From The Trussville Tribue staff reports
JEFFERSON COUNTY –Jefferson County District Judge John E. Amari of Trussville has changed political parties, leaving the Democrat Party for the Republican Party. It’s the third time Amari has changed political affiliations in his political career.
According to a press release from the Jefferson County Republican Party, Amari requested the chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party allow him to rejoin the Republican Party.
Amari was elected as a Democrat in 2008. He decided to make the switch in order to publicly work for the election of Republican candidate Judge Teresa Pulliam, the statement said.
Amari began his political career in 1978 when he ran as a Democrat and was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives to the District 44 seat.
In 1983, he won a special election as a Democrat for Senate District 15, which he held until 1999. In 1990, he converted to the Republican Party.
Amari ran for Lt. Governor in in 1998, ran to regain his former senate seat in 2002, and ran for Public Service Commission in 2006 as a Republican, losing all three races.
In 2008, Amari ran as a Democrat for the District 10 Circuit Court judgeship and still holds that office.
“I believe qualifications and experience matter in our judges,” Amari said. “I feel so strongly about the qualifications, experience and character of Teresa Pulliam that I feel compelled to publicly endorse, actively campaign and vote for the Republican nominee.”
Pulliam’s Democrat opponent Linda Hall has been ruled ineligible due to residency issues. Circuit Court Judge Samuel W. Junkin ruled that Hall is ineligible to run as a candidate due to her failure to meet residency requirements.
“Judge Amari is a man of high character who has ably served the people of our county with honor and dignity,” Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Sallie Bryant said. “We are pleased he will use his influence to help elect our local judicial candidates.“