Bill Armistead of Columbiana appears to be Alabama’s next Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.

&uot;We’re real pleased about that,&uot; Armistead said. &uot;The people of Alabama have spoken loud and clear today. And the message is they want new leadership in Montgomery &045; that translates into Gov. Bob Riley and Lt. Gov. Bill Armistead.&uot;

Armistead, who vacated his Senate District 14 seat to run for lieutenant governor, garnered 85 percent of the Shelby County vote.

&uot;What the people get is a team that will move this state forward once and for all,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m thankful to God and to all the many people who came out to put the confidence in me this election day.

&uot;I have been so honored (Shelby County voters) have sent me to Montgomery for two terms in the Senate. I pledge I will work even harder as lieutenant governor to make the people of Shelby County proud.&uot;

His Republican opponent Cheryl Bahakel received only 15 percent of the county vote.

Shelby County resident Beth Chapman made a strong showing with 42 percent of the vote.

&uot;I carried my county and that was very important to me,&uot; Chapman said. &uot;This is where I live and work. It’s where my children go to school. It’s where I serve, and I’m flattered, complimented and ecstatic about it.&uot;

She was followed by Jim Zeigler with 31 percent of the county vote.

&uot;This is my first race for statewide office, and I’m honored and excited because my opponent in the run-off has been in many previous races.

&uot;I think the people in Alabama have said they want new faces in Montgomery. I am that new face in Montgomery.&uot;

Opponents Pat Duncan and Meredith Mayes received 17 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Chapman and Ziegler will meet again in a run-off on June 25.

Republican

Shelby County also came out strong for Republican Bob Riley in Tuesday’s primary election.

With 76 percent of the vote for Alabama governor, Riley took the county, and at presstime, it appeared he would take the state as well.

Riley left his post as United States Congressman to run for the office of governor as an &uot;outsider.&uot;

Lt. Gov. Steve Windom followed in the county with 17 percent of the vote.

The third Republican candidate for governor, Tim James, received 7 percent of the county vote.

For U.S. Representative in the 6th Congressional District, Shelby County voters came out strong for incumbent Spencer Bachus.

Bachus received 88 percent of the vote while Terry Reagin received 12 percent of the vote.

In the race for Secretary of State, Dave Thomas was the winner in Shelby County.

Thomas received 48 percent of the vote.

His opponent, Troy King, received 29 percent of the vote, followed by 23 percent for Dean Young.

For the office of State Treasurer, Kay Ivey received the vote of Shelby County at 45 percent.

Opponents Twinkle Andress and Lisa Wallace received 30 percent of the vote and 25 percent of the vote.

Democrat

Gov. Don Siegelman garnered 90 percent of the Democratic vote in Shelby County, with Charles Bishop receiving 8 percent.

State figures were incomplete at presstime but showed Siegelman with a strong lead.

Democratic voters in the county chose Susan Parker in the primary for U.S. Senator.

Parker received 59 percent of the vote to opponents Julian McPhillips, 34 percent and Wayne Sowell 7 percent.

In the race for Secretary of State, Nancy Worley received 57 percent of the vote; Chris Pitts received 26 percent of the vote; and Steve Segrest received 17 percent of the vote.

In the State Treasurer race, Carol Jean Smith won the Democratic primary with 51 percent of the vote. Stephen Black received 31 percent of the vote, and Greg Foster received 19 percent of the vote.

In the State Auditor’s race, Carolyn Gibson received the Shelby County primary vote.

Her opponents received votes as follows: Carolyn Gibson, 43 percent; Debbie Tucker Corbett, 25 percent; Karen Haiden Jackson, 17 percent; Jerry Morgan Nelson Jr., 9 percent; and Earl Mack &uot;Choo Choo&uot; Gavin, 5 percent