.
Crutchfield will take office later this month, succeeding David Eastridge, who has served on the commission for 28 years.
Crutchfield said she is humbled and grateful to the citizens of District 5.
“This campaign has been about more than an election; it has been about listening to our neighbors, learning more about the needs of our community and working toward a brighter future for Chambers County,” she said. “District 5 is home, and I want to help ensure that Chambers County remains a place where our families can grow, our communities can thrive and future generations can be proud to call home. I am ready to get to work, and I will never forget this opportunity comes with a responsibility to serve every citizen.”
Crutchfield, a Republican, is the office manager at Auburn Pediatric Dentistry and a lifelong resident of District 5. Eastridge is her grandfather-in-law, and Crutchfield said his retirement from the commission inspired her to run.
Crim, a Democrat, is a Valley native and currently serves as an officer with the Valley Police Department and a school resource officer at Valley High School.
The incoming commissioner will face a slate of pressing county matters when the new term begins, including infrastructure and county road maintenance, the construction of the new Chambers County High School and county budget allocation.
During the campaign, Crutchfield emphasized protecting quality of life in Chambers County today while also planning responsibly for the future under her motto “Focused on our future.”
Crim campaigned under the motto, “Stronger together,” emphasizing her hopes to bring the district together for the betterment of all.
Coroner
Levi Richardson (R) defeated Maurice Ward (D) in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, securing the position of Chambers County coroner.
According to unofficial election night results from the Chambers County Probate Office, Richardson received 5,581 votes (54.31%), while Ward garnered 4,678 votes (45.52%).
A total of 17 of 18 county precincts had reported as of the Sun’s Tuesday press deadline. Voter turnout was estimated at 40.80%, with 10,411 ballots cast out of 25,515 registered voters.
Richardson will take office in January, succeeding Coroner Jeff Jones, who did not seek reelection.
Richardson said he was humbled by the trust placed in him by the community.
“This victory means more to me than words can adequately express, and I am truly thankful for the love, encouragement and support that so many people have shown me throughout this journey,” Richardson said in a statement. “While tonight is certainly a moment to celebrate, I recognize that it represents something much greater than an election. It represents a responsibility and a commitment to the citizens of Chambers County.”
Richardson, a Republican, has served as a deputy coroner since late 2021, working alongside Jones and completing state-mandated training with the Alabama Coroners Association. He advanced to Tuesday’s general election after leading a five-candidate Republican primary field in May and winning a subsequent runoff.
Ward, a Democrat, brings a lifelong background in the funeral industry, having grown up around Ward’s Funeral Home, which his family founded in 1953. A 2008 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, he holds both a funeral director’s license and an embalmer’s license, and he also works as an insurance agent and bail bondsman.
The incoming coroner faces immediate administrative goals, including Richardson’s stated priority of securing a dedicated brick-and-mortar office space to qualify the agency for electronic scanning and driver’s license lookup technology, and Ward’s emphasis on bringing a compassionate, hands-on presence when responding to calls and assisting grieving families.
All results are unofficial until they are canvassed and certified.
