As early returns rolled in, it shaped up to be a good night for House District 18 candidate Jamie Kiel. By night's end, Kiel was on the winning side of a landslide victory with some eye-popping numbers.
Kiel defeated Tony Riley in the Republican Primary for House District 18, the seat vacated by Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow (D-Red Bay), by a margin of 4,311 votes to 1,084, representing an 80/20 percent split.
Kiel will face Democrat Eddie Britton in the November 6th general election. Britton, the longtime principal of Belgreen High School and the chairman of the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee, faced no opposition in Tuesday's Democratic Primary.
House District 18 includes portions of Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties. Kiel defeated Riley, a Colbert County resident and the human resources manager at Tiffin Motor Homes in Red Bay, in all three. Kiel outgained Riley 1,170-363 in Colbert, 330-122 in Lauderdale and 2,811 to 599 in Franklin County, as he garnered 82 percent of his home county's vote.
“I think people saw me as the local, small town guy they feel they can talk to,” Kiel said. “I'll be available as your representative. That's what I can promise people. We went to houses during this campaign no one else has been to and we talked with people no one else talked with.
“That's what it's about—reaching people and listening to their thoughts and concerns,” Kiel added.
Kiel thanked his network of volunteers for their work in going door-to-door across the district.
“It was that great organization of volunteers. That's what won this race tonight,” Kiel said. “Tony ran the cleanest and most honorable campaign I could ask for. I told him with my three daughters how a negative campaign might impact my family and my school aged children and I thank him for running such a clean campaign.”
Kiel is the founder and owner of Kiel Equipment, a company he began while earning his Management and Marketing degree at the University of North Alabama. He is a graduate of Russellville High School. His wife Melissa is a teacher at Tharptown Elementary School.
Kiel touted his small business experience throughout his campaign and talked about how managing a budget for a business is similar to managing the budget for the State of Alabama.
“I am a Republican who has built and grown a business right here in House District 18. I know what it takes to meet payrolls. I also know our state government unnecessarily regulates small business,” Kiel said.
In Britton, Kiel finds himself running against a familiar opponent.
“His grandkids and my kids go to school together. Melissa works with his daughter-in-law. We know each other well and respect each other,” Kiel said. “I'll set out to show what my background and qualifications are, what my party stands for and let the people decide who they want to represent them,” he added.
Kiel, in his first run at public office, said he received a call from Riley Tuesday evening congratulating him on his primary victory.
